, 1870-06-12

jec--'
NATHANIEL CHAPMAN.
How came to omit the namo Of Dr.. Chap
man, when spoke Of some OF the Philadel-
phia physicians, can not tell. 1t WIS the play
ct Hamlet, with the princely Dano left out.
For Dr.. Chapman, during long term Of yoars,
WAS not only the professor most identical with
the Medical Department Of the University Of
Pennsylvania, but stood very lngh as hunor.
ist, particularly Al punster, Punning used
to be very much practiced in Philadelphia,
even by respectable people. At the present.
men Of culture there are not 30 much i'd
lictel to ii, and with advancing clEllxa-
ton it will probably die ont. But Chap
man made his debut as a joker with q very
neat pun. II was Preble, or some one, who
to reason by the argument Of shot and shel /;
and BY way Of balance to the belly-full Of fight
ing be was to have before Agicrs, the Phlls-
tlelphians gave him a belly-fuu Of feed At q
public dinner, and set all jokes before him.
When ChapmAn's toast WAS called for, he pro-
posed: t'reb1e-Carpe dlem r.
From that time Chapman hAd to bear the
reputation OF all the floating puma, outside Of
thcze appcrtaining to the bar, Of which Ned
lngraham had the monopoly; and volume
might be made Of tho stories in which he fig
uree, GONG Of them not fit for bonrding-school
uee, however. In bis lectures he had standard
stock OF jokes that were fred OF every season:
and duly applauded by the students. One Of
these I remember, quite good in its way,
though when heard several neaaons in suc-
ceseiop, it lost the main merit-une1pected-
ness. "You will observe, gentlemen" said
the Professor, IL one fatal sign in this disease,
| when forming your prognosis;-a relaxation OF
the upper paft Of tho mouth. A man to re-
! cover in t5phus fever must keep stiff upper
ehall not readily forget Chapman's man
ner to me when he examined mo ior ny
| DOCTORS degree. I was terribly scared, and
| very much confused, 30 much 50 that when he
asked mo tho first questions, ! heaitated.
stammered, and at length said: "1-I-don't
| know"
/ too near the fire. You're too hot. Draw YOU
| chair back, and take time. iou know vel
| enough -...s..
His manuer reassured me, aud answered
the questions correctly.
uH'm! Didn't know, indeed" :" And he re
! su1ped his queries, which I answered. Present
| " he spoke Of a patient that he had seen tina
day, detailed his symptoms minutely. ant
naked me TO make out diagnosis. " tnl
time my embarrassment had returned I9ing,
grew very much mixed IN my MIND, ana lei
! back on plea Of Ignorance.
"I don't believe word Of it," ho said
nYou'ro only confused. You're too hot
You're too near the fro set. Go over ther
by the window, and cool yoursen. There, tha
will do.''
His manner was 60 amusing, and his up
parent belief in my real knowledge 40 earnest
thst II relieved mo Of my confusion, and no
oniy % e gave my opinion Of the diHease, but eve
entered into a discussion and defended N.
views in the matter. When 7 had done b
IoGLed at me with . twinkle in his eye-te'
Who ever saw it would forget his peculia
glance at such a time-and said:
"You are perfectly right. knew you Wa5
tno hot before. II vou wero . son Of mine, L
threeh you. Never plead ignorance until 20
are sure you don't know. In the practice c
medicine 1t is highly important to 1eep COO
takeu your answer At first, "a have dismisse
You, ind thought ali my instruction throw
| away. Instead Qf knowing nothing, you kna