The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-09-09

the WnllnS Oh tuclT ulSOTucTcu ulluus.
In their wild freaks maniacs frequent
Iy evince a method i'm their planning,
an adroitness and Goodness that would
do credit to the shrewdest sane per-
son. We givp below thrilling Incl
dent which actually occurred as rela-
ted, one of the parties to it having
been a prominent army officer:--
When my regiment was mustered
out of service, babe adieu to my old
comrades, and to the army, and Open
ed an Office i'm the flourishing village
of fl
As was starting for the supper-ta-
BILE, on the evening of the third day
after my arrival, the office-bell rang
violently, and soon the boy came in
and said that man wanted to see the
doctor.
The visitor was standing by the fire
when / entered. He was tall, pow
erful man. perfect giant compared
to my "five feet six" and his great
and bushy black hair and whiskers
were well fitted to the monstrous form.
IF you are at liberty, doctor, please
come with me. II is but few steps,
and you will not need carriage"
Iput on my coat and hat and fol-
lowed him. 1t was my first call in
l., and / fondly hoped it was the
forerunner of many others. -,
The man strobe on ahead OF me all
the time. notwithstanding my endeav-
ors to keep at his side, and spoke not
a word, not even answering my ques-
tions.
Stopping before substantial-look-
ing residence on one of the principal
streets, he applied the latch-key, and
led me into q pleasant little room OH
the second floor Ga study thought it).
hung about with good paintings and
elegant chromos, and lined with books
of every name.
"Take a seat, doctor; / will step
out a moment. Take this chair by
the fire; it's bitter cold night"
The chair was great unwieldly
thing, but exceedingly comfortable.
L threw my feet upon the fender, and
leaned back on the cushion, very well
satisfied TO warm little before seeing
the patient.
heard the man approach the door
which was directly back of where
sat, and heard the door open and close
again. / supposed he had gone out
but did not look around to see. In.
deed, had no time, for stout cord
was thrown over my wrists and across
NV breast, and handkerchief bound
over my mouth SO quickly that
could not prevent it.
When l was perfectly secure, my
conductor stepped in front of INC and
looked with much interest at my vain
attempts to free myself.
"Gobd stout cord, isn't it?" Inc
asked. 1t has never been broken, and
many q stouter man than you has tried
it. There, now, be quiet while, and
| will tell YOU what i want"
He went to cabinet that stood i'm
the corner OF the room, and taking a
long, wickcd-looking knife from one
of the drawers, ran his thumb over
the edge, and felt of the point, all the
while talking i'm the most common
place manner imaginable.
al have studied the art of guessing
for years." said he. 81 can guess any
thing; that is my guessing chair you
are sitting i'm now; and l take great
pleasure in imparting my knowledge
to others. This is what l want of you
tonight. l did intend to make You
guess that, but have thought of some
thing better
DC had become satisfied with the
edge and point of his knife, and was
pacing up and down the room, giving
me full history of the world, inter-
spcrsed with facts relative to the art
of guessing. at which times he always
stopped in front of me.
"Did gou ever study it, doctor!" |
know you haven't. I am the only one
that ever reduced it to a science.
Since l left my noble veterans, L have
devoted my whole time to it; and
now am about to initiate you into
its mysteries, if you are worthy
He was standing before me so very
cafm, that die not think he intended
10 harm me; but when / looked into
his eyes, burning with the fire Of in.
sanity, l felt that my situation was
desperate indeed.
al must test you, he said. L must
sec whether you are naturally gifted
or not, before I waste much time will
YOU. If l remove the handkerchief
will YOU answer my questions
l nodded an affirmative, and he re-
moved it.
Now, my dear doctor you are an
entire stranger to me. Without doubt
you have often heard of me, but il
will be hard task to distinguish my
my name from all other great men o.
the time. You may que S it. doctor
What is it?"
He had brought his face SO near tc
mine that l could feel his hot breath
and / fancied that | could feel thu
heat i'm those terrible eyes. The lons
keen blade he was holding over me
for what? To take my life if | failed
"Gness! guess!" He screamed
If you tail, it will be your last guess
i'm this world"
dared not cry out; the knife wa
too near. I could not escape, for the
strong cords bound me to that chair
| could not lift, and l could lie there
and lose my life. What could | do?
at is hard guess, and will Civ,
YOU three minutes to answer II" HI
said.
summoned all my courage, which
had never yet failed me-cven in TIN
awful hour of battle-and looking hin
steadily in the eye, said
II know you, sir; SO where is TIT
Use of guessing? / have seen YOU OF
the battlefield marshallins your most
TO victory. L have seen you cut dow
n score of men with your own singh
arm. | have seen you put to flight
whole battalion. / know you-ever.
one knows you. Your name is ii
my mouth" -.
/ remembered what he had salt
abont leaving his veterans, and hat
tried this haranguc to divert his at
tention. paused to mark the effect
Yes yes, doctor! But what j
it?" he exclaimed. Thirty seconds.
Great God What would L no
have given for a clue to that mailman
fancvl Thirty seconds, and how
short second is! The knife wa
raised higher, that it might gain mo
mentum by the distance Ills bod.
was braccd for the stroke, and his ey
upon the mark.
"Ten seconds more! What is it!
There was only one hope for me
and that was to guess. felt tina
he considered himself some grea
man :; and he had spoken of veterans
some great military chieftain.