New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-23


j A volume could bsaalIsd WITH the stxanrs
delusiooe catstailed ~ na1nen--ehe -
markable pertinacdty asd cumming they d.
play in carrying out the lwhims Of their
dis0rdered minds. In their Wild freaks
maniacs frequently ovince method in their
planning, an sdrottnoss and. GOODNESS that.
would do credit to the shreWdegt sano per-
son. We give below . thrilling incident
NJ actually occurred - related, one of
z parties TO ii having been prominent
American army surgeon:
When my regiment was disbanded, babe
adieu to my old comrades and to the army,
and commenced business in the fourishing
town of
As was starting for the supper-table, ON
the evening of the third day after my ar
rival, the dOor-bell rang violently, and soon
the boy came in and said that q man wanted
to see the doctor. The visitor was standing
by the fire when entered. He was tall,
powerful mana perfect giant compared to
my give feet SIX" and his great and bushy
black hair and whiskers were well fitted to
the monstrous form.
'.If you are at liberty, DOCTOR" said he
''p!ease come with me. 1t is but few steps,
and you will not need q carriage"
put ON my hat and coat and followed
him. 1t was my first call in L., and /
fondly hoped it was the TO erunner Of many
Others.
The man strobe on ahead Of me all the
time, notwithstanding my endeavors to
keep at his side, and spoke not o word, not
even answering my questions.
Stopping before q substantial looking res.
idence in one Of the principal streets, he APP
Piled the latch-key and let me into .
pleasant little room on the ground floor "a
study l thought it,, hung about with good
paintings and elegant chromos, and lined
with books Of every description.
Take seat, DOCTOR" eaid the man; II
the fire; it's bitter cold night
The chair was q great unweildy thing,
but exceedingly comfortable. / threw my
feet upon the tender and leaned back upon
the cushion, we'll satisfied to warm myself
little beford seeing the patient.
heard the man approach the door, which
was directly back Of where l sat, and heard
the door open and close again. l supposed
tn see. Indeed, 1 had no time, for "a stout
cord was thrown over my wrists and across
my breast, and handkerchief bound over
my mouth 80 quickly that could not pre-
vent it.
When was. perfectly secure, my con-
ductor stepped in front of me and locked
with much interest 1t my vain attempts to
Good stout cord, isn't it," he asked. ut
has never been broken, and many q stouter
man than you has tried il. There, now, be
quiet q while, and will tell you what l
want"
He went to q cabinet that stood in the
corner of the room, and taking long knife
from one of the drawers, ran his thumb
Pver the edge, and felt the point, all the
while talking in the most commonplace
manner imaginable. Z.
ssT how A. Il
guessing" said he. II can guess anything;
that is my guessing chair that you are sit
ing in now; and l take great pleasure in
imparting my knowledge to others. This is
what want Of you tonight. did intend
to make You guess that, but have thought
of something better"
He had become. satisfied with the edge
and point Of his knife, and was pacing up
and down the room, giving me full his
tory Of the world, interspersea with facts
relative to the art of guessing, at which
times he always stopped in front of me.
Ibid You ever study it, doctOrp he
asked. II know you. haven't. l am the
only one that ever reduced it to q science
Since I left my noble veterans have de-
voted 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 calm
me; but when looked into his eyes, burn
ing with the fire of insanity, felt that my
situation was desperate indeed.
81 must test yOu," he said. II must see
whether you are naturally gifted or not
before l waste much time with you. II
remove the handkerchief, will you answer
my questions 7"
nodded an affirmative, and he removed
it.
"Now, my dear doctor, you are an entire
stranger to me. Without doubt YOU have
often heard Of me, but it will be hard task
to distinguish my name from all other great
men OF the time. You may guess it, doctor.
Whatis It'll"
He had brought his face 80 near to mine
that l could feel his hot breath, and /
fancied could feel the heat in those ter
rible eyes. The long, keen blade he was
holding over me-for what! To take my
life if failed.
'Guess! guess!'' he screamed. eff you
fail, it will be your last guess in this world"
l dared not cry out-the knife was too
near. l could not escape, for the strung
cords bound me to that chair could not
lift; and could lie there and lose my life.
What could l do!
ut is hard guess" he said, land will
give you three minutes to answer it,"
summoned all my courage, which had
never yet failed me, even in the awful hour
Of battle, and, looking him steadily in the
eye, said Il know you, sir; 50 where is
the use Of guessingl l have seen you on
the battlefield, Marshalling your men to
victory; have seen yen cut down q score
Of men with your own single arm. l have
seen you put to fight whOle battalion. l
know everybody knows you; your
name is in my mouth"
remembered what he had said about
leading his veterans, and had tried this
harangue to divert his attention. l paused
to mark the effect.
''Yes, yes, DOCTOR HBut what is it Z" he ex-
claimed again. Thirty secondsr'
Great heavens! What would not have
given for a clue to that madmaD's fancy!
Thirty seconds, and how short u second is!
The knife was raised higher that it might
gain momentum by the distance. His body
was braced for the stroke, and his eye upon
the mark.
Ten seconds morew he cried. what is
it,"
There was only one hope for me, and that
was to guess. felt that he considered him
self Some great man; as he had spoken of
veterans, some great military chieftain. l
thought Of our own heroes, and the names
If many Of them were upon my lips, but I
dared not utter them. 1t was the greatest
chance game that had ever played-my
life depended on the guessing Of y name. I