The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-09
Phenomena of Death.

Phenomena Of Death.
Among the numerous incidents re-
corded of the startling phenomena pre-.
sented by tue facial expression of the
dead is found the following as occurring
during the late Franco-Prussian war:
1t seems that one of the red cross
nurses, one of those Mercy Mefricks,
perhaps, with wnom Wllkie Collins has
made us familiar, had among her patients
u young man, an exceedingly handsome
young fellow, whose nationality she
coulu not find out. He was in the Prus-
sian uniform, yet not, she Thought, a
Prussian. He had been struck by a
spent ball, they supposed, and was
paraIyzed and speechless.
Occasionally he would open his eyes
and gaze at her with troubled express
sion, and she noticed tnat the eyes were
very beautiful, black, and soft as velvet.
In her minlstralions she got to under
stand the language Of these poor eyes,
and found out when he was pleased or
disappointed at what she was doing.
One day she took up his coat, and feeling
iu his pocket she found a letter; she
looked at him and the eyes said ''read
it.' 1t gave her the key to the situation,
and she derived the idea that he could
hear and understand her if she talked to
him, SO she would SIT and talk and ask
questio and lie would answer with his
eyes. ~
She got at the idea that he was young
English diplomat, who had been sent
down TO the scene of war TO protect
some one, that he mad been received in
10 the Prussian army as favor to facil-
itate his work; thai he was engag I'd i'll
lnis work when he was struck down.
She had much to do, this Mercy
sue found time every few hours
to come back to her patient
and 10 tell him the story OF SaarBruck,
OF Strasboufg, of Sedan, and 10 lind from
the sui ting iustfe fn his eyes lie were
pleased or saddened. One "a 9 ne t0Uk
up his watch and chain and examined
MS seal. ihe eyes r eW painfully bright
and anxious. The idea struck her That
she would take the impression in wax.
Sne did so, and found the motto and
crest OF weliknown English family.
rpen she sat down and wfote a letBer
| home, Tor sine, too, was English.
Tue patient fingered and listened, but
never spoke. lie grew better, however,
| and couIa smile, briihitnt, eloquent and
| fascinating. IL wenL TO the heart Of the
red cross nurse. Perhaps sne had sut-
tered and loved and waited, and hoped,
and nsIa known the anguish OF rope do
| teTred. The poor paraltzed hand
gained finally little power, and one
evening as sAe took IL iii her warm, en-
| err rseUlc, generous palm, IL gave feeble
pressure. sympathy Is a famous ply
slcian. He mas. oaHed many otherwise
mortaliy Wounde1.
| But, alasl he was NOT to cure the
young English diplomat. One nIght, as
the reu-cfoss nu be lay down to her we'll
earned sleep, the maze attenuAnt who
had care ot the paralyzed EnglishiRaif
came and knocked at the door.
| '.He Is dyInS," said he, land his eyes
are very wlldP
| She dressed herself and went to him.
| rhe unspoken language between these
| Two had uec me spiritual communlca-
ton, she Eeud his thoughts. Did he
| wish to have fock OF his hair cutr Yes,
lor her; lis watch and -cnain, and Ger.
| tain rIIiS Oh IL, were TO b8 returned,
when she could ind the owner, aud his
cnarge-tne WORK which no had to do
when lie was strlc&en down-she musl
lind out III it were done, and IL he was
kno,sM 10 have been faltaiul. 10 the end;
yes, sne would 40 ~ all. .rsa
And hA gave her one wonderful look,
IKE sunlgni; Ids bright eyes said more
gratitude. III one glance tnan lips could
say in rDon4n; LAeA came lin over
tutln and Lheg went ouLtoreNer.
Lne next day as the red CROSS nurse
stood looking at HIS dead face, an El-
giIsl physician arrived.
II ann looking iof young EStGourt,''
SAID ne, "the man oil whom You nave
written to Edg.and, who owned tlis
motto and seal.'
srnere he ls," said she quietly.
Poor fellow, poor ieliow; a haro
case" said the physician. do you
KNOW his storl Sent over to prOLeel
TWO emInent ladies', one a princess, whe
got caught III country house here be
tween Lne Two armies--Russian compli
caucus aild all tnal sort oil thing. Ii.
benayed slngularly well, snowed enor
nous tact, courage, anu cniYalry too fol
one OF them ieif desperately III love viii
lnn. He was takDlS them toward Ber
lin, where they wisned to 60, when liz
was struck down by Efench bali;
Marty ofstlaggters, surrounded tllefn, Sc
on probably by a cousin OF his, WHO hx
always been ms loe."
"Did the women escape?" said the ret
cross nurse.
"Yes;l aud are full Of anxiety to heal
OF tueir preseryer and friend" said tn'
, doctor.
The nurse laii her hand on the dea
mans forehead. IL Wish he could hay
lived to hear it," said she.
!, And as she said that the dead ma
smlied-tnat smile WAich she knew q
weil-and, strong-hearted woman thoug
she was, she tainted and iell on tn
floor.
When she came to herself the docto
was holding some hartshorn to her NOS
, trils.
'sIt was not imaginationp said she.
"No," said he,. shaking his mead, "l
/ was miracle.P
| Five Minnesota lawyers recently SUI
: | ceeded, alter a fortnight's forensic con
4 bat, conducted with all the desperate