The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-06-04

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The doctor looked around him with an as
tonished air, as If inquiring Of each individua
4 present her meaning.
"What 2 what do you say :" he muttered
PRACTISE medicine Have 1 misunderstood
mother. "Adolphus wishes to acquire som,
city"
6what a foolish decision this 10 =, cried DR.
| Heuvele, with q bitter laugh. "You imagine
then young man, that au no longer capable
of attending to the sick of this parish 7"
Such thoughts are far from me-" answered
Adolphus, repnlsed by the bitter accent of the
speaker. IF 1 have suddenly changed my in
tention in regard to my residence, it is from
necessity, and because it is impossible for me
| to do otherwise. My studies have forced my
parents to make great sacrifices. / cannot re-
qnire or expect responsibilities from their
| goodness. As to residing in Antwerp, / could
| not dream of it until I have earned the
| MEANS"
Then yoen positively determine to stay in
"Yes, DR.. Heuvels; waiting for better
times"
"But you do not really believe that you will
have anything to do here 7"
Necessity is memorable law it forces
me- to make the trial"
The doctor struck his cane several times on
the floor. He appeared Initiated, although q
smile fitted over his lips, and he forced himself
to conceal his displeasure.
"But what absurd idea conld have induced
You to form such o decision Do you believe
the people of our village, and of the surround
a boy whom they saw but few years ago.
playing in the street with the other children
pity You, Adoiphus. You have taken a wrong
step there ia nothing here for yon to do, and
nothing you can hope to obtain. Besides, you
could not suppose that there would be q suf6-
Gent number of patients to assure an income
to tw o physicians ~
Pardon me, DR.. Heuvels," said Adolphus
''there were always two physicians in our viii
lsge before DR.. Braok left for Brussels, on &C.
count of the sharp air from the plains"
the old doctor. she was obliged to leave on
account of poverty. This DR.. Brack also
thought that the knowledge obtained from
books would make him successful in our pro
fesson. He tried to contend with me, but he
soon abandoned that position. The peasants
are not as foolish, You see, as they appear to
be. They desire to have man of experience
In truth, Adolphus. 1 wish you q better fate
than that of poor DR.. Brack 2"
BE was silent, and waited for reply, that
he might repeat his evil forebodings, but no
one spoke. He then, for the first time, noticed
the sadness and encouragement of his liste-
ners. He read in Adeline's eyes q strange look
of Mingled rcproacb, astonishment, and sup
plicaton.
DR.. HeugeIs understood that he had been
imprudert. He recommended in q calmer tone:
"Do not let my frankness offend you. 1t is
for Adolphus' interest, and for the interest of
all OF You, that speak In this manner. AS to
myself. begin to grow old, and it would not
be disagreesble to me to have more repose.
Bot one cannot, against their wish, force the
confidence of the people in favor of young
man whom they believe to be devoid of expe-
rence. The peasants, l tell you, laugh at
science; and do not think that they are
wrong"
Adolp plus, who had all the time, through
respect to Adeliue's father, suppressed his
agitation, was deeply wounded by the~Conver-
sation of the old doctor.
He replied, with flushed face, but compelling
his voice to preserve a-su bmlssive tone.
"Pardon me if take the liberty to make
few observations. You praise experience and
you entirely wrong Ga the contrary. recog
MIA that Experience is the source of all human
knowledge. What is science but the accumu-
lated treasures of the experience of all masters
in the medical profession who have preceded
us since the days of antiquity Is it notin
books that We SO carefully preserve the in
heritance of generations to come,-the ac-
quired experience of such men as Hippocrates,
Paracelsus, Boerhaave Harvey, Ambrose Pare,
Bsndelt cque, and many othersf What would
be- our knowledge, if we had merely our own
personal experience as a guidei We should,
most probably, be ignorant of the virtue of
opium, anthony, quinine, mercury, iodine,
and most of the wonderful means of curing
human maladies. We would not have all those
ingenious Instruments discovered by our pre-
decessors; would know nothing of the
operative science of medicine for instance, of
the operation for a cataract, of auscultation,
which makes known to us, through the hear
lug, the condition of the lungs and of the
beart. In q word, should be in the came
state of ignorance AZ the first man who saw
his brother suffer. Yes, yes, DR.. Heuvels, you
right TO exalt experience; but assuredly
you will acknowledge that science, which is
the result of the experience of all men, does
not less merit your respect"
The old doctor shrugged his soldiers and
bit his lips whilst Ado!phus, with increasing
animation, made the eulogy of science. Such
wealth of science and erudition placed DR..
Heuvels i'll at ease. However he shook his
head in gn of dissent, when the young man
ended, and said in o calm voice:
"You have n good memory, DR.. Walkers. 1t
is easy to See that you only received your
diploma yesterday. There is, however, very
little truth in your remarks; but there are
SD hjects not to be discussed in the presence of
persons not initiated in science. 1 will prove
to you later that you carry your ideas too far
At all events l have not time to prolong this
interview to day we are invited to dine with
the Baroness de Hoogboom. Come, Adeline;
You not yet dressed. We shall be late, and
that will give offence"
Father, leave me- at home" murmured the
young girl.
But a renewed order and stern look gave
bor Not aha no