Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-07-12
Madness Cured by a Balloon.

Madness Cured by Balloon.
Correspondence Of the New York Graphic.
The late Augustus Hemenway, OF
Boston, who died recently in Cuba, was
probably the wealthiest man in Amer.
lea. He began life as shop-boy, and
ultimately established q business the
magnitude Of which was astounding
He first established himself in Valpa
raiso, and laid the foundations of his
colossal fortune by buying hides, wool
copper, and all kinds of South Ameri
can produce, sending them to the
United States and bringing back an as.
sortment Of American goods. His
business in few years had become sc
great that he found it necessary to re.
turn to Boston and establish house in
that city. He sent his brother, Charles
P. Hemenway, to South America to
manage the house there, and, remain
! ing himself IN Boston, enlarged his OPP.
erations until the magnitude of them
demanded every moment Of his time
He even built his own ships, and made
additional profits by carrying his own
goods. He owned sugar plantations in
Cuba, copper mines in South America,
and had business relations with the
Earrings of such magnitude as TO as
tonish even that colossal house, and the
| whole Of this immense business he
managed himself.
About fifteen years ago, he discover
ed that his mind was affected, and af-
| ter drawing up a power of attorney
confding the management of his bus
mess to his brother and one or two
! trusted friends, went voluntarily into
retirement, and placed himself under
| the care of an eminent medical man at
Litchfeld, Conn. He was moody and
brusque in manners, and spoke very
seldom, but read the newspapers con-
tinually.
When, during the year 1873, the
preparations for the Graphic trans
Atlantic balloon experime nt were going
on, and the newspapers were full Of in
formation and speculation on the sub
ject, Mr.. Hemenway was observed to
show some interest in the matter, but
he never spoke Of it. When finally the
ascension was made, and the air cur
rents carried the balloon not out over
the ocean but over Connecticut, it pass
ed close by Litchfeld, and when some
persons near the cottage where Mr..
Hemenway resided, made remarks
about the balloon, he threw down the
paper he was reading, and exclaiming
in great excitement:
By gracious | must see that bal
loon," rushed out Of doors to behold
the magnificent erostat sailing grandly
through the skies.
The intense and sudden excitem ent
cured him of his mental malady, and
the next day his friends were astonished
at receiving a dispatch worded thus:
Bring on your trial balance-Augus-
tus Hemenway" The brother tele-
graphed to the physician and received
for answer: Patient perfectly re-
covered" Mr.. Hemenway received
his brother with his former urbane and
polite manners, and examined the bal
ance-sheet with his usual business
sagacity A few days afterward he
walked into his counting-room in Bos-
ton, and quietly resumed his accus-
toned employments. His business
had enormously increased during his
thirteen years of self-imposed retire
ment, and he took up the management
of the different branches with his &C
customed energy and marvellous sue
cess, and when he died he was proba-
bly, one Of the wealthiest men in the
world.
Mr.. Hemenway made no secret Of
the cause of his restoration to COM
plete mental health, and | understand
that Mrs Leonowens, the well-knoWn
author of book on Siam, when on a
visit at Mr.. Hemenway's few months
after his return to business, heard the
whole story from his lips at the dinner
table one day. BALLooNIsr.
Effects Of Smoke on Vegetation.
In paper addressed to the French
Academy of Sciences, M. G. Husson
calls attention to the disastrous effects
of smoke on vegetation. For many
years, proprietors of the vineyards sit
uated in the vicinity of lime kilns have
been complaining of the damage done
to them by these ineonvenient neigh
bors, and various chemists have con-
frmed their statements. M. Husson,
having had an opportunity of examin-
ing the matter himself, in a vineyard
known as the Saint Esprit, near Toul,
where lime kilns have been built, found
that the wine made there had disa-
greeable smoky taste and smell. This
vineyard is situated on the slope of a
small hill, between the canal and the
railroad. The kilns occupy lower
site. The western winds drive the
smoke from the kilns on the vineyard
The leaves of the vines had taste
quite similar to that with which the
wine was infected, and the few remain
ing grapes had it all the more, the
ripper they were. On the opposite side
of the railway line there are other
vineyards, which being sheltered from
the emations of the lime kilns, present
none of these disagreeable character
istics. Several days later, the kilns
being extinguished, new inspection
was proceeded to after copious falls Of
| rain. The bad smell and taste had dis
appeared from the leaves. By way Of
experiment, an engine was made to go