The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-11-13
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OUR PHYSICIANS.

tribute OF our love and gratitude ano
veneration. During these times of pes
thence, poverty ana pain, the character
of these men has been shown in bold
relief, and the passing months with al
their trying circumstances have only
served to make the record brighter and
more enduring.
When We endeavor to realize their ar
duous duties, their momentous response
bi.ities, and the terrible accountability
to which they are held by an unretlecting
people, then We find ourselves somewhat
able t. realize the words of Homer when
he sang:
"A wise physician, skilled our wounds to
heal.
Is more than armies to the public veal"
Let Us dwell for a moment upon the
responsibility of this wise physician,
and then see if it be possible to measure
our debt of gratitude to him. In his
hands rest the temporal and, in some
| respects, the eternal interests of an en-
tire family. On his wise prudence and
skiilful forethought hinges the happiness
OF parents and of children. On his
ability to heal depends the future veal
or woe of many hapless souls.
Whenever during these last months of
the fearful epidemic, father of family
was Frustrated with the fever, who did
not realize that under Providence, this
| life so precious to his loved ones, was in
the physicians hands? A broken house
| hold and a desolate hearth-a lonely
widow and an orphaned banda life of
penury, perhaps of .crime-these were
the dreadful shadows warded off by a
physicians skill.
How many a mother was stricken
down whose smile was sunshine to hus-
bands life, was heavens own light to
her chiidren's hearts, was Gods own
benediction to the poor. a physician 5
skill preserved that smile upon her face
and kindled it into newer glory. Who can
count the blessed hours and days and
years, each replete with a Christian
mothers usefulness, which that skill
reserved for the hearts that loved her
Sons, whom she will keep from evil,
daughters whom she will train in virtue,
the poor whom she will shelter with the
mantle of her charity these must in
deed rise up and bless his name who was
| Gods instrument of mercy and healing
power.
And when his skill proved useless,
when an overruling Providence frustra-
ted his efforts and bore away some dear
one to the tomb, how often the bereaved
ones laid all the blame upon the untir
ing, faithful and devoted physician, at
tributing to him the awful power of life
aud death which God reserves to Him
self alone!
Queer as the juxtaposltion may seem,
we never think of the sorely tried physi-
clans without recalling TO mind those
words of Byron
"Here's a smile to those who love me,
And sigh TO those who hate,
Aud what ever sky's above me,
Here's a heart for every fate!"
A smile, when their labors are sue
cessful a sigh, when Disappointment
attends them, these are all the outward
demonstration Of those deep and unut-
terable emotions which true and con-
scientious physician must experience in
the presence of grief, death and despair.
/ We have seen them stagger to the sick
bed, so weary from prolonged and I'm
/ ceasing labor that their feet refused to
bear them; and yet listen patiently and
kindly to every petty murmur, to every
sit, with hands shading their heavy eyes
by some poor patient, so worn out them
selves with loss Of sleep as to be hardly
able to keep the heavy lips from closing,
and yet prescribing the most minute de-
tails in the way of medicine and nurs
ing, failing in no point where care OF
science could avail.
And how many, too, like Cosmas and
Damian. have died upon the field Of hon
or aud of duty-giviug their lives fol
others without a single thought of self
unconscious even that they were doing
anything that the world calls grand, hero
ic, beautiful
And like martyrs, too, they have borne
persecution and suffered calumny and re
ceived reproaches and been wounded al
most to death, by the cruel, thoughtles:
accusations hurled against them and
yet, with an equanimity unruffied by
hate, and magnanimity undisturbed by
injustice, they have gone on in their la
bors as calm and as devoted as though
blessings and praise had alone followed
their steps.
Truly the physician at all times, but
especially in seasons of epidemic, mus
have, as Byron said,
"A heart for every fate!'
In olden times the people glorifec
their heroes, gave them triumphal
wreaths, and wrote their names on tab
lets and pillars of stone. 1t was wise
proceeding as we'll as Just one, and
served to excite love for noble deeds
and a worthy desire to emulate the same
in the breaths of youths aud sires.
Let us do the same. Our physician
are the heroes of the terrible year o
1873. They have battled with an enc
my as fierce and deadly as any mail claC
warrior who ever welded battle axe and
spear They have been ''more thar
armies to the public weal,' for they have
saved a city from entire ruin and pre-
served many a household from uttel
blight and dissolution. They have givei
to us all an example of courage and
self-sacriice, of heroism and endurance
of charity and benevolence, of valor anc
sublime devotion, which will ennoble GU
race. honor our land and strength gu
faith in God and His creatures.
Let us place wreaths upon their brow
if not of laurel leaves, at least of CRATE
full words and loving remembrance. LIE
US write their names, if not upon monu
ments of stone, at least on the tablets o
our memory, so in after years, when W,
dwell upon the events of 1878, we ma,
| remember that athwart its dark reminis
ences and fearful visions shines on
bright recollection, to rest with ever en-
creasing beauty upon the name an
fame and heroic sacrifices of 80 u
Physicians"
A REVERE.
Tn tba rolder clint of the Summerss SIM