Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-10-12
THE CITY OF THE DEAD.
A DREADFUL NIGHT IN PLAGUE STRICKEN
MEMPHIS.

sonal application as the sentence OF
death. Scarcely any are left but those
who are crowding down personal care in
the noble purpose of others good. 10
them death, if it comes, will have the
sweetening consolation, that it is brought
by as noble a service as the God OF
heaven-as the man on earth-ever
looked upon. To die for man is to imi-
tate the grandest event in the history of
our elobe-it is to initiate the death Of
the Saviour of the world.
The rain falls slowly, the storm of
the afternoon having sunk into dis
NAL, solemnly sad drizzle, as though the
heavens themselves were touched TO
tears at sight of so much human misery.
The rattle of an occasional vehicle
along the silent streets tells that the
member of some benevolent society is
Fastening to minister to the sick or dy
ing. All else is silence, deathly and
awful, with naught but the rattle OF the
water from the roof into the tin gutter,
and that has the ominous gurgle OF
death-rattle in the human throat. Sew.
enty dead and at least one hundred and
twenty five new cases. God help us /!
If hope were not worn to skeleton,
if she had not taken herself to prayer,
we might find spark to kindle weak
glow in this impenetrable darkness,
and except that the heavy shower Of to-
day would wash from air, from gutter
and from bayou part of the foul pes
tilential air which is breeding death.
The horrors of the hour cannot be told,
even if the heart did not sicken at the
task. They are horrors such as make
hell on earth, such as make life almost
burden. Elsewhere it will be seen that
a noble band of physicians have come
to our aid. We need them all, and
more, and when we think into what
tornado of death they have thrown their
frail bodies we cannot but be amazed
that strangers should dare so much for
strangers. Their reward is found in
higher sphere than that in which our
full hearts beat iu gratitude.
The Howards need men to supply the
places of their sick. The inability to
visit all the stricken yesterday caused
much distress if not deaths. The ranks
of the clergy, as brave company OF
Christian soldiers as ever faced martyr
dom without fear, have been invaded.
But why write more? Why try to add
words when the dark list below speaks
so plainly of our unprecedented calaml-
ty? Where It all will end God only
knows!
TRUE AND BRAVE WOMAN.
There are women of pluck and unsur-
passable devotion in Memphis who are
daring everything for those they love.
The taithess are Of the other sex, OF
those whom the world in one OF its
greatest misnomers has dubbed "the
stronger SEX" While John Donovan
forsakes his wife and leaves his Children
to die in strangers hands; while a son
HES to Arkansas Springs and leaves his
mother and two brothers TO be borne by
other hands to the grave, in contrast
shines out the fathfulness of woman as
a devoted mother, as patient, atten-
tive wife, as a lite-risking daughter, Sis
ter, friend.
BY the bedside of the burning body,
inhaling the poison of the sick room,
foul with that odor which tells the Da
ture of the dreadful disease, performing
services which none other will do, wear
ing smile while the heart is breaking
and lifting up the head when in the last
agony her person is befouled by the
most repulsive and horrible OF all sub
stances-black vomit-she site and
watches, nurses and cares Tor our loved
one till he lives again or passes beyond
her aid. The penalty of her service OF
love is generally death.
Instances have come to the writer's
mind faster than he caa record them
instances which are but few of the many
which have beceme like part of heay-
en- in so much of earth's hell.
A child was stricken with fever on
Alabma street. &C.," said the mother
to the father; 81 shall never leave the
boy, but you must be endangered" The
coward complied, and saw from over
the way short coffin borne out of his
home. The mother is paying the price
of her devotion, and by to morrow will
herself pass to last home in the city.
A sick mans lady friend wrote:-
"Please let me come" And when his
friends thought the die was cast they
consent to his summoning her. Boldly
she laid aside her hat, pushed back her !
hair md forcing smile to her lips en-
tered the room. Some OF his male |
friends stood outside on the door steps
''to inquire how the dear old boy is get
ting along"
The keeper of house Of ill-fame on |
Gayoso street dared the loss of ''busi.
nes." dared the desertion of her place !
by all bat one of its inmates, to nurse
faithfully to the end one who was to
her comparative stranger, but whom
chance had brought plague stricken TO
her door.
These are few of hundreds Moth
ers have made their sons leave town,
and then, relieved apparently of all
alarm, have sank down 10 die. Wives
absent have returned against positive
orders and wishes of their husbands,
preferring TO die with those they love
rather than suffer the suspense away
Memphis .Auaianehe, August 80.
Everything conducive TO the better |