The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-09-25
COULDN'T SAY NO.
rFrnm the New York WORLD


THE following veraciOUS story OF disease
Of the brain complicated with an affection OF
ehe heart j. condensed from an undiscovered
manuscript. The author must not be con-
founded with the well known litterateur
whose name i pronounced similarly but
spelled differently
Victor Parlenon was by nature a bach
elor. OF him it might be said he was
fated to be free; and the predispoSition
being present it never occurred to him
90 try that great experiment which, eX-
-cepting death, is the final resource of
men who have experienced all other forms
of misery and Joy. He was not averse
to les JCHe>dmneS, but his preference
being for male companions, he had little
leisure for the lighter and more refined
:graces of female society. -.
One morning following a day on
which Victor had partakcn of an unu-
sually protracted dinner he aYoke with
difficulty, and on rising had a vague
suppression that there was something
wrGGg with the right side of his body.
He approached his mirror haltingly,
: and or looking at his counterfeit pre-
sentiment sc saw with some dismay that
there was 3 slight but very ridiculous
turned pale and tried 70 whistle, but his
lips rtfa-5d to pucker, and when he at
tempted 10 give vent TO his feelings by
means OF MS customary eXpletive he
found that his power of making such
remarks had mysteriously disappeared.
Victor was thoroughly alarmed. Here
was a man who had retired the evening
before well and happy-elevated in
fact-who awoke in the morning
20 find the sense of feeling on one side
of his body diminished, his mouth drawn
to one side and himself unable to swear
at his prcdicament He dressed himself
as we'll q, me contradictory state OF his
limbs would allow and sought in haste
3 lhe Office Of physician. But now u
, new phase Of NictoT's trouble presented
itself The unfortunate man could not
speak, and when he took up the Doc
tors pencil 10 state his case in writing
he found he could not write word that
he desired, but that meaningless marks
and uncounected letters were formed by
&he pencil rs if it were under the control
, Of one Of those Indian warriors who as
sumo the direction of affairs at spiritual
istic gatherings. The Doctor, however,
was skilled in his profession. OH.
"Ahi I see" he exclaimed;
90 aphasia." -
lie ;hcn asked Victor for his card, and
receiving It. found that his patient could
understand il he could not make HIM
self understood.
"Monsieur Parlenon, - said he, ''yoUr
affection Is that known to us as
<aphasa. or loss of the faculty of
speech. which i q peculiar disease of
the brain. II Is held by some that this
faculty resides on the inferior surface of
the anterior portion of the third convo-
luton OF the left hemisphere of the
brain. However, that will not interest
YOU The simple fact is. that you are
unable .o communicate your thoughts or
ideas either4 BY speaking or writing.
Whether YOU will always remain so
can not ell. You are still young and it
Is To DE hoped YOU will recover. | will
ask vJu few questions aGd then we
can sec inst whore we stand: Are your
habits Of life REGULAR" ......,
- Yes" boldly answered Victor.
- Or are they somewhat irvegulac?'
continued the physician.
e. Yes again answered the patient.
- TfclS - exclaimed the Doctor, who
perceived that Victor was responsible
for neither II the replies. However, he
.eSsaycd Il third question.
~ Are yOa in the habit of drinking
much wiGe?'
Victor, IL spite of his devotion to tie
rosy god. teit this 10 he equivalent to
asking him # he was drunkard. He
promptly oudeay0red TO answer III the
negative. ia- to his horror ne monosyl-
liable ives again escaped him. This
50 eura@e him that he voluntarily eN-
claimed 49, it,"
-. y = &c! monsieur" said the Doc
Ior. - 10 rot swear"
Victor this time did not attempt to
speak, but contented himself With en-
dearoring 20 utter denial by means of
pauIorninle. The physicianinsistedt that
ne lad used profane language, and when
Gictor repeated his gestures could not
avoid asking with smile:
e.But, then, YOU do not mean to say
II sYore of itself?'
N.-VeS-" replied Victor; and for once
Z ne succeeded in expressing himself TO
p his satisfaction. The Doctor laughed
ard so did his patient-at least on one
side OF his meuth-and the physician
fben laid down for Victor such rules as
= wuxiid be necessary for him to follow
~Tvyo OF these rules were very important.
-, WAS that Victor should confne him.