Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-07-11
TwENTY.THREE YEARSIN A CHAIR.
The Sad Case Of Matthew RaukiuS, Of
Lewiston, Me.
LeMlstnn lMc.l lnrrnAl. .

/ ing tag III Lewiston. IheN were
merry and active lads, and were frohck-
ing with school.hoy enthusiasm and
carelessness. One lad caught the other,
struck his heels, and playfully tipped
him over. His whole weight came
down upon his falling playmate, whose
spine was seriously injured III conSe-
quence. He was conveyed home, and
il was found that he was physical
wreck. For two years he was able to
walk around very little, and then, as
the results of his injul.es gradually
grew more serious, he was Obliged 10 he
carried from one place to another, en-
tirely losing the use of his lower limbs.
At length his whole body became rigid,
and he was powerleSS. For twenty
three wears Matthew Rankins has sat
fixed III his chair rs i'll y wise, night and
day.
\ Journal reporter called on Mr., Ran.
kins, NJ his residence on Summer street,
the other day. Mr.. Rankins was in his
low rocking-chair by u pleasant win.
dow when the reporter went into the
room-the same chair in which he has
passed the last twenty-three wears Of his
life, from sunrise to sunrise. His head
is turned 10 one side by n contraction
of the muscles of the neck, which can
not be relaxed, and it is impossible for
him even to turn his neck to look out
of the window. BY a continuance ofhis
own, he is able 10 see the green fields,
the flowers, and the bright sky. A
small loo&ing-gass is hung on the end
OF short stick. The other end is
placed between the contracted fingers
of one hand, and the glass is held SO
that he may see nature $ face reelected
in that l0-by-l2 frame. This is Mr..
Rankins way of taking an airing" 1t
is favorite occupation, and the mirror
was before him when the reporter en-
tered.
Mr.. Rankins is II years Of age, but
looks surprisingly young tor y man
whose constitution has borne twenty
nine years of unremitting pain. He
has y handsome, intelligent fate, which
speaks but slightly of his sutleriugs and
looks as cheerful and happy rs human
countenance can. Head, body, legs,
and arms are rs clods So far as his
power over them is concerned. He can
NOlk LIS dlhlGs vel IANIN. LIE
fingers and toes are all disjointed, and
in one thumb is the only material joint
in his whole body. He can produce u
slight, rocking motion by working his
ankles little. His bed is made ut night
by putting blocks under his chair
rockers, tipping the chair back . little,
anu covering him with quilts. M, Ran
kins' eyes and tongues are the only
members that he has not lost command
of. He told our reporter that he suffer
ed continually, without moments
intermisson, severe pain in the mar
row of his bones. This continued pain
brings on violent attacks of vomiting
about once week, i'll which his suffer
ings are intense. He can move his
hands few inches up and down his
breast.
When he was first stricken he was
able 10 white images and make small
articles of wood with his hands, but this
privilege has been taken from him.
III can, however, both read and write by
means cf ingenious contrivances which
he planned after much thought, and
which friends made according TO his
instruction. A board with sliding
edge is fastened to the arm of his chair
in nearly perpendicular position.
His well-worn ouarto Bible is laid on
this. A metallic hook, with wooden
handle, is placed between the finger and
numb of one hand, and with this hook,
by peculiar jerk Of the wrist, he is
able to turn the leaves. lie reads
considerably, giving much time to the
Bible. The Lewiston Journal is his
favorite newspaper. For reading n
newspaper, he has 4 hooked stick upon
which the sheet hung. When he
wants to write, n longer board is placed
before him with n contrivance for hold
ing sheet of paper. A pen-stock two
| feet long, holding IL pen, is placed be-
tween his fingers, ana without moving
a muscle, save those of the wrist, be is
able to write perfectly legibIe hand.
He is unable TO dip his pen into the
ink.stand, which hangs on the board,
but fills his pen by catching drop of
ink on his "hook," in the other hand,
and touching it TO the nib Of the pen.
He writes great deal.
He is ca red Tor by his sister and his
niece, the latter, young lady Of IL
years, waiting upon him chiefly The
fortitnde with which this young girl
cheerfully forsakes her companions and
youthful pleasures to give the best part
Of her life to her suffering uncle is an
affecting instance Of self-sacrfice. The
young lady is unreintting III her atten-
tions to the invalid. Mr.. Rankins' moth.
er, lady SO years old, was very sick
when the reporter called. Mr.. Rankns
could devotedy watch his parent and
brush with his stick the troublesome
flies from her pillow. Clergymen
often call on brother, said Mr.. Rankins,
sister, "and 90 away saying that they
have been taught an impressive lesson"
Mr.. Rankins has been frequently men
toned in the Les. istown pulpit as an
exponent Of true Christian piety and
resignation. a visit TO this gentleman
il lesson for lifetime. The man who
imagines that all creation is at swords
points with such an insignificant atom
Of the universe as himself will feel
happier after call on Mr.. Rankins.
mo one but God and myself know
a