Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-04-15
A VICTIM OF NEURALGIA.
Miss LIZZIE Happer was the Youngest

Miss Lizzie Happier was the Youngest
daughter of the Hon. John a. Happer
of Monongahela City, Pa. She died on
Sunday February 10. 1882, at > o'clock
p. m, aged about twenty eight. The
disease from which she was so long a
sufferer first manifested itself when she
was at school at Birmingham, in the
eastern part of Pennsylvania. At that
time it assumed the form of intense
neuralgia, affecting the head and chest.
The attack was SO severe that tor
time her lite was despaired OF, and her
parents were sent for After an illness
of some weeks she recovered, and re-
turned to her home. For a consldera-
Die period after her return, extending
over number OF years. with the eX-
ception Of slight attack in the spring
Of 1878, similar 10 the one she had at
birmingham, she enjoyed excellent
health and took her part in all the da-
ties Of life and all the amusements OF
the social circle In the summer OF
1875, however, she was again taken III,
and from that time till her death she
was a constant sufferer. The most
marked features of her illness were the
terrible attacks of neuralgia, affecting
her head and chest, and her extreme
repugnance TO food. She did not sui
fer from neuralgia constantly, but there
were merciiul intervals, sometimes very
extensive ones 1t would be impossible
for any one. save those who witnessed
her when experiencing her tortures, to
conceive OF the agony she endured at
such times. Her distasle for food, which
made its appearance gradually at first,
finally became such that for the last SIX
or seven years OF her life she never
swallowed a particle OF solid food save
for a few days before her death. The
nouriShmcnt she took during that time,
excepting candies, Of which she occa
sionally was very fond and ate pretty
freely; consisted almost exclusively OF
good, strong coffee, with plenty of rich
cream in il, well sweetened. There
were times, however, when she couldn't
take even coffee and cream, and during
the last four months of her hte-once
for an incredibly long period-she new
er swallowed even water. During the
week preceding her death she ate pretty
freely of solid food, such as meats, &c
The amount of aliment she took during
these many years was almost too incred-
IDLY to sustain life, yet such was her
wonderful vitality. and so finely was she
organized that at no time scarcely, eX-
cepting during the last four or five
months Of her lite, would q stranger or
transient visitor have imagined from her
appearance that she was not i'll the en-
ioyment of blooming health. Super
added to her other afflctions during the
latter years OF her life was the loss Of
the power of walking, so that she was
compelled to propel herself where ever
she wished to 20 in a wheeled chair.
Miss Happcr was one OF the most
beautiful and accomplished girls We
have ever seen. Gifted with fine in
tellect, richly stored 10y study and ex-
tensive reading, and brilliant conver-
sationalist, she charmed every one who
became acquainted with her. Even the
long confinement of the sickroom and
the many years Of pain never weakened
her mental faculties nor dimmed her
cheerfuness. She bore her sufierings
with a womanly torlitude-a fortitude
which is so much greater than man
ever displays, and with a wonderful
courage never reliEquished the battle
for health Till the great conqueror,
death, claimed her.