The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-08-06
MEDIorNE rs. REIIoIoM.
The Decsino OF che Curuto and The Rise Or
his Rival tho DOcter- Isnwn Tennis
Partly Responsible for tho Change.


Partly Responsible for tho Change.
-... fyomfhs London World.
Whom the social history OF London comes
TO be written there will be no moro pathetic
chapter than that which records tho rise. de-
and enjoyed it; but the lados' doctor was too
much for them. and now the minor clergy
maintain but u slender hold in quarters whore
Few years ago their devotess wore submits
siVe, unqueStiohnR, ana numerous. Let him be
meyer so or empty or plain. he still managed
to subside at dinner. ut II later hour OF the
evening he was sale of an admiring circle
in tho loss intellectual corner OF tho drawing
room. At flower shows no was somebody,
and ON the croguet lawn he was an autocrat;
while II followed. in the fitness. of things. that
ut all tho moro secular of church festivals tho
mild youth In the long coat and felt hat was
Sir Oracle. before whom even the vicarinl sun
had to phle But the curato was not wise in his
sign OF the times, few were sage enough to
500 that tho world was changing. and changed
incumbenis or rura deans. the hold society
which drifed. or ~ drifting. them into tho
smooth haven of cathedral closes.
His zenith was reached when high born
damsels shod him in kid and lioss silk. when
he found n difficulty In SOLICITING a table at
II Ito accepted Lady Gwendoiine. Mise Hucks.
tho village school mistress, might run him in
for a breach, of promise case. -, Since then he
has boon falling out oil favor although the de-
cauence has been 80 slow thut only the social
physioioGist has noted it.
elimination al his rival luminary, the ladies'
doctor., Outside tho Royal Society, or the Lit
orary Club the greatest doctor OF the last CEN
fury possessed scarcely, any social influence.
Neither court nor coffee house hung ON the lips
OF one, who had no other claim on society ek-
cGpt that no was n well;mnnnered gentleman
VINO lett many pulses and fingered a plentitude
of guinehs. Ashley Cooper and Abernethy
were surgeons OF weight. and even wit; but
their IiItsqae,'ie made them more tho terror
than the darlings of a drawing room. and men
OF their type were no more welcome in their
innI n m nj 4 hnn IN
ers after they have soidored tho leaky pipe.
The ladies' doctor is indeed an outcome OF
modern lifo. Ho ministers to weak norves.
feeble livers. and the other incldentas of late
hours and much ehrling for many things. TO
40 ths y is Reediul that ne ne should be skilled
man of the world, whose damages it is his bus
mess to repair: He must know the ways and
Of playing the part OF the moral instead Of
with all the topics OF the day. and yet is
he 10 too wise to offend the patients
by whom, no thriyes. HE may know the
seen ut Ascot and Epson, aud, though his
coachman may drive the best of blood. it would
seen behind II iour-i n-hnnd. Tho ladies' doc
tor must not DO an Enthusiastically has not
oomo TO that yet and women who arc nervous
are always pouS-but unless ho cultivutes
dissenting connection experience proves that
il Is safest for him to keep TO u strictly ortho-
dok course, neither too broad church nor yet
with Il suspicion OF incense and the eastward
position. For ladies with taste for rituaism
instinctiyeiy lean ON the curatc and between
him and his SuppliiIiter there can never be
anything in common.
The truth is, a certain class of women must
husbands. 80 much the better: but, il they are
unblessed with these encumbrances. then, in
to" d For time the ears e
piled that necessity. He was tho cUnfossor of
tho best Of women who eschewed the Bishop.of
husbands brothers. and fathers because he
was 40 harmless" But lawn tennis and Oar
croGuet was tho rage he was ndis pensable for
lie was usually presenttbo always available.
and what, in rural neghoorhoods, was import
young men were as other mortals in his pres
encee. and until lawn tennis. was invented he
fanneis would. however scarcely do unless he
had the courage of MIR. Hartley. and to be n
spectator while hated rivals were making Rem
more than clerical flesh and blood could bear.
And once out of the field he was forgotten.
where not so long ago he was considered an
Then the curate's clientele shot ahead OF him
and got further and further away from his in
tellectual grasp whom Darwinsm and scientific
small talk became fashionable His old friends
liked to hear about cross ferti lzation and Prof.
Sir John Lubbock thinking. Now, as to this,
the curate--nnd. for that the vicar also-was ut
sea- While the D9et9 tor was at home in T. and , so
OF lay confessor He wis. moreover so accom-
moduting; and IL he knew his hllsineSs--aS the
successful ladies' doctor invariably does-could
find n medic reason for what his client only
discovered an inclination. If Scarborough or
the Harz. Forest is an object of longing, the
DoctorI.who is so cieyer"-is sure that the
air of Yorkshire or the pine rosin Of Germany
is lust the thing for poor Muriel's lungs and
would do world Of good to my wretched head
aches" And. after all. no ia no more
costly than the curate, and quito ~ safe.
The curate charged no fees, il is true. but
he WAS etcrnally appearing with subscrip-
tons for plasters for rheumatic old women. or
for widows with thirteen children. or for the re-
pair of tho belfry. or for means to supplement-
the royal bounty TO the laborer's wife. who had
for tho second time presented her stricken lord
with triplets. Then the curate nired. and
sometimes had his attentions taken seriously
The ladies' doctor Is too wise to do anything SO
foolish. Who ever heard OF a ladies' doctor
clipping with anybody and though 1t would not
he hard for some of the more opulent of the or
der to marry n countess. there H. we believe
no Instance of this indiscrction on record. He
knows better than to inspire Il suspicion that
he is anything but the medical professor Of the
duchess and her daughters, or il other than
emphatically safe. The ladies' doctor. we blush
to confess. is sometimes pronounced II hum
bug Never was there u harsher Judgment
He il the most prudent Of men: for his pros
perity demonstrates his knowledge Of the
world. and his perfect mastery of the necessity
Of the age which he undertakes to supply.