The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-10-03
Only q bit of Ice.
A CHOLERA SCARE.

A CHULEkA SCAkEs
Mr.. Timothy Fox was an old bachelor
of comfortable means and unsocial
ways, who for many years past had
lived entirely for himself and by him
self, He was even more selfish than
old bachelors usually are; and he had,
as they invariably have, monomania.
His monomania was the fear of disease.
Though brave enough and sensible
enough in other respects, nothing could
persuade him to 90 near any one suffer
ing from an infectious disorder, or con-
vince him if he did so he could possibly
escape the infe 3tion. He would walk
mile out of his way to avoid passing a
house where there was sickness; and he
admitted that he would rather suffer
penal serVtude than venture into those
slums where fever and smallpox add
to the misery of vice and poverty.
Accordingly, when in the early sum-
mer he heard that smallpox was be-
coming epidemic in London, he imme-
diately determined to leave town. At
first, as certain business matters neces-
STATED his being near London, he only
went to a western suburb; but directly
these matters were arranged and there
remained nothing to interfere with his
freedom, he decided to 90 to some sea-
side place. After good deal of care
full consideration he chose Dover; but
he had not been there three weeks
when to his horror the cholera made its
appearance at Toulon. To most per-
sons it would appear that the distance
between Toulon and Dover is such as
to preclude any serious chance of con-
tagion; but to Mr. Fox it did not seem
so. On the contrary, he was firmly
convinced tnat before long that seaport
must become hotbed of the fearful
epidemic. 1t was, he reflected, on the
high road between England and France;
what could be more likely, therefore,
than that some Frenchman, flying from
the plague-stricken towns in the south,
should carry the contagion to Dover?
This thought made him feel extremely
uneasy. If he had not contracted for
his lodging for the whole summer he
would have left at once; but having
done this, and being of rather parsi-
monious disposition, he resolved not to
leave until the cholera reached, at least,
Paris. But once it appeared there, no
matter what it might cost him, he de-
termined that he would take refuge in
some quiet country place.
While ne watched with anxiety and
alarm the progress of the disease in
France, and traced each day its move
ment northwards, he thought it would
be rs well to make al necessary prepar-
ations for an immediate departure
should that become desirable This gave
him but little trouble, for at Lilyburn-
a little village about fifteen miles from
Dover-resided a nephew of his, a
farmer with large family, who on ac-
count OF his poverty and children, was
very deferential to MIR. Fox, in view of
his wealth and childlessness. To him
MIR. Fox wrote that probably before the
summer was over he would pay Lily
burn long promised visit. The nephew
replied by return of post that he would
only be too happy to have the pleasure
OF bis delightful company. Then, hay
ing settled this to his own satifaction,
MIR. Fox awaited the approach of chol-
era with more equanimity.
and down the Admiralty Pier he en-
countered Charley Reclxless-a young
acquaintance of his, and the son of an
old friend. In reply TO Mr.. Fox's in
quiries, Charley, who was medical
student, told him that, having been
'plucked" at his last examination. he
and a friend who had suffered the same
fate had come down to Dover to spend
the summer and to study for the next
attempt. 1t Immediately occurred to
MIR. Fox that, as medical students, they
were likely to know more about the
great subject of his thoughts cholera -
than ordinary persons; and so, though
ne was not fond of young mems COM
pany, as IL generally entailed expense,
he invited Charley aud his friend, Mr..
Bold to spend an evening at his house.
They at once accepted the invitation.
When they came they soon discovered
the reason of the I'D gentleman's hos
pitality; but as he gave them free run
OF his wines and spirits they did not
object to the position, and told him all
they knew about the cholera and great
deal more besides They made his
blood run cold and his hair stand on
end by the terrible anecdotes thew re-
lated to him about the sufferings and
misfortunes of cholera patients, all of
which anecdotes were of course evolved
from their own brilliant imaginations.
MIR. Fox was Mortified, but still he was
fascinated by these accounts. He again
and again invited the youths to sup with
him, and every time they came insisted
on turning the conversation on the old
;opic. The young men were equal to
the occasion, and they seldom left him
without having placed before him some
thing more unspeakably CHASTITY than
anything he had heard before.
But at length their power of inven-
ton began to fail them, and they got
tired OF the old gentleman's company.
which was not, at the best of times. par-
ticularly entertaining, and of late il
had been less so to them as he had been
considerably more stingy with his wine.
The novelty too had worn off of FRIGHT
ening him; in fact, the young medicos
wanted some change in the entertain
ment: One day, however, Charley
Reckless, who was of an inventive turn
OF mind, hit upon a happy idea.
'Would it not" he said to his fellow
student, "be great fun to call late one
evening on Mr.. Fox, tell him that the
cholera had appeared in Dover, and
induce him to get into cab to 90 over
~ Lilyburn, and then to spend half the
9jght driving him to his nephew'sP''
rhcv could easily, he maintained, when
Ae had been there two or fhree dax,s
write and tell him it was mistake,
snd that the choleTa had not appeared.
gAe suggestion was 80 gooasr yn9da thar