The Portland daily press., 1884-01-22

| REmINIsCENOEs OF DR. GILMAN
His Musical TnIeut-His characteristics
| ms a Physician-His NeighborIy Feeling
and Literally,
| II was my fortune to be fellow bcarder
with DR.. Gilman at hotel during the three
first years OF bis residence In Portlasd OF his
musical talent have pleasing recollectlons.
ne mad fine voice and was a member of the
cnolr OF DR.. Nichols church, but the singing
OF church music was not his only musical gift
ne was also an accomplished instrumentalist.
AT his oSn rooms he often entertained his as.
soc,ates with song. in which be played an
accompaniment on the violin, Of which in
strument he was a master. Then the violin
was generally considered low, vulgar nstru-
ment. No family of responsibility would like
TO have lone violin played in their rooms in
hearing from the street. But DIR. Gilman i'm
parted to bis favorite instrument, the refine
ment OF his own nature; in his hand it seemed
to have lost all its previous bad associations.
The hotel was on the north corner of Federal
and Temple streets, and, on the west corner,
IN the house now sanding thers, and which
marks the western limit of the great fire, lived
DE-. Sumner Cummings, DR.. Gilman's early
friend DIR. Cummings, although he could
net play himself, had come into possession OF
valuable violin-perhaps not "Cremons,"
but only grade lower. Being bachelor,
DR.. Cummings often came into the hotel late,
and, after chat all round, he would speak to
Dr. Gilman, and after getting his consent an
ihVilation would be extended to half dozen
others to GO across to his parlors "and hear the
doctor Addle," and although it was then bed
time, the slippered party would proceed, With
out much urging,to cross the street, sometimes
through snow, to hear the famous old violin
In the hands OF a master. Ole Bull lad not
then been heard in Portland, and all decided
that they Lad listened to no finer music. We
were sure to find an inviting table set out in
the dining room, and the entertainment often
ran into the small hours, but during all the
hilarity, DIR. Gilman was the same polished
gentleman, as we have known him for the
fifty years since. As friend remarked to me
since his death, HE could not be anything but
gentleman if he would
In the resolutions Of the committee of ply
sicisns, approaching the character and talents
oil DIR. Gilman, they say that in practice che
was remarkable for arriving quickly at correct
conclusions" This brought before me a case
of the kind when he was comparatively
young physician.
ln 1887, forty-six years ago, while waiting
Tor the completion of new house, had left
another to accommodate my successor, and
was staying with my wife and one child at
private boarding house. One morning 1 no.
ticed that the lady who kept the house. and
who had been slightly i'll for some DAYS. had a
bad eruption on the face. said to her. "You
have got the small pox.'' She became fright
ened, and was alarmed myself As the Law
directed, called the city physician, and for
my own safety. also called DIR. Gilman. The
two met at the house, and after examination
and consultation, the city physician decided
that the disease was not small pox. I then ap-
pealed to DR.. Gilman, who had not expressed
an opinion. He said at once, SIT is the small
pox; l have no doubt of it," Then the disease
carried with it more alarm than now, and
said. "Can We be saved from the disease?"
The DOCTORS ready and assuring reply removed
load Of anxiety. He said, "your family are
in no danger If you leave the house; you have
all been vaccinated;' and believed him as
implicitly as If it was divine assurance.
The doctor and went to our old landlord
John w. Appleton, who had gone from the
Elm House to the Cumberland House. now
the United States Hotel, and after an under.
standing of the case, and an assurance from
the doctor, we were given rooms in the hotel.
The lady who kept the boarding house did
have the small pox, and was carried 10 the old
brick hospital, which stood little distance
North of the Cleevcs monument, where, in
due time, she recovered, and we escaped with
ont symptom. By the permission of DR.. Gil
man, went to the hospital, and saw the lady
through the glass of the window, abe having
notice that wished it, and rose up in bed fer
me to see her face, which appeared as if it was
spotted with cranberries
want to bear testimony to DR.. Gilmsn's
liberality and neighborly feeling Some twen-
ty-seyen years ago / built house adjoining
Dr. Gilman's, for my own occupation, and I
valaed it the more because it did adjoin his.
A brick outbuilding of his was located about
two feet from the division line. In making
the division fence, when it reached this build
ing he had it turned to the brick wall, leaving
the two feet of land unenclosed in nv passage
way, with bad corner of the fence projecting.
soon had occasion to apologize to him for the
soaring of the corner of his fence by team
ster. He said, "you may meys the fence ON
lice with inc building, if it would be Of any
convenience to you, and the land is OF little
value to me; and it was so done. That was
characteristic set Of the man. Is it any Won
der that he vas universally esteemed by those
who knew him? VIC.
a