The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-11-14

called by my father Mr.. Jay. This
eminent man, after applying something
which l know now was belladonna to
my eyes. and which had the effect for
short time of wonderfully improving
my sight. peercd into my eyes by the
a.d of strong lenses and mirrors Il re-
memoer at the time wishing some OF
those lenses were mine-what splendid
burning-glasses thev would make!
Then he placed me with my back to the
window and held lighted candle before
my face. All these proceedings seemed
SO funny that l was half inclined to
laugh. My fathers grave, anxious face
alone restrained me from so doing. As
soon as Mr.. Jay had finished his re-
searches he turned to nv father:
"Hold the candle as l held it. Let
it shine into the right eye first. Now.
Mr.. Vaughan. what do you seeP How
many candles, mean?"
"Three--tbe one in the ceRter small
and bright, but upside down."
"Yes; now try the other eye. How
/, many there?'
My father looked long and carefully.
81 eau only see one" he said, +" the
large one"
This is called the catoptric test. an
old-fashioned but infallible test. now al
most superseded. The boy is suffering
from lenticular cataract."
This terribly sounding name took
away all my wish TO laugh. Iglanced
at my father and was surprised to
notice his face wearing an expression
of relief
| THAT may be cured by an opera
tion," he said.
! Certainly: but in my Judgment it is
not well to NEEDLE, SO long as the other
eye remains unaffected"
ia there danger"'
"There is always danger of the dis
ease appearing in the sound eye; but,
OF course, it may not happen. Come to
me at the first sign OF such a thing.
/ Good
The greet specialist bowed us out,
and returned 10 my school life, troub-
ling little about the mater, as it
caused me no pain, and, although in
less than n twelvemonth the sight of
one eye was completely obscured, l
could sac well enough for every purpose
with the remaining one.
But remembered every word of that
diagnosis, although it was ears before
l recognized tie Importance of it. 1t
was only when compelled by au acct
dent to wear for some days a bandage
over my sound eye that 1 realized the
danger in which 4 stood. and from that
moment felt that merciIcss foe was
ever waiting his time.
And now the time had come In the
first flush of nv manhood. wi h all that
one could wish for at my command, the
foe had struck again.
He came upon me swiftly-far more
swiftly than is his custom in such cases;
yet it was long before [ would believe
the worst-long before 1 would confess
to myself that nv failing sight and the
increasing fogginess of everything l
looked at were due to more than n tenn
porary weakness. | was hundreds of
mi es from home, in n country where
travelling is slow. A friend being with
me, had no wish to make myself
nuisance by cutting our expedition
short. So | said nothing for weeks.
although at the end of each week my
L
vances made by the foe. At last, being
unable to bear il. or in fact conceal it
longer, | made known my condition to
my comrade We turned our faces
homeward. and by the time London was
reached and the long journey at an end.
everything to me was blurred, dim and
ohscured. l could just sec, that was
all!
| few to the eminent oculist's. He
was out OF town. Had been i'll. even at
the point of death. He would not be
back for two months, nor would he see
any patient until his heath was quite
restored.
had pinned my faith upon this man.
No doubt there were as skillful oculists
in London, Paris, or other capitals; but
it was my fancy that, ii | was to be
save,t, | could only be saved by Mr.
Jay. Dying men are allowed their
whims: even the felon about 70 be
hanged can choose his own breakfast.
so l had an uudoubted right to choose
M own Surgeon. resolved to wait in
darkness until Mr. Jay returned to his
duties.
[ was foolish. l had better have
trusted myself in other clever hands.
Before month was over had lost all
hope, and at the end of six weeks was
almost distracted. Blind, blind, blind!
L should be blind forever! So entirely
had lost heart that began to think L
wo aid not have the operation performed
at all. Why fly against fate? For the
rest of my life | was doomed to dark
ness. The subtlest skill, the most deli
cate hand, the most modern appliances
would never restore the light had lost.
For me the world was at an end.
Now that You know the cause, can
you not imagine me, after weeks of
darkness, broken in spirit, and, as l lay
sleepless that night, almost wishing that
the alternative refused by Job-to
curse God and die-were minep II you
are unable to realize my condition,
read the above to any one who has lost
his sight. He will tell you what his
feelings were when the calamity first
came upon him. He will understand the
depths of my woe!
l was not left entirely alone in my
trouble. Like Job. I had comforters;
but, unlike Eliphaz and Company, they
were good-hearted fellows who spoke
with cheerful conviction as to the GER
tainty OF my recovery. Twas not so
grateful for these visits as 1 should
have been. hated the thought of any
one seeing me in my helpless condi-
ton Day by day my frame of mind
grew more and more responding and
morbid.
NV best friend of all was a humble