Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-12-18
A SURE CURE.
The Prescription Which Eased On
Over-W orked Brain.

The Prescription Which Eased or
Over-W orked Brain.
Arthur Brcnton was young man pos
sessed of some money and good dca'
of ability. But something else, in turn
possessed him, namely, n passion. II
was not passion that led him into any
folly, unless overwork be counted dis
sipation. 1t was not the passion that
controls or molds nine-tenths of the hui
man race. The object of his alteration
had its origin in the most intense heat
imaginable; but its radiance was cold
and imporsonal. He cared more for the
sharp, quick, selfish sparkles from n dy-
namo machine than for the light of wit
or tenderness in woman's eye. The
passion thdt possessed him was for elcc-
tricity.
l can't understand this at ALL" said
his friend Reed, picking up in Brcnton's
rooms one day pamphlet filed with
long mathematical formulm and strange
designs of instruments. Cant under
stand it any more thai | can your alb
sorption in this pursuit How can you
go on with such horribly dry readingp"
Brcnton replied: ..The dryness of the
reading, my boy, only increases my
thirst-for knowledge"
''Of course" said Reed. After an in
stoni he laughed and added: "oh, 1
understand that! It's joke. But
Il
Yes" Brenton admitted. 'The
fact is, I'm tired now for almost the first
time. Somehow, I'm losing interest in
my studies. My head doesn't work
well. and don't know what the trouble
is"
"Better see DOCTOR" Reed advised.
And Brenton went to his physician
that very evening. A few days later
Reed was surprised to meet him at a
dinner party, for his friend was man
who seldom went out. Brenton was
extremely gay, and seemed TO throw his
whole heart into the affair. What he was
throwing into conversation with his
neighbor, pretty Miss Parct, Reed could
not tell, but she was evidently pleased.
"Well, old fellow Reed said to him
when they were smoking, ''you seem in
such good trim, 1 take it you are all
right
There's nothing in the world the
matter with me,' Brenton answered,
buoyantly. doctor said SO. Let us
live and be happy!'
This rollicking manner was so unusu-
al in him that Reed began TO think there
,cas something the matter. He worried
himself about his friends brain. Reed
was never troubled about his own brain,
although he frequently rollicked and
went much into society. But his con-
cern for Brenton depend, as he met him
day after day and night after night at re-
ceptions, dinners, and even at balls. The
worst shock was still TO come. One re-
markable midnight he found himself
sitting opposite Brenton alta select lit
tie poker party in the house Of friend;
and they parted at six O'Clock in the
morning, Brcnton having bet freely and
lost o couple Of hundred.
''Look here, Arthur said Reed, on
the doorstep feeling ii his duty to speak,
"this isn't the sort of thing for you at
nll. You don't know how to play poker
and you can t afford to pay for your ig-
norance."
"Stcady now, Reed, answered Bren-
ton, who had drunk nothing but seltzer
during the night; 81 am all the richer
for having lost two hundred and odd
dollars"
"Wcll, but your work." Reed insist
ed, with the fatherly beneyolence in
spircd by his wonted draughts of cham
pagne at the card table. "How can
you go along in this drive and attes:l 70
your work."
~ don't do any +" ss;! Esanson.
"But-but your electricity, I mean, -
said Reed.
Brenton looked severe. "Don't men,
tion that word to me,' said he. ~
know nothing about electricity"
OF course, after that, there was but
one conclusion for Reed to draw. His
friend was insane. 1t was perfectly
natural that Reed should devote his
time to society; that he should frequent
clubs, duck suppers and poker parties
that he should know nothing about
electricity, and very little about any
thing else. All this, for him, was
healthy and reasonable; but for Brenton
to be in the same condition, and do the
same things, was pure insanity Let us
be just to Reed. He felt very sorry for
the fact; bnt he decided that his duty al
present was to keep the mournful secret
TO himself.
Other people did not seem to suspect
1t at ALL Brenton had large circle ol
non-condnctlng or unelectrical friends,
who had long been trying to draw him
into their gayeties, and were only toe
glad that he had at last hearkened &c
their persuasions. They knew he was
bright. They were rejoiced to see him
take his proper place and rapidly be.
come fayorite. The Parets especially
were pleased. They, AS every one
knows, were immensely rich. Old Miss
Sarah Paret, who, with no need Of
money, had become sort of receiving
reservoir OF the family wealth, wai
looked upon with great interest by al
the branches which acted as distributing
reservoirs; and old Miss Sarah had long
ago taken great fancy to Brenton.
suspect her of having for some time
planned match between him and bel
niece, Lily Parct--the one he had sa
next 10 at the dinner have mentioned
Miss Sarah was too proud, too rich ant
zoo maldenly to divulge this amatory
plan; but suspect her all the sane. /
gave her great delight TO see the interes
In the young man which Lily showed
And, ~ Brcnton paid great deal of at
tentia' 70 Lily Paret, nearly every on,
began % agree thpt he had forsakeI