San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-30


My efforts were unayailng. kept sharp
lookout upon him. and let him fall into no
more mysterious rcverirS: but the curious
idea that he possessed, or could p0>St-sS, some
gift above human nature was too firmly root
ed To be displaced. On all other subjects he
argued fairly ami WAS open to reason. On
this one point ne va, immOyable. When |
could get him to notice my attacks at all. his
answer was:
You doctors clever as you are with the
body, know as little Of psychology as you did
three thousand years ago
When the time cam" for n" 70 fold up my
easel and return To- the dual ~ of life, I
parted from CarTiStOn with much regret One
of those solemn, bit "rtcn broken, promises
TO join together next year in another sketch
ing tour passed betw'n us. Then | went
back to London, and during the subsequent
months, although l saw nothing of him, I
often thought of my friend of the autumn.
In the spring of lSij went down to
BOumemOuth to see, for the last time, an old
friend who was dying of consumption. Dur
ing great part of the journey down had
for travelling companion a well-CreSSed gem
t!emanly man of about forty years of age.
We were alone in the compartment, and aft
er interchanging some small civitieS such
as the barter of newspapers, slid into con-
verSatiOn. My fellow traveller seemed to be
an intellectual man, and well posted up in
the dOingS of the dav. He talked fuently
and easily on various topics, and Judging by
his talk must have moved in good society.
Although | fancicd his features bore traces
of hard living and dissipation, he was not
unprepOSSeSSlng III appearance. The great
est faults in his face were the remarkable
thlnnesS of the lips, and his eyes being a
shade closer together than one cares to see.
with casual acquaintance such pecuiarties
are of little moment. but for my part should
not choose for friend one who possessed
them without due trial and searching proof.
At this time the English public were much
interested in an important will case which
was then being tried. The reversiOn to a
vast sum of money depended upon the tesla
tors sanity or insanity. Like most other
people we duly discussed the matter | sup
pose from some of my remarks, my cOmpan-
ion understood that was doctor. He ask
ed me good many technical questions, and
| described several curious cases of mania
which had come under my notice. He SEEM
ed greatly interested in the subject.
You must sometimes find it hard to say
where sanity ends and insanity begins" he
said thOughtfully.
'Yes. The boundary line is in some in
stances hard to define To give in such a
dubious case an opinion which would satisfy
myself should want to have known the pa
tient at the time he was considered quite
sane"
''rO mark the differenceT'
Exactly And to know the bent of the
character. For instance, there is a friend of
mine. He was perfectly sane when last
saw him, but for all know he may have
made great progress the other way in the in
terval"
Then without mentioning names, dates, or
places, | described CarrStOn's peculiar dis
position to my intelligent listener He heard
me with rapt interest.
"YOu predict ne will 90 mad?' he said.
Certainly not Unless anything unfOre-
seen arises he will probably live and die as
sane as you or L.
'Why do you fear for him, them
For this reason. think that any sudden
emOtiOn-viOlemt grief. for instancc-any un-
expected and crushing downright at once
disturb the balance OF his mind. Let his life
run on in an even groove, and all will be well
with him."
My companion was silent for a few mo-
ments.
Did you mention your friends name?" he
asked.
laughed. Doctors never give names
when they quote cases"
At the next station my companion left the
train. He babe me polite adieu, and thank
ed me for the pleasure my conversation had
given him. After wondering what station in
life he occupied | dismissed him from my
mind, as one who had crossed my path for
short time and would probably never cross it
again.
Although did not see Charles CarristOn
received several letters from him during the
course of the year. He had not forgotten
our undertaking To pass my next holiday to-
gether. Early in the autumn, Just as | was
beginning to long with passionate longing
for open air and blue skies, letter came
from CarristOn. lie was now, he said rough
ing it in the Western Highlands. He remind
ed NE of last years promise. Could [ get
away from work now? Would | join him?
Il Il
suggest some other place where he could join
me? Still, the scenery by which he was now
surrounded was superb and the accommodate
ton he had secured, ii not luxurious, fairly
comfortable. He thought we could not do
better A postscript to his letter asked me 10
address him as Cecil Carr, not Charles Carris-
ton. He had reason for changing his name
"a foolish reason should no doubt call it.
When we met he would let me know it.
This letter at once decided me to accept his
invitation. In weeks time my arrange
ments for leave of absence were complete,
and was speeding nOrthward in the highest
spirits, and well equipped with everything
necessary for my favOrite holiday pursuit. l
looked forward with the greatest pleasure to
again meeting CarristOn. ! found him at
Calendar waiting for me. The coach did
not follow the route we were obliged to take
i'm order to reach the somewhat unfrequented
part of the country in which our tent was
pitched so my friend had secured the services
of q primitive vehicle and strong shaggy
pony to bear us the remainder of the journey.
So soon rs our first hearty greetings were
over proceeded Ia ascertain how the last
year had treated CaristOn. | was both de-
lighted and astonished at the great change
for the better which had taken place In his
manner no less than his appearance. he
looked far more robust; he seemed happier,
Observation-Disclosures more like ordinary hui
manity. Not only had he greeted me with
almost bOisterous glee, but during our drive
through the wonderful scenery he was In the
gayest of spirits and full of fun and anecdote.
congratulated him heartily upon the mark
ed improvement in his health, both mentally
and physically,
YES, am much better" he said. II fol-
lowed part Of your adyice-gave up mop
.,.:ol - o.....,,