The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-11-18
HOW GLEN COMMITTED SUI
eide.

whats the matter? What's the
matter, my boy? Sit down. Sit down.
Sit down and quiet yourself and then
tell me what's the NATTER
That's the way / talked to Glenn
short for Clemence-Albutis as l took
him by the arm one day when he rushed
wild eyed and thick speeched into my
office, and seated him on the lounge.
doe" he said in helpless tone
my profession is that of a physician
I'm crazy. can't collect my thoughts,
and the pain in my head drives me
mad"
Il know it," said. "Tve told you it
would be so many times. You have a
buzzing in the ears. black spectres float
ing before the eyes. and"
"Yes! Yes! that's it Nervous
twitches of the muscles of the face and
numbness of the limbs and"
depression of mind and melan-
cholia," went on.
"A disposition to suicide" he almost
shouted. Il feel it almost necessary to
commit suicide. Doc. what'n l doP
How'll l stop it? Eh? How'll I keep
from blowing out my brains?"
"Nonsenser' said. anGrily. Don't
the way you're going now you won't
days. You'll be in the lunatic asylum.
as brainless as a born idiot"
II know it! 1 know ltr' and Glenn
wrung his hands wildly and endeavored
to spring from the lounge, but l forced
him back into his seat
'And so l am determined to put an
end to my life at once. God bless you!
Good-by! can't endure this agony any
longer" and once more he made an
effort to rise.
sit stillr' l Ithundered out, now al
most angry myself, ''or I'll send for the
police, and have you committed to the
Charities and Corrections, to be exam
ined as lunatic. Now, do you really
want to be cured of this attack of tee
zeeweezees you've got?"
Yes" he said, a little more calmly,
finding he had Il superior power to con-
tend with.
"Very well. then, give up all book
work. Lay aside pens, ink and paper,
60 into the country. fish, walk into the
woods, feed the chickens, do anything
but don't read anything but trash for
two months, and. above all, don't think
of anything scientific until next winter
without my permission.
But what's to become of my paper
on The Origin of the MegatheriumP'
I'm to read it before the Fe Fl Fo Fun
Society on the 18th of next month, you
know, and it isn't half done yet"
.'ConfOund your megatheriumsr' 1
exclaimed. angrily. IF you want to
h. N-pT1. lif.. ,I. ~ hot Won haua laft of
your senses, for megatherium, why
take your megatheriunls and do it, but
don't come bothering me about your
symptoms. tell you that you must
have a complete mental and physical
diversion or you'll be a lunatic or a
dead man in a month"
And drop my book on The Puerility
of Prehistoric Power?" said Glenn,
mournfully.
drop every book, written and un-
written. and write not line but an oc-
casional letter until tell you that you
may"
The poor fellow buried his face in his
hands and sat the picture of despair. but
1 knew was right Glenn had gradu-
ated from college with high honors and
gone to the bar with high hopes, when
suddenly his mind had, somehow, be-
come diverted to science, in which, un-
fortunately, he could afford to indulge
from the fact that he possessed a small
but comfortable income. left him by his
grandmother, so that law could be
made only an ornamental part Of his
life.
More than this, he was q remarkably
handsome fellow, and, outside of his
scientific studies, possessed more than
ordinary common sense. The fact was,
he had oyerdone the matter and he
was suffering, accordingly. from in
somnia and over brain work. Entire
and complete cessation from study was
his only hope. Just as had told him
this there came gentle tap at my door.
and to my summons OF it 'Cone," 1t
opened and two ladies entered-one.
Miss Martha Megrims, an old maid of
sixty-tive, my patient with nothing at
all the matter with her but the want of
exercise and employment, and who
would not wait for me to call on her,
but hunted me down with her means
and troubles daily. Her companion
was her niece Lillian. and "airy, fairy
Lillian" she was. A more beautiful lit
tie creature l never saw, and never ex-
pect to see again. and as good as she
was pretty.
Their coming just then embarrassed
me exceedin gly. l could not dismiss
Miss Megrims, and must bear with
her usual half hour of groans and
grunts, for which was SO we'll remun-
Grated, and. at the same time, did not
dare to let Glenn 60, for knew he was
in a dangerous condition of mind. and
l was afraid that he might carry out his
threat. Introducing him and bringing
him into our conference was out of the
question, and there was but one way for
it, which was to stuff HIM into my little
back room, from whence there was no
escape but by skylight or the door
which led into the office.
This turned on him to do when
/ saw that he had risen from the
lounge, and was standing. as one en-
tranced, gazing on Miss Lillian Brown