Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1888-01-19
A TRIP TO EUROPE.
How n Boston Man Got a Vacation and
a Good Rest.


Good Rest
heard in q down town office tale which
recalls Hawthorne's story Of the man who
went out for walk one evening, after say
ing goolby to his wife, and did not return
for twenty years which he spent in house
on the adjoining street. 1t seems that Il cit-
zon of Boston, whose name, if | should give
It, would be recognized at once by many of
my readers, found himself last spring III a
very worn and nervous condition. 1t seemed
to be absolutely necessary that he should go
somewhere where it would be impossible for
letters or kilograms of business to annoy him.
The family physician suggested n trip to
Europe, and his wife protesting her willing
ness to stay at home and look after the large
family Of children, the merchant, for such he
was, apparently acquiesccl He stipulated
that no one should see him Off. and that no
letters should be expected from him, but, in
stead, he promised to send a "cablcgram'
twice n week to his wife. The fact was that
lie had a horror Of the sea voyage, and had Sc
cretly resolved TO crafty q homcsick dcsir
OF revisiting alonc-which he would never
have been allowed 70 do under ordinary cir
cumstances-the village in a northern New
England region where his childhood was
spent. However, he engaged passage in a
White Star steamer, and, after an affection
ate farewell to both his wife and children,
started for New York. He stayed in that
city just long enough to make sure that his
name was on the passenger list Of the steam
ship and to arrange for q series of half-wcekly
"cablegrams" from Liverpool London, Paris,
Lucerne, etc, to his wife, and departed for
the country.
The trick was certainly cruel one but the
mans mental condition was SO morbid and
perverted that | think he must be held partly
excusable. Some admiration is also excited
by the neatness with which the plan was car
ried out. Prayers were duly offered in an
Episcopal church for "a person gone to sea-"
his friends noted with satisfaction the quick
arrival Of the steamer in which ho was sup
posed to have sailed, and the kilograms that
bis wife received every few days announcing
his continued improvement III health We're a
great satisfaction to her. In fact, however,
her husband rusticatng under an as
sumed name at a little tavern in his native
village He bought horse, rode about tho
country reviving old rccollections, and
breathing in rest and strength from the pure
mountain air.
The denouement was, of course, the most
difficult part OF the affair He had intended
at first to keep up the deuSlon to the very
end, and ostensibly return from the foreign
tour laden with European presents, pur-
chased in New York. But as his nerves re
covered their wonted tone and his thoughts
began to be less engroSscd with himself the
instinct of honesty rcassorted itself, and he
determined'to make full confession He
had kept informed by some means of the
whereabouts and condition of his wife and
children, and accordingly he was able to sur
prise them one day last week by riding
calmly INTO the seaside village where they
We're staying, and disnounting, bronaei and
healthy, III the bosom of his family. good
deal OF explanation was necessary, and there
some Shame on one sidc and some
wounded feelings on the other; but, upon the
principle that "all's well that ends well, - the
affair was amicably settled. Boston Post