The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-05-11
RUINED BY SUCCESS.
The Story Of a Man Who Re-
GREETED His Discovery.

Shortly after DIR. Horace Wells, OF Hart
ford, DR.. Charles T. Jackson, of Boston, and
distinguished foreign chemist discovered
that nitrous oxide or, as it was popularity
called, laughing or exhilarating gas pro-
duced when taken into the lungs the state
of annsthesis or insensibility to pain, was
a student in the most eastern of all our
colleges, the one located or the elm-shaded
banks Of the beautiful Kenebec. The dis
cussion which arose in relation to whom the
credit was due for discovering that nitrous
oxide would produce insensibility to pain,
the conjecures in regard to the employ
ment of anRsthetics in surgery, and the
more general application Of chemistry to
the useful arts had all tended to make this
science popular Most of my class were de-
lighted when the term came in which we
were to receive instruction in something
beside Latin, Greek and mathematics.
shall never forget the day on which the
subject of the compounds of nitrogen was
to be considered in the chemical recitation
room. The professor had stated the day
before that he should make large quantity
OF nitrous oxide and that he would admin
lister it to as many of the class as desired to
inhale it. My roommate Forbes and myself
read every thing we could find pertaining
TO the subject. Much had recently been
published on the matter in the periodicals,
most of which was more sensational than
scientific. For instance, it was stated in
several journals that person under the in
fuence of nitrous oxide, being unconscious
of what he was saying and doing and not
bound by any restraint would display his
natural disposition and manifest his leading
inclination and distinguishing character
istic 10 the fullest extent. One journal had
advocated administering this gas to persons
who were suspected OF committing crimes,
with q view of satisfying the claims of
justice.
The class exhibited as much pleasure on
going to the chemical recitation that day as
country lads show on their way to q circus.
They were not doomed to disappointment,
either. The performance was quite as en-
joyable as any ever given under q circus
tent by our great moral Snowman besides
being more novel and unique. Great excite
ment attended the administration of the
gas, as nearly every one suspected that the
person under its influence would display his
leading propensity or characteristic. If he
did so on this occasion some very strange
revelations were made. For instance, the
treasurer of the class and the favorite of
the faculty took piece of apparatus from
the lecture table and put it into his coat
pocket A meek-appearing and sancti-
monious looking student, who was supported
by u woman's aid society with view of
sending him to preach the gospel of pe.ce
to the savages of Africa, assumed the atti-
tude Of prize fighter and used the name of
his Maker in a way that was discreditable
to home or foreign missionary. To make
aha CDrprlSn q V0uth Nyhn Nxyac
careless in his conversations and studies re-
peated in most solemn, most affecting man.
ner seine of the moral maxims of Plato in
the language in which they were uttered.
The disclosures if such they should be
called, made deep impression on Forbes.
He spoke of them for several days after
wards. He seemed to be convinced that a
large proportion of people appear to be ex-
actIy the reverse Of what they really are.
H predicted most brilliant future for
nitrous oxide. AS other substances. known
as reagents were used to detec. the presence
Of various acids and bases whose properties
are concealed by the combinations they
have entered into, so this wonderful gas
would, in his opinion, be employed to de-
termine the true character of human beings.
He declared that he would use it on every
person before he entered on intimate rcla-
tons with them.
On Saturday, a few weeks afterwards,
Forbes and l took a long stroll into the coun-
try. We visited the DEVILS Easy Chair and
the Cascade, familiar places to most of the
students of Colby. Though he was q great
lover of natural scenery and that which we
saw was beautiful, still it did not appear to
engage his attention. He did not seem to
be absent-minded, but to be thinking on
some peculiar subject He was melancholy,
restless and taciturn. AS he was not in mood
to be companionable left him under the &C.
dars near the waterfall, which only needs a
Longtellow to make it as famous as Mime
haha, and went q long distance up the bank
of the stream. When l returned I found
that he had not changed his position. He still
sat on the green bank, one arm about cedar
tree, his eyes fixed on the pool below the
the charming waterfall. He did not appear
to notice my approach. After few mo-
ments of silence, in which it was difficult to
determine whether he had observed me or
not, rs he did not look up, he said
1.-The world needs something besides nj
trous oxide That is all well enough in its
way, but it docs not accomplish all that is
desired. What is wanted is a substance
that person can inhale or swallow and un-
der the influence OF which he will be able to
see others as they really are, to penetrate
all DISCUSSES, to read character and discern
motives, intentions and purposes. am con-
WINGED that there is such q substance al
ready formed or elements that can be COM
bined SO as to secure it. Quite likely it has
long been known, but that we are in ignor-
ance of its properties. Great Priestly, the
founder Of modern chemistry discovered nj
trous oxide before our fathers were born,
but we are just beginning to find out what
il ie good for. He discovered better than