The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-12-11
A SINGULAR CASE.

.Well what is it?n
Twas thus / addressed my medical
friend, Van Leonard who after some
minutes of deep thought drew long
breath with some appearance of relief.
Il was thinking of Il singular case"
That occurred in your practice, 1
suppose?" queried.
Not exactly. and yet in reply !
could say yes! You asking me about
Thimbault, the mesmerist reminded
me of it. 1t was singular case"
''lf mesmerism. or odyllic force. is
in any way concerned in the case. let
me hear it by all means" l replied.
We were sitting in Van. Leonard's 8
office, and | had called on purpose to
consult him in regard to one Thin
bault. who was creating a sensation
in social circles by his manifestations
of magnetic force or hypnotic power.
What was the case?" l inquired.
My friend INDUCED in a reverie for
some moments. as he in an absent man.
ner puffed away at his fragrant
Havana. Then he gently tipped tho
ashes from the end of his cigar and
continued:
The sad death not long since of a
popular official in a neighboring city.
after defalcation, which no one had
suspected or even deemed in the slight
est degree probable, brought this case
to my mind. 1t occurred some years
ago in the town of Blank. where then
resided
Tell me ali about it." said I, set
tling myself into "A listening attitude.
''As | said, Blank was my residence
then. practiced my profession. but
was not kept so busy by it then as /
am now, and from frequent conversa-
tiOns with an instructor in our city
academy ! became deeply interested in
phrenology and biology. Prof. Frank
lin was the mans name. He had great
force of character. in fact tremendous
will-power. and his control of students
was perfect; even the most refractory
yielded to him. Besides being a
man Of quite extensive learning, he
possessed keen penetration, and /
sometimes imagined that he could
read my very thoughts. He would de-
scant in most interesting manner
about a life-force call it what you may,
odyllic or magnetic force. by which
strong natures controlled the will and
even the physical powers of others.
Sometimes have tried it on my re-
fractory pupils he would say, and
they would afterward declare that l
had bewitched them. 1t would be
well, he sometimes added, for you
doctors to study the science of biology
more. 1t might aid you in controlling
the diseases of your patients by en-
abling you to control the patients
My mother was alive at that time.
and cultivated farm in the neighbor-
hood of Blank, in which | myself was
interested AS legatee. Customarily |
paid her city and county taxes as well
rs my own, aud thus became quite in
innate with Judge Alden. the city and
county treasurer. Alden was a most
amiable and genial man, n member of
the Methodist church. and of unim-
peachable probity and yeracity. l
liked to converse with him, for he had
been a great reader, and the very full
ness geniality. and aristocratic appear
auce of his countenance evinced his
mental culture. and his acquaintance
with all that is good. ennobling. and
elevating in literature. Have you ever
noticed that such was the elevating
effects of the good and beautiful in
literature?"
Mo-
well, observe your acquaintances
more closely, and whenever YOU per-
ceiye refined countenance. betoken-
ing intelligence and wide information,
YOU may be sure the owner is pure
minded man, versed in elegant litera-
ture.
Alden, who had once been Judge of
our Superior court. was such man,
and so great was his probity that year
after year hewas elected city treasurer.
But in the course of time a change oc-
CURED i'll lis appearance. Signs of
care and concern began TO appear on
his face. AT times an air of diStrait
took possession of him, and at last
wrinkles and gray hairs became plain
ly visible. A close observer could dis
Germ 4 slight absence of that easy and
genial conversational power which had
made his company pleasure. The
smile was still on his countenance, but
it appeared strained.
Have you noticed the change which
has come over Judge Alden? asked
Prot Franklin of me one day.
''Oh, suppose It's the usual change
snperinduced 10y age and business
cares, replied.
Don't be too sure. There is always
a deep-seated cause for such radical
changes
The subject passed from my mind
until 4 few weeks afterward. when the
public was astounded by the announce
ment that Alden was a defaulter to the
amount of at least $25, 900; and experts
proved it by examination of his books
That accounts then" l calculated.
for those lines of care and concern. A
troubled conscience, YOU know. What
did he say for himself?n
He did not seem to know wtat to
say. He admitted receiving the money.
as the figures in his books declared.
But what had become of it. he did not
remember. He disclained all inteu-
tional defalcatlon. and those who knew
him best believed him."
Hal be not been speculating in
stockso" i asked.
There was no evidence of such a