Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-05-15
HoUNDsD an ms LIFu.

The "Ei0pDaut hAnV Shunneu p1
Every Ono because OF Isis De-
formity--A story of Orue, sadness.
We eau remember no invented tale, says
the London Speaker, that speaks so to
the heart at once OF the cruelty Of life,
aud the besuty OF human compassion, as
the true story closed this week by SEN
tence in the newspapers, announcing that
Joseph Merrick, the elephant Man"
was dead. Imagine u human soul
clothed Ia body so unspeakably fright
ful that, seeing ii, men turned sick with
loathipg, and women tainted; being
who hnd to be conveyed from place to
place in secret; who hardly dared to ven
ture abroad even by night; who, finding
his fellow creatures ran from him, grew
terrified by the terror he created, and
shuddeHed in dark ooyners like hunted
beast. Imagine him driven by stNrya-
ton to aocept showmRn'R offer and be
exhibited TO the most brutal OF audiences
that commonly enough shrieked and run
pell-ma'l from the tent as soon as the cur
tain was drawn.
Early in 1886, Mr.. Frederick Trsves,
one OF the surgeons OF the London Hos.
pital, found Merrick in penny show, in
q room OF the Whitechspel road, crouch
ing behind an old curtain and trying 10
warm himself over a brick that WAS
heated by gas jet. Mr.. Treves went up
to him not only without fear or loathins,
but with sympathy. For the first time IN
his life OF "a years Merrick heard kind
word and was spoken to like Il man. lhe
effect was curious. 1t made him afraid
at first. He shrauk as an ordinary man
would from something uncanny. Then,
as he began to realzs the truth, he broke
into sobs of gratitude. Days aud even
weeks passed, however, before he recov-
cred from the shock OF hearing a com
passionate word.
The police prohibited his show on the
ground OF public decency. So he went to
Belgium, where again tho police inter-
fersd, and where an agent decamped with
his money. Merriok was left destitute
and starving in the streets OF foreign
town, where the ignorant mob thought
him fond.
he came back to Londou-how, no one
quite knows. AT every station Bnd land-
ing place crowds logged him. Steamers
refused TO have him on board. But he
came back TO London, because in London
lived the only man who had ever given
him kind word. Ho made his way to
the London Hospital, onnd Mr.. Treves,
who had hin lodged for time in an attic
in the hospital, and determined to find o
permanent shelter for him.
Bat now it was found that no institu-
tion would receive him. The Royal Hos
pital for lrcurables and the British Home
Tor Iucursbles alike declined to take him
in unless sufficient funds were forthcom-
ing to pay for his maintenance for life.
| He himself begged that he might be
placed in the blind hospital. It is hard
to match the pathos of this plea.
Then in November, 1856, Mr.. Carr
Comm, the chairman of the London
Hospital, wrots TO the Times asking help
for this case, and the British public re.
sponded. A room was built for Merrick
on tho ground floor 10 remote wing OF
the hospital, and there, surrounded with
books, tiowers, and hundred tokens of
the kindness that is really quick in the
public heart, he hos lived until this last
week.
He had found many tEiends-t the Prince
and Princess OF Wales, Mr. Gladstone,
Mrs. Kendall md others. To Mrs. Ken
dali ia due the happy suggestion that
Merrick should be taken to see the Christ.
mas pantomime at Drury Lane. She en-.
e. ged the royal box; she had him brought
to the theatre, and took every preoaution
that no strange eye should see him, Hid
den from the house behind the curtains
OF the box, the Elephant Man" tasted an
hour or two Of intoxicating happiness. 1,
WAS all real 20 him the fairies, the splen-
dor and the jewels,
Merrick, IN spite Of his hideous exterior
and terrible experiences, was in his way
gentle sentimentalist and gushed forth al
times, under the happy conditions of hit
life st tbs hospital, in verse modelled on
the hymns of DIR. Watts, ia which he
gave utterance to feelings Of gratitude,
the sincerity Of which none ever ques
toned. 1t was q tender heart that WEI
beating beneath a mask more hideouI
than hat of Orson, Above ali, il was
heart that was hllad with love for tn,
man who was literally his saviour, wht
first spoke kindly to him, who rescued
him from fate Thousand times wore,
than death, and 10 the end was both hi
doctor and his friend. Recently il wa
only Mr.. Treves who could thorough,
understand the poor creatures maimet
utter6nces; and TO Mr.. lrevss he clunI
10 the last with the wistfui trust AM
affection OF dumb animal.
II is difficult TO speak Of this man
case without emotion. But luckily ii j
, harder still 10 hear of 1t and believe tho
the "strugRle. for lifers" have grasped TIL
trust secret Of life, or even half OF 1t.