Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-10

reserve was found to cover a mine of humor
and good nature.
Ftom DR.. Benson I have learned much
concerning the oculist's private life, his
work at the hospital, his various inventions
and experiments.
A little more than year ago DR.. Gabriel
married the beautiful daughter of cele-
brated artist, girl who, without being in
the least degree blue-stocking, had re-
ceIved a far higher education than most En-
glish women. She interested herself greatly
in her husbands studies, and by her artistic
abilities was enabled to be of considerable
service to him in preparing drawings to
illustrate his great work on the eye. Much
of her time was spent in such useful labor.
No wonder, then, these two were more
united than the majority of people.
Although Mrs. Gabriel's beauty was of
such high order as to have made it an
easy matter for her to reign as a leading star
in society, ,society's prizes had no temptation
for her. Entirely devoted to her husband
and his work, her happiness was perfect.
Truly DR.. Gabriel was fortunate man to
have won such a companion in toll and
recreation! But their happiness was short
lived. They had been married but ore year
one year of unbroken gladness-when, the
summer session having passed, DIR. Gabriel
put science and practice entirely away, and
prepared to spend his months vacation in
Alpine climbing. His wife never hesitated
to share this tollsome pleasure; strong and
robust, it was just the exercise most fasciu-
ating to her energetic nature. The story of
her fate is short one. One morning the
daily papers contained short account of
"another frightiul accident in the Alps. !"
Mrs. Gabriel and guide were killed by a
E ILL. IT, hrInl fhnn nrh
much injured, recovered. On his return To
England he gave up all professional work.
A chastity change had taken place. In his
haggard face and gray hair few could recog-
nize the great oculist who had been the
picture of strong and energetic manhood.
His colleagues and fellow professors endeav-
ored to persuade him to return to his prac-
tice and hospital work, but in vain. He
would see but few friends, and for some time
DIR. Benson only was admitted. This excel
lent man was much alarmed at his condi-
ton, but failed to arouse the widower from
the respondent state into which he had
fallen.
Weeks passed, and still no signs of i'm
provement appeared. DR.. Gabriel's seclu-
sion became even more profound, so that it
was with difficulty DIR. Benson could obtain
access to him.
huuOT5 WeTc ClICuldbCu sudb buC ouOCh VI
his wiie's death and the injuries he himself
had sustained had affected his mind, but
these reports were emphatically denied by
those friends who were successful in obtain
ing an audience. The household servants,
too, declared that beyond his excessive re-
serve there was nothing unusual in his
manner. They said he spent most of his
time in his laboratory, where he frequently
remained the whole day and the greater part
of the night, and was absorbed in an expert
ment of great interest
Let me here introduce myself in
order to explain the part taken
by me in the events which
followed. I will first state that have no
connection whatever with the medical pro-
fession. Being of independent means and
of somewhat scientific turn, I have de-
voted much time to the study of photogra-
ply, especially those branches so seldom at
tempted by amateurs, viz, enlarging and
reproducing. In this way have been able
to be OF service to many eminent histologists
aud croscopists-including my friend DR..
Benson-men who have No time to register
the result of their researches by this means
themselves. The work has an indescribable
fascination for me; 1 have studied under the
most celebrated professors of photography