The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-18
OF MUSIC
DIR. CARL LEO V~ERRINDER,
Director.


To sit, as did a Planet reporter a few
days ago, ina very atmosphere Of sweet
harmony, created by DR.. Verrinder's
magician-Iike touch was an experince
that might well be envied, and one cal
culated to inspire the most sentimental
reveries. Butsentimental moods finally
vanish and leave facing the sober
and practical side of life. The music
ceased and the conversation took aturn
leading to the real object of the re-
pOrter'sca
There are stories abroad, said the
newspaper man, regarding some X
traordinary deliverances from death,
which you have met with recently,
doctor. Would you object to stating
what foundation there is for them,
and, if any, furnish me with the true
facts for publications. DR.. Verrinder
shrugged his shoulders and laughed.
Il have not" he replied, been given
to seeking newspaper nOtOriety, and at
fifty five years of age it is not likely /
shall begin, and yet, said the professor
after thinking a moment and consult
ing Mrs. Verrinder, perhaps it is
best that l should give you the circum-
stances for use in The Planet. The
story of my rescue from the grave
might fittingly be prefaced by q little
of my early history. We resided in
England, where though l was a pro
fessOr of music, [ was not dependent
on my art, as | had acquired a com
petence. My wife was an h~eiress, hav-
ing $50, 900 in her own right. Through
the rascality Of a broker she wasrobbed
almost of all her fortune, while by the
Bank of Glasgow failure, my money
vanished forever. It became necessary
for me then to return to my profession
in order to live | do not speak of it
bOast.ngly, but | stood well among the
musicians of that day in the old land.
Ny fees were a guinea a lesson, and it
was no uncommon thing for me to give
twenty in a day. We came to America,
landing in Quebec, where I anticipated
getting an engagement as OTgenISt III
the cathedral, but was disappointed.
Subsequently we moved to st. Cath
arines, in which city [ procured an
organ and choir and soon had u large
clientele. Later, in order as [ thought
to better my fortune, | took up my
residence in London, first filling an en-
gagGment with q Methodist church and
afterwards accepting the position of
Organist in ST. Peters Cathedral. In
those cities | made many warm friends,
and their tributes and gifts [ shall ever
retain as among the most precious of
my possessions. 1t wGs whileliving in
London and pursuing my art with
much earnestness and labor that I re
ceived a stroke Of paralysis. Perhaps"
here the speaker rose and stretching
himself to his full height, thus display
ing his well-built and well nourished
1900 GET IL -o+ Io1l~ ILL., ~o-oI-s..
But the truth is [ have had threestrOkes
yes, sir, first, second and third, and
they say the third is fatal, ninety-nine
times QUO Of one hundred. Yet here
you see, before you a three stroke vic
tim, and a man who feels, both in body
and mind, as vigorous as he ever did
in his life. My ultimate cure [ attribute
to my testing the virtues of q medicine
whose praise / shall never cease sound
ing as long as | live, and which | shall
recommend to suffering humanity as |
amnOw constantly doing, while know
Of a case and can reach the ear Of the
patient. After removing to Chatham
| h9d not long been here when my
health further began to give way.
Gradually | noted the change. I felt
it first and most strongly in a stomach
affection which produced constant and
distressing nausea. It grew worse aud
worse, l myself attributed it to bad
water poisoning my system. One doc
tor said it was catarrh of the stomach.
Another pronounced it diabetes. etiIl
another a different diagnosis. l kept
on %doctoring, but getting no relief. [
tried medicine after another, butt it
was no use. Grippe attacked me and
added to my pain, dlscOmfCrtand weak
ness. At last I took to my bed and it
seemed that | was never going to get
well. Nothing of a nOurishing nature
would remain on my stomach. No
drugs seemed to have a counteracting
influence on the disease which was
dragging me down to death. My wife
would sit at my bedside and moisten
my lips with diluted spirits, which was
all that could be done to relieve me
Besides three local doctors who gave
me up, L had doctors from London and
KInstOn whose skill | believed in and
to whom | paid heavy fees, but without
receiving any help or encouragement.
Ii l. true that a stomach pump opera
ton afforded temporary relief, but yet
L felt that my peculiar case needed
some special and particular compound
or remedial agent which l knew not-of.
But, at last, thank God, l discovered
IT.. l had been for eighteen months a
miserable wreck, unable to work, I'M
able to eat or to sleep properly. My
means were becoming exhausted. My