The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-17
TENSIONS DEATH BED.
The Late Sir Andrew Clarke's Graphic De-
scrIption-secret Of Hale Old Age.


Lord TenLyson was dead; from Hasle-
mere came confused rumcrs that the
death-bed scene had been of unearthly
beauty, and that Sir Andrew, who had
watched with his dying friend end patient
| through the whole of the last day and
night, was on his way back TO London.
| When 1 stepped out Of my hanson at his
| door Sir Andrew drove up from the oppo-
| site direction, says a writer in the West
! minister Gazette lie could not see
| patients just then, the servant told me
| very politely. | wasn't a patient / re-
piled. and gave him my letter CT intro
! 1uction from the editor. Then l was
! told Sir Andrew would see me presently.
| l had to wait some time. and then ne
| himself came in full Of apologies. and
| ready to listen TO my requests, "Come
| along into my den" he said. very kindly;
| Il am tired but / would like 10 ohlise your
| eGitor. Your editor is my editor for yours
| IS the only evening paper / take reSu-
| lGrly." This, by the way, as Ia the last
| days Of the former incarnation Of the
| Westminster Gazette.
Now listen and | will tell you what 1
| rink that / may say" he said, as settled
! in the famous consulting-room. red
dish light from the fire lit up the gloom or
the dull wet autumn day, and in the
perfect silence Of the house Sir Andrews
account Of that most wonderful Of death
beds was almost as a story from another
world. He looked very sad as he was
sitting in front Of his bureau necessarily
twisting a pencil between his fingers: but
or one moment he frightened up, then
ooked frowningly at me and said "Do
you know what YOU are asking? You
are asking me TO do what in the medical
profession is considered an awful breach
Of etiquette" Then he got up, and In
bitter disappointment / rose TO go. with
only sufficient courage left 10 say that
certainly II this was so | was sincerely
sorry. in one second the frown turned
into genial smile and with his hand on
my shoulder he said: "Sit still / don't |
mind committing a breach OF etiquette
this time but you must promise not 70 |
mention my name as your informant
The Last Waite.
Keep my name out and then tell the |
world what / tell you. as Ear as words can |
tell such things. OF that glorious death |
bed down on the Surrey hills" and then, |
with glowing emotion, with a voice that |
rose and fell. and often grew husky and |
unsteady. he told me of the last watch by |
the bedside Of the poet 81 have stood |
by the bedsdes Of thousands of fellow |
creatures" he said " and have seen |
I
but never, never one like that from which |
l have just come home" Sir Andrew, |
when he grew animated, had n strange |
magnetic power over his hearers have |
heard others. students, medical men, and |
private friends Of his, often observe this
and l sat in spell-bound silence as he
told OF the glorious day. which, i'm the
midst OF the autumn storms and rain.
dawned over the word as the poet lay on
his dQqfh-bp1 gaufqnqa | mi |
OF the description which he then gave me.
THE distant hills. shrouded in msts Of
perfect white, could be seen through the
oriel window Of the room where Tennyson
lay like a piece OF breathing marble" he
went on TO describe the night flooded
with moonlight the perfect Stiffness the
dying mans request for his Shakespeare
and. after that the dark" and then he
rose again and walked up and down the
room. 1 also rose to go.
sit still" he Numbered suddenly.
shall | tell YOU why Tennyson's death
was so peaceful? This is not TO be put
into the papers to-day. Probably II would
not interest them to-day. But the secret
Is this He lived a quiet laborious.
simple life. 1t is a secret which few men
learn III time TO profit by / w3s MS
friend before | was his physician. Meta
physics drew Us together. Gladstone,
too. as deeply interested in that subject,
and We all three agreed In our taste for
simple life and a life Of work.
Half the disease Of the generation is
due 10 idleness. ldleness. the beginning
or all evil. The mother OF pampered
darling of a daughter sends 10 me. The
girl ails, no one knows why. | am TO come
and prescribe. l know before | so what
is the matter with the girl GO to your
local medical man. l say he can manage
the case very WELL But no. IL must be
sir Andrew, the grumpy Scot. and Sir
Andrew prescrbes long walks and less
rich food, and regular meals and early
hours. Presently, when the young lady
has regained her red cheeks and high
spirits. they think l have performed a
wonderful cure
How he Doctor Lived.
Now let me tell YOU how / myself have
managed to live at all. I am sixty-six.
over thirty years ago. when / was young
ana obscure Scotch practitioner IN London.
l applied for place on the medical stan
OF the London Hospital. The authorities |
there said: on. let us give the poor chap |
chance lie Is cor sUnptive: he won't last
iohs' Let us In pity. give him the post"
wen nave Outlived nearly every one
OF ihem All my life | have been delicate;
l nave severa times been AT deaths door.
but by reason OF simple life and a life
Oh work have managed TO get very close
10 three-score years and ten
got up once more 10 take my leave "Sit
sum lie comm anded once more, as ne put
on ms glasses and profes siohal air 80
you are one OF those ladies who write?
lhey tell me all the younger generation or
women write and smoke. DO YOU
smoker with terrible emphasis on the |
personal pronOun). mo. Sir Andrew. |
DON'T You don't smoke? Look here.
LEI me tell you one thing. Don't! Don't,'
TOOK my leave and Jumped into my han
SOM but l was recalled. Come backi
Make haste! Young woman, come back
ms momentT' Sir Andrew called after
me- and showed me again into his room.
1 only want 10 tell you one thing. IL YOU
breathe my name In connection with what
nave told you ill-Il haunt you. Now
snake hands and forgive a garrulous man
Tor keeping you so long"
never mentioLed Sir Andrews name al
he time In connection with the informa-
ION. He sent his well done!" down 10 |
ne when he saw my article. and that was
ne last heard directly from him. But n
ne threat OF haunting me for revealing !
VINO was our informant about Tennyson's
ieath-bed scene was meant 10 be inde-
mite then--but I do not think Sir Andrew
~ 20 r. n