The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-01-05
Memory.

| IHkgSxAlSasJNs&SSf most desperate case.
| EtS4SSIhfSsS55st7}S }SssSSJ After cOnsi a ble
| EtzsI-Eses@sEEyzSogSa time he became astrong,
man, only that he
was bereft of all recol-
| lection of his name and former place of resi-
| depce. He knew nothing about himself, ana
| of the past he could recall absolutely nothing.
| He had been reported at home as having been
| killed in battle. His neighbors met together
| to pay proper tribute to his memory. lie had
| been useful member of society. and 1t was
| determined that suitable monument shouid
be erected to his memory, which was accord
| ingly done. After a proper time his wife
| married again.
| Nevertheless, the man lived and was sound
| in every respect, with the exception he did not
| know who he was what he had been, or where
| he had lived, and there was no one who could
tell anything about him.
| Satisfied with the region in which he found
| himself and being naturally enterprising and
| active, he worked, and with what he earned he
| purchased tract of farm land which was good
and very cheap He thrived, and married
wife, In time children were born, and they
were all prosperous, contented and happy; only
| the past to him was blank.
| More than % years thus passed, when mem
| DRY began to return to him. The first thing he
| knew was his name. 1t came to him while his
team of horses were running away, he holding
the reins. 1t came all at once. Then there
was long hitch. Under an excitement next
came to him the name of the place where he
had lived Every time any excitement occurred
to him some fact about himself came to him.
Thus gradually he remembered the name of
his wife; also the fact that years before he
left her to go to the war. He could not ex-
actly understand it all. AS man of more
than ordinary intelligence he awaited devel-
opments." 1t was not long before he was in
sense himself again. The history of the war,
which he read. helped him to understand mat
ters. His restoration was not more interesting
to him than to his wife. OF course they knew
there was liable to be family somewhere
else. He proposed to journey to his old home
and find out how matters were. He had done
nothing wrong, but was the victim of remark
able circumstances, to say the least. What had
been done could not be undone. This was the
view which his wife also took. He went to the
place of his old home. He saw the simple
monument which his neighbors erected to his
memory, and read the inscription it ex-
pressing their appreciation Of him as q citizen
and heroism as a soldier. He remained long
enough to learn that his first wife was dead
and their children had married well. He did
not declare himself, nor did any one discover
who he was. He concluded to let well enough
alone, and return to his family, and to pass the
remainder of his life where his old career
ended and his new one began. There he still
lives, prosperous and much-respected farmer,
istered at the hospital which curiously was
wrongly given at the time.
Another case much resembling this is that OF
soldier who fell in battle, was reported among
the dead, and duly monrned by his family and
fellow citizens. But he was not killed. though
very seriously wounded. Being sent to the
hospital, he remained there q long time, and
almost hopeless, without being able to recall
his own name or give any clew as to who nc was
or where was his home. He was after long
time discharged, and he went forth to labor at
his former trade, at which he was able to make
e living. There were occasional waves of re-
turning memory, otherwise the past was a
blank to him. Wherever he went he was
garded as man not altogether right. In his
wanderings he came to the village where he
had lived. Objects seemed to be familiar to
him. He worked without being recognized.
Certain things began to come to him dimly
from the past, and then he would forget all
about them. he tried hard to think. In a
general way he was apparently just like other
men. One day he followed quite crowd,
going into place where meeting was as.
sembling. The object of the meeting
suitable inscription to the memory of the SOL
diers who went to the war from that place and
fell in battle. The names of the dead men
were read of. One struck him as rather
familiar to him. 1t was that of Joel Barlow.
As he thought of the name as the meeting went
name. He must have known the man. He
listened with earnest attention as the dead SOL
diers recalled by the speakers one of
whom dweit on the merits of Joel Barlow as a
former citizen, and on his bravery as soldier.
He dashed his head with both hands Certain
incidents referred to by speaker in Barlow's
life, particularly the rescue by him of child
from burning building, made deep impres.
sion, and seemed. SO to speak, to break the
crust The incident came to him with startling
force. IL did that" he said to himself Then
he sprang to his feet and exclaimed: "If am
not Joel Barlow. who am II" Attention was
at once drawn to him, and he was scrutinized
by all present. He was speechless while they
gazed. Then raising his arms he said with
much emphasis: Il am Joel Barlow or am
crazy" One man advanced towards him and
said: Joel Barlow was my cousin. He had
mark on his shoulder. If this man has that
mark he must be Joel Barlow" Numbers
moved around, some protesting that they saw
q resemblance in the man to the Joel Barlow
they once knew. His shoulder was laid bare
by the cousin, who. in a loud tone exclaimed:
"There is the mark and he is Joel BarIow!"
Memory working in the mind of the man
whose identity was being ascertaned. Every
instant he more and more knew himself.
Recollection was asserting itself. Fixing his
eyes on the man whose hand still rested on his
shoulder, he said, deliberately: This man is
my cousin; his name is Peter Browney" 1t
was true and the evidence was overwhelming.
Barlow sank to his seat, almost unconscious
He was taken to the home of this cousin, the
meeting having abruptly broken up.
For days Barlow was in high fever and un-
der medical treatment. The case was the talk
of the whole town. He recovered slowly and
with strength came bsslC n distinct recollection
of the past. All doubt was dissipated. The in
scriptiOn so far as Barlow was concerned was
not made; but in due timeh his name went upon
the pension-roll. 0Iz
Alphabetical.