The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1894-08-11
THE THREE CHUMS.

THE THREE CHUMS.
When was in college had two yer,
dear friends, Marsden and Masterson
We were always together. despite the
fact that there could hardly have beer
found anywhere in the world three men
whose ideas ON most subjects SO radically
differed. Perhaps it was the intellectual
pleasure we derived from debating
among ourselves. with an acrimony only
possible amorg the fastest of friends, the
pros and cons of every question that
came up that was the bond of our union.
Whatever the bond was, we were Ger.
tainly inseparable, and think, on that
last night in New Haven, when after
four years of most intimate association
We parted. each to walk alone his path
through life, there were three very tear
stained pillows beneath our respective
heads before Morpheus claimed our allie
glance, l know that for one was com.
PEELED to change mine. SO saturated did
it become with those salt evidences of a
sincere grief which We're copiously shed
by my eyes that night.
The parting between Marsden and
Masterson and myself was geographical
rather than spiritual. Marsdens lines
fell in the pleasant places of Boston:
Masterson's in those Of Baltimore, and
mine in New York. Marslen studied
medicine, Masterson became professor
Of psychology without chair, and |
drlfted through a period of misery a, a
student OF law into literary, sharp shoot
ing; but through it all we kept up A
three cornered correspondence in which
the hopes and fears of our lives were
freely contided, with the result, think,
that we all took a more cheerful view of
existence than would otherwise have
been possible. 1t was the perfect candor
OF our intercourse that helped Us. What
did not Ike about Marsden | frankly
told him. and when l disapproved of
MaSterson. Masterson was the first 10
know 1t. and vice versa. 1t was helpful.
it was delightful. We lived in palace
of truth, which. alas. is no more
Five or six years was the duration Of
our post graduate alliance. which was
broken by death first. and then by that
which is worse than death-madness
and 1t all came about through the too
close application of Marsden and Master
son 10 their work. Marsden had ALWAYS
been noted for his love of the mysterious
and morbid. In the old college DAYS it
used to trouble Masterson and myself
not little to find how exceedingly fond
of the depressing things of life Marsder
was-that Is to say. he liked to hear and
talk about them. He liked to read sto-
ries not only bordering upon but plung.
ing INTO the middle of the supernatural
and while Masterson and . re conlpll-
ing scrapbooks of clippings showing how
easily Yale crews defeated Harvard
crews, and other matters Of alma mater.
nal interest, Marsden was filling envel-
opes with horrors-stories of vampires.
tales Of Authorization and other unna,-
ural things
While Masterson and | were reading
such light and airy stories as Pelham"
and "Pendennis." with Herrick as our
IDEAL poet, Marsden would devote his
hours Of outside reading to Hoffman
Poe and Monk Lewis, and anv versifar
whose sentiment smacked Of malaria
could be his poet for the time being. |
think the only point on which Master
'on and ever really agreed was in re.
gard to Marsden's unhealthy passion for
The grotesqCe. and we were unremittiny |
n our efforts to bring him down TO the |
ZEAL sunshlny things of life, but can |
not say that We were ever sanguine of |
he result Of our efforts.
1t was Marsden's horrible addiction IN
'uch matters that led Masterson into the
'tudy Of psychology and Marsden him
elf into medicine, and if Marsden would |
lave gone at 1t in the coldly scientific |
manner Of Masterson | think he would
lave been all right, although Masterson
arr1ed his GOODNESS degree too far in
hat he did not recognize the fact that
minds, like machines, speedily 20 10
'Ieces If not kept in repair 1t was while
rying to comprehend Marsden's mind
hat Masterson became interested in
mental science, and it was Mars,len's
'assion for the insane that decided him
o become physician, so that he might
ONE INTO '-,tual contact with those who
the things of which he read
Each succeeded In reaching his goal
lasterson at the age Of thirty found
imself an accepted authority on psvcho-
)glcal matters. Marsden at twenty niue
'as actively connected with the medical
tan OF an asylum for the insane in Mas
achusetts, and then the end came Ma
arson 3 candle had been burned at both