The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-15

found in the chorod plexus in the left
hemisphere, and there was distinct ra-
mollisement Of the corpus stratum of the
same side. The brain was not large, and
the Uranium was thinner than It is usu-
ally found to be.
This information is based upon Lock-
hart's Life OF Sir Walter Scott and II
Is impossible TO have any better authority
than this. If we cannot rely on our BIZ
ographers. whom are we TO rely ONT
Perhaps there is no more touching
psychological history than that which de-
tails the phenomena OF the mental decad-
ence and bodily decline, amid which the
hand of the mighty Magician Of the North
who rolled back the current of time
dropped at last, in hopeless paralysis. In
this mournful history, which. as detailed
by Lockhart, we can never peruse with
out some feelings Of emotion, there Is
chronicled the special physiology and pa
thology of Sir Walter Scotts overworked
mind. II is the history of a case-too
common, alas!-not to be neglected by
those who now mount as upon the wings
Of eagles.
"At time VIXEN pecuniary difficulties
added to his mental labors Sir Walter
Scott had to tug at the literary oar, and
he paid the first penalty OF his Enparall-
eled tolls on the 18th of February, 1880,
when he had a slight apoplectic attack,
more than two years and a half before his
death.
His biographer recalls the fact that
both Sir Walter Scotts father and elder
brother had died of paralysis, so there
was distinct hereditary tendency Of nerv-
Gus disease, and when we consider the
great agitation and fluctuations to which
he had been subjected during the four
preceding years, the only wonder is that
the blow was deferred so long. lie was not
without sufficient warning, but the long
habit Of literary labor was too strong for
him, and after so distinct a notice of the
fate of the material organ he still worked
as industriously as ever.
During the following winter his state
of mind was distressingly shown to his
amanuensis. His biographer observes that
a more difficult and delicate task never
devolved upon any mans friend than that
which at this time he had to encounter.
He could not watch Scott from hour to
hour, or write at his dictation without
gradually, slowly most reluctantly, be-
coming aware Of the fact that that mighty
hand which he had worshipped for more
than thirty years of intimacy had lost
something, and was daily losing something
more OF it's energy. The faculties were
there, and each of them was every now
and then displaying itself in fun vigor,
but the sagacious judgment, the brilliant
fancy, the unrivaled memory were all sub
iect to occasional eclipse. Ever and anon
he paused and looked around him like
one half waking from a dream Knocked
with shadows. The sad bewilderment Of
his gaze showed a momentary conscious
ness that like Samson in the lap Of the
Phillistine, his strength was passing from
him, and he was becoming weak like unto
other men.
"Then came the strong effort Of aroused
will-the clouds dispersed as before
purer air, all was bright and serene as OF
old, and then 1t closed again In yet deeper
darkness.
Under these circumstances, It was no
wonder that his medical advisers assured
him repeatedly and emphatically that If he
persisted in working his brain nothing
could prevent his malady from recurring
with redoubled severity. His answer was,
AS for bidding me not work, Molly might
as well put the kettle on the fire and say,
Now don't boil / foresee dis
tinctly that If ! were to be idle / should
go mad
THE fate of Swift and Marlborough was
also before his eyes, and in his Journal
there is an entry expressive of the fear lest
the anticipated blow should not destroy
life. and that he might hnger on driveller
and show
= i do not think my head is weakened
he writes yet a strange vaciliation makes
me suspect. Is it not thus that men begin