New-York tribune., 1896-05-03

the poor jackass got into corner and kicked
the dogs. and jumped upon them with real
ferocity."
; IT rs strong meat to- put before the reader
who has been loving DIR. Holmes all his HE
long of the gentlest men who ever
breathed, but II would be short-sighted critic
who Jumped to the conclusion that because the
Autoerat saw these combats In pre-Autocratic
days ne must have had n sanguirary streak
in his disposition. The real significance OF the
letter lies in It's implication of the eagerness
with which Holmes took deep breaths OF the
life abotit him. entered into everything with un-
tagging delight. and felt and saw to an ex-
tent that kept him tingling. 1t is not intended
to dwell too long upon these earlier years OF
his life, but, pausing on his description of the
face. of King William " as probably the
largest uncivilized spot in England" further
citation from his youthful European corre-
spondence must be made in order to finally
show the intimate connection between the ardor
OF his Partisan years and that of his Ameri-
can manhood. In his college days he had writ
ten poetry. and literature ceased to call to
him in persuasive tones But the ensuing extract
from Letter written In Paris In 1894. apropos
of request for a contribution to an American
ma gazinet denotes the pace he set for himself
then, and to which ne adhered through many
Of the succeeding years Il have entirely re-
lnqushed the business of writing for journals
and shall say No, though Minerva and Piutus
come hand In hand to tear me. the Cincinnatus
Of Science. from the pioughtail she has COM
manded me to follow" The author of this
memoir gives a new sense of the devotion to
his profession which Holmes reveals In the
words just quoted and which he bore through
out. 1t is true that he found the duties of
practising physician irksome and even un-
profitable. though the latter circumstance Is
little difficult TO reconcile with his undoubted
powers. But those powers. those gifts. 1t Is
perhaps fairer to say. were magnifcently and
husiastically employed IN the lectures to
which he gave the best part of his life.
For thrty-seven years. two Of them at Dart
mouth and the rest al Harvard. he conveyed to
his students the knowledge which he had I'M
bibed at Paris with all his SOUL and as he passed
it on to them they drew inspiration from his
words. Some professional critics. are quoted by
Mr.. Morse, and they speak warmly OF Holiness
accuracy, punctuaty and patience. But when
Or. Cheever adds that 'thc wealth Of illustru-
ton comparison and sme he used was un-
equalled' he gets nearer the secret of the teach
er.s sway He loved anatomy we are told. las
a mother her child" "He was never tired al
ing It," And Professor Dwight describes him as
shedf ng rover the charnel-house elem ents OF his
discourse an atmosphere which must have been
like a draught Of cool water to the toilng stu
dents. "He gave his imagination full play IN
comparisons often charming and always quaint
None but Holmes could have compared the MI
croscOpical coied tube Of a sweat-gland TO
fairy's intestine. Medical readers will appreciate
the aptness Of likening the mesentery TO the
shirt ruffies Of a preceding generation. which
from 4 short line of attachment expanded into
yards of complicated folds" To medical readers
as Professor Dwight observes. these professional
felicities must appeal with special force yet no
trained taste Is required for their appreciation
They are part and parcel of that personality to
which reference, has been made, the personality
which made everything that Holmes did. said or
wrote different thing. more poetic thing. than
could have been expected of any one but him.
self