St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-10-02
OPELOUsAs, LA, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2. 1897

tuition; good habits; clear con-
science; courage; an avoidance OF
anxiety and fatigue, regular bow
els, a freely acting skin, no change
in the manner of living, and in
malarious latitude, quinine tonic
@. Well, how is. it you doctors
so rarely take it?
A. I might say because doctors
are so vii tuous, and the Lord loves
Has chosen ones, but as an actual
matter of fact, owing to overwork,
anxiety and fatigue, it has proved
| fearfully fatal to our confreres In
every epidemic. / can show you a
list Of heroes, who, in sublime he
roism, surpassed those at Thermo-
plye. They are the unacclfmated
doctors who fell at their post In
Memphisi i'm 1878. Their very names
are forgotten, and for anght I
know, no monumental stone per-
petuates this Isoll of Honor. Had
they been hired at $1,000 per month
to desecrate Southern hearth stones
their widows perhaps would be
drawing pensions from Ia grateful
country." Had they died with the
collar of some corporation or trust,
or syndicate, around their necks,
their children might be revelling
in the wages OF dishonor, but as
they sought to emulate Christ and
died for men, they are forgotten,
their children perhaps in rags,
penury and want, and their memo
ries crucified by the "dear people," !"
who, when we'll, love to uphold the
medical man to ridicule and to at
tribute mercinary motives to their
every action. Small wonder that
the medical man of to-day is
tempted in times of epidemic in
vasion to leave his patients in the
lurch, crying out "Charity begins
at home," and "who will provide
for my widow and orphans, ii the
dreadfever carries me Off"
Say, Mr.. Editor, I witnessed
scene once that made profound
impression on my youthful mind.
It was during storm at sea. The
elements were raging with all the
fury of tropical hurricane; waves
seemingly mountain high, had
washed the deck houses overheard
for four days and nights. We were
scudding under bare poles, the
saloon was wet, cold and sloppy,
and the steerage crowded with
Irish immigrants-400 in number
was deluged with water. Every
able bodied man aboard was put to
work to aid in averting the coming
disaster, which seemed inevitable.
Filled with the awful terrors of the
deep, which to my youthful fancy
was magnified a hundred fold, /
nevertheless could not resist the
awful facination of watching the
war of the elements and the pam
demonium which reigned in the
steerage, for the order had been
given to batted down the matches,
and the terror stricken immigrants
were determined to get out, not
liking to be cooped up "atween
decks.' Finally thro' the personal
magnetism and courage of Capt. Z. :,
as gallant a salt as ever trod o
quarter deck, order was restored,
and the men implored to aid the
crew. Among the number was a
big strapping brute, who had pass
ed as a bully during the voyage,
and on several occasions had
proven SO obstreperous, that he
was threatened with chaines. Well,
this fellow was down on his knees
telling his beads, crossing himself
and praying at the rate of 20 knots
per minute. To Capt. Fps request
he paid no attention except to
groan the louder, exciting the
women and children to an hyster-
ical pitch.
"What in the h. are you do
ing" said the Captain.
"Oh! Captain, dear, OF am pray
ing, oh! Wierasthod, OF wish / was
back i'm the auld bog.n
"Get upw says che Captain.
ooh! Captain, DEAR" said the
bully, "shure and let me alone.
[ am praying"
Whereupon, Capt. F. hauled off
with his right duke and took him
under the bud of his ear, and said
"Get up, you d. skunk; get up
and pray in fair weather"
It takes an epidemic for a COM
to find out the stuff their
doctors are made off. To halifax
with these fair weather fellows
who in time of storm and danger,
when they should be up and doing,
are on their knees praying; but
praying is their habit.