New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-16
TRIUMPH OF SCIENCE.

Four Of US were sitting in the bay window OF
the hotel There England the landscape
painter Harrison. the civil engineer; Eardiey
Britton. the professor Of physiology and myself.
Outside there was whisk Of rain in the air.
The surf was coming up thunderously on the
beach. fifty yards away. Dusk had fallen very
rapidly. ana far out at sea the lightshps chal-
lenge flashed at regular intervals. We lit our
pipes. Politics had been discussed. books talked
over and nothing remained but the last refuge
Of the weary-story- telling.
Harrison tried to thrill us with profoundly
unintercsting tale of a bridge judged by him to
be safe. which had gone down five minutes
after (or it beforeD he had tested it, Eng
land told at great length a narrowing recital
of the loss and recovery of one of his own pict-
ureS. which some presumably bad judge or
painting had stolen. To mpart a little life TO
the gathering. told a very good story. thor
Oughy original. about stopping at an inn on the
slopes of the Black Forest Mountains; how |
had not liked the landlords appearance. and
how he very nearly robbed and murdered me.
hut for my presence of mind in leaving the inn
next morning. Strange to say. this story also
fell fat and so We asked Britton for a tale. He
smiled sadly and pulled away at his pipe.
"Ah. we'll" said ne. you fellows may laugh,
but I've had one stirring adventure in my time.
young as am" ct is hardly necessary for me
to state that Brittons discoveries in brain
physiology had won him his ID. Sc Of London
University at the age of twenty-sX. and that
his further successes had given him Worldwide
fame) Il have never told this to any one be-
FORE" went on Britton las I've always felt
rather nervous about it, But it's five years ago
IL
Charge your pipes please There's some La
takia here. if you care to try IL
1T just after l got by ID. Sc. | went
straight 10 Leipsic to study under Virhof. l
had good recommendation from Crane. Thomp-
son and other big lights Taking one thing
with another, felt on good terms with myself
when | stepped out of the train at the SchlosS-
vein terminus. | first hunted for lodgings. but
they all seemed full till at last | turned down
street of dark tall houses. and in the WINDOW
of one stood the welcome announcement that
Hpyiy IN he g
me admirably. especially as there was a large
rambling room under the roof. which saw at
once would he the thing for my laboratory.
SO l had my traps brought up. and was soon
quite at home. OF course. quickly introduced
myself to the great Nirhon. He was man
about seventy years of age, whit c-halred. ven
cradle and with a look of gentle and placid
serenity on his face He had. in fact. what you
would call a thoroughly benevolent appearance.
and child would trust him at first sisnt l
can't tell you how kindly he received me. or now
quickly ne put me at my ease. He soon GOT
me to talk TO him about my work. and ! oouid
see he surprised at its extent | went
home. highly delighted with my reception rs
you may suppose. had looked fer some sourcd
old votary OF science. and To- genial oid
philanthrOpst.
Daring the next six months | worked hard
and found the benefit Of such teaching as VIZ
hon could undoubtedly give on certain phases
Of brain histology he was sublime, and would
have inspired a clCd Now. all this time !
was busy i'm my spare moments on the me iuiia
oblongata and its functi0rs and | thought
something might come Of my researches IN mat
direction. though. truth 10 say. mad very ha"N
notions about what did come at last But was
very shy about this private work OF mine. ana.
/ although talked freely enough with my mas
ter other topics. did not say anything about
my pet subject. Looking back now, can thlhk
/ Of no other reason than shyness
"One day however after an unusually Drill
| liant lecture Of Virhons waited for him. ana
! We sauntered slowly down the street together.
his arm resting affectionately in mine. Neither
81 oke for some time. at last he said play
fully: We'll. my young friend. you seem dull
to-day Is ii that you in what you English
call "a brown study" L thinking. said
! l. moved TO sudden confidence, of some re-
searches | have been recently making All.
yes said he nquringly. in what direction?
Well master | replied. / have been doing
what many men before have tried to do; that
/ is find out the precise functions Of the meduia
! oblongata As | said the words. | felt my arm
violently pressed by that Of the old man, as
! if he had felt Il sudden electric shock. | looked
up in surprise. Pardon me he said; 1T is
slight affection Of the heart to which am sub
iect You were saying But. master. ! re-
| piled this is dangerous. Have you consulted
any one?' NO no" he cried impatenty
Don't think any more about it, You were say
ing something about some little researches OF
yours You must let me come TO see your
some hints | thanked him effusiveiy, and we
bade farewell at the corner Of my street
"A few weeks passed away. and | was getting
feverishly anxious My experiments were turn
ing out even more successful IMAM had hopeu
and light was beginning to dawn on me- saw
the goal Of my hopes very near at hand.
stroyc hard to be methOdical in my work. ana
each series Of experiments. whether ultimately
successful on not. was duly entered IN S"patdle
notebook Nrhon in the mean while. had been,
if possibie kinder to me than ever, and II was
evident think. to all that was his pet pupil
One day he said to me: Well dear pupil. ana
/ evening and see your little workshop, is it not
SOP | told him / should be only too honored,