The evening times., 1898-10-27
HAROLD FREDERIC'S DEATH.

The inquest over the remains of the late
Harold Frederick has recalled only what
has already been told by his nearest
friends. One of his associates writes as
follows to the New York Times:
He loved plain strong Anglo-Saxon
language, and could pelt fools with 1t
better than any other man. And yet, if
there be anything in medical science and
the stored accumulation of centuries of
researc and learning, this intellectual
giant, after ridiculing so much imposture,
fell himself victim to what is. indeed,
a deadly craze.
The story is now gradually moving
England to fierce rage against what is
now termed the murderous delusion that
killed him.. The great brain, which gave
us Sister Soulsby,' might still have
been working. say the English. doctors
but for the interference of the creed
known as }.Chrtstian Science L do not
judge these self-styled scientists. l give
you the plain facts and the testimony of
experts. Let his own people, who in
trusted him to us, judge for themselves.
Shortly after his breakdown, as ! was
sitting by his bedside, writing from his
dictation and suggestion, Frederic told
me quietly his healer had come down.
thought he meant the devoted Freyber-
ger; but going TO the study to fetch a
batch of the latest advices which came in
that morning, found this paid healer TO
be something very far removed from any
medical science. Harold had ordered all
the doctors and nurses and medicines out
of the house and taken to the so-called
Christian Science
Everything that human persuasion
could do TO deter him from this course
was tried, but in vain. Men of great
name and eminence in the world of let
ters and politics endeavored to move him
and failed. Clear-headed and rational as
| ever he claimed the right to have the
| treatment he preferred. though the doc
| tors warned him in plain words of the
| terrible risk he was running. In this free
| country you cannot force a free sane man
| to do what he does not like. and most
unfortunately the law as yet does not
| restrain Christian science healers.
/ THE keynote of this tragedy Is not
that Frederic believed wholly in Chris.
tian science, but that to his own sad
undoing he was a modern Moliere about
| doctors. He had laughed ar so many fee
| BILE workers in the legitimate healing art
| that | almost think he had forgotten the
| existence OF that great brotherhood OF
large Drained, large-hearted physicians
whom Thackeray and Stevenson delight.
ed to honor. So when in August the
blow fell on him he resented bitterly thai
the birthplace OF Gloria Mundi' and 'Illu
minatiOn should be invaded by doctors
pills. plasters and notions.
He bore them a little while for thC
| sake of loving and ANXIOUS friends wnC
| brought them in. Then on September ?
he struck, and formally elected to try
Christian science. No arguments o
prayers availed. and the doctors had 4
go. Even then his life might have beer
saved
THE interval between September % an,
last Monday was fatal. infinite care wa:
needed to preserve his valuable life an,
the best that London holds of medica
skill would have been brought to his aid
Much had TO be done, if Frederic wa
to be rescued from sinking; but tn
Christian scientists did nothing.
The condition of his heart required
! absolute rest. but he was allowed L
walk with infinite weariness and martyr
dom up and down stairs. and go out 70
long drives which might well have tire
a healthy man. over and over again w
who loved him prayed, persuaded, Amos
( threatened in order To induce him to a
least lie quietly and rest. All was useIes
and unavailing."