The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-10-29

time is in the same Surrey village. With
unselfsh devotion Boyd tended him night
and day. aided by the clear-headed local
DR.. Brown. They called IN from London
to consult with them DR.. Freyberger, a
man of special expert knowledge III
rheumatism and heart cases, and one
who had the great advantage Of having
been Frederics friend for years. Frey
berger used every means his skill and
large experience suggested, and though
he took a grave view Of the condition of
his friend and patient, he by no means
despaired. With care and skilled nurs-
ing. rest and the best possible advice that
London could provide, he would certainly
recover, but we had rcckoned without
another power, which all thinking Eng
land is cursing today.
Shortly after his break down. as was
sitting by his bedside, writing from mis-
dictation and suggestion, Frederic told
me quietly his healer had come down. l
thought he meant the devoted Freyber-
ger: but going to his study to fetch a
batch of the latest advices which came
in the morning, found this paid healer
to he something 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
"Chris,ian Science"
Everything that human persuasion
could do to deter him from this course
was tried, hut in vain. Men OF great
name and eminence in the world of let
ters and politics endeavorcd to move
him, and failed. Clear headed and ra-
tional as ever, he claimed the right to
nave the treatment he preferred, though
the doctors warned him in plain words
OF the terrible risk he was running. In
this free country you cannot force free
sane man to do what he does not like,
and most unfortunately the law as yet
does not restrain Christian Science heal
erS.
The Keynote of this tragedy is not that
Frederic believed wholly in Christian
Science. but that to his own undoing he
was Il modern Moliere about doctors.
He had laughed at SO many feeble work.
ers in the legitimate healing art that
almost think he had forgotten the eX-
istencc of that great brotherhood OF
large-brained, large-hearted physicians
whom Thackclay and Stevenson delight
cd to honor. So, when in August, the
blow fell on him, he resented bitterly
that the birthplace of Gloria Mundi"
and illumination should be invaded by
doctors. pills, plasters and potions. He
bore them Il little while, for the hand Of
loving and anxious friends who brought
them ill., Then. on Sept. 20. he struck,
and formally elected to try Christian Sci
ence No arguments or prayers availcd,
and tho doctors had to 81. Even then
his life might have been saved.
The interval between Sent. 20 and last
Monday was fatal. Infinite care was
needed to preserve his valuable life, and
the best London holds Of medical skill
D.. would have been brought to his aid.
Much had To be done if Frederic was to
he rescued from sinking, but the Chris
tian Scientists did nothing. Tho condi-
tiCn al his heart required absolute rest.
but he WIS allowed to walk with infinite
wearincss and mnrtyrtlom up and down
stairs. and go out for long drives, which
might well have tried healthy man.
Over and over again we who loved him
prayed. persuaded, almost threatened, in
order 80 induce him to at least lie quietly
and lest. MI WAS useless and unavail-
ing. A few days more passed: then
came the end. On Sunday last I called
on Harold. \ change had set in so seri
Gus that ] employed help of the brave
American woman who had been under
fire with stephen Crane in Greece. Mrs.
Crane had tried before, and this time
succeeded The Christian Scientists We're
driven out: the doctors brought in, and
also two nurses from Guys hospital.
But it WAS too late, for 30 hours after
ward Harold passed quietly away He
was one Of the granuest, widest men
have ever Known and now this hlasphe-
nous parody OF Christianity and mock
cry OF science ha, destroyed him, and the
ripe fruit OF his genius, which the next
few years would have most surely seen