The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-25

a 1900
rison, the civil engineer; Eardley Brit
ton, the professor of physiology, am
myself.
Politics had been discussed, book
talked over, and nothing RENAME.
but the last refuge Of the weary
story telling.
Harrison tried to thrill us with
profoundly uninteresting tale of
bridge, Judged by him to be safe
which had gone down five minute:
after for was it beforeY be had testei
it.
England told at great length a har
rowing recital of the loss and recovery
OF one of his own pictures, which some
presumably bad Judge of painting had
stolen.
To impart a little life to the gather.
ing 1 told a very good story, thorough
~ original, about stopping at an inn
on the slopes of the Black Forest
mountains; how I had not liked the
landlords appearance, and how he
very nearly robbed and murdered me
but for my presence of mind in leav-
Ing the inn next morning.
Strange to say, this story also fell
flat, and SO we asked Britton for a
tale.
"Ah, WE'LL" said he, ''you fellows
may laugh, but I've had one stirring
adventure in my time, young as 1 am.
(Britton's discoveries in brain physi-
ology had won him his d. Sc. of Lon
don university at the age OF 26, aud
his further successes had given him
worldwide fame.)
II have told this to anyone
BEFORE" went on Britton, "as I've al
ways felt rather nervous about it. But
it's five years ago now, so l think I'll
venture, if you care to listen.
1T was just after I got my D. Sc.
[ went straight to Leipsic to study
under Virhotf. I had good recon-
mendations from Crane, Thompson
and other big lights. I first hunted
for lodgings, but they all seemed full,
till at last I turned down a street of
dark, tall houses, and in the window
Of u stood the welcome announce
ment that lodgings were to be let
within.
"The place suited me admirably, es-
p~ecially as there was a large rambling
room under the roof, which I saw at
once would be the very thing for my
laboratory. So I had my traps brought
up and was soon quite at home.
1.-The great Virhof was a man about
20 years of age. white-haired, veneer
able and with a look of gentle and
placid serenity on his face. T went
home highly delighted with my recep-
ton, for I had expected to meet some
soured old votary of science, and 10! a
genial old philanthropist!
During the next six mouths I
worked hard and found the benefit Of
such teaching as Virhof could give.
Now, all this time I was busy in INV
spare moments on the 'meduIla OBJ
and its functions, and I
something might come of my
researches in that direction, though
truth to say, I had very hazy notions
about what did come at last. But 1
was very shy about this private work
of mine, and although I talked topics,
[ did not say anything about my pet
Zone day, however, after an unus-
tally brilliant lecture of Virhof's, I
waited for him, and we sauntered
down the street together, his
I'm resting affectionately in mine.
Neither spoke for some time, so at
asst he said playfully: We'll, my young
riend, You seer dull today. Is it
hat you are in what you English call
"a brown study?"' =,
81 was thinking said I, moved to
sudden confidence, of some re-
earches I have been recently making
".Ah, yes said he, inquiringly,
in what direction?'
Wei, MASTER I replied, L have
'een doing what many men have tried
o do, that is, find out the precise J
unctions of the medulla oblongata.' I
"As I said the words I felt my arm
iolently pressed by that of the old , ,
IAN, as if he had a sudden electric !!
hook. [ looked up in surprise. {
Pardon me-, he said, it is a slight d
Election Of the heart to which T am
You were saying I
But, MASTER I replied, this is i
angerous. Have you consulted any |
ne?' G
"'No, mol" he cried, impatiently. v
Think nothing more about it. You
ere saying something about some {
tile researches. of yours. You must f
IT me come to see your laboratory.
'erhaps I may be able to give you j
ONE hints G
"a few weeks passed away, and I t
as getting feverishly anxious. NV c
apartments turned out even more b
lccessful than I had hoped, and light
as beginning to dawn on me. Vir- d
of, in the meanwhile, had been, if o
ossible, kinder to me than ever, and O
was evident, I think, to all that I
as his pet pupil. .
zone day he said to me: Well. u
pupil, and how go the researches? A
must call i'll the evening and see your q
tile workshop, is it not SOP It was ar al
'nged that he would call in about 7 81
clock, on his way home from a q
house. n
"As I sat, just when dusk was COM
g on, a modification of my latest ex- ii
|rtment came into my head. It was 4
startling idea, and I rushed into nv Sc
boratory aud plunged at once in the 81
edias res. For some time I worked N
silence. expectation at fever point.
Suddenly I dropped my scalpel l
ID drew a long breath. I had fin ell
heidi My work was over. and the m