The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-28


esting in the light OF the tragic happen
ings of mis- final end, that his father was
afflicted with a somewhat similar de-
nlentia 10 that which harassed DR.. Aiken
and ended his life by shooting himself
through the brain.
DR.. Aiken pursued his academic studies
at Yale and was graduated from the HAr-
ward Medical School in 1886, before he at
tained his majority. He continued his
medical studies abroad after he received
his degree from Harvard, taking a course
of lectures at the celebrated eye and ear
clinic at Vienna and a second course at
Berlin.
Upon his return to this country he
married and began the practice of his
profession in New York city. There he
was connected Cor a time with the health
department of New York and was also
assistant ophthalmio surgeon Of the New
York Eye and Ear InfrmaTy.
An attack of nervous p. ostrat.on, fol-
lowed by an almost complete, though
temporary, collapse of his intellectual
powers, compelled him to leave New
York and seek a climate more suited to
his somewhat delicate constitution. Then
1t was, in the latter part Of 1887 or the
early part Of 1888, that he came to Sd
vannah.
At first he was assistant TO DR.. ]. P. S.
diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat
in Savannah, and afterwards became his
partner. This relation hip continued I'M
til DR.. Houston's death. when DR.. Aiken
began the practice of medic ne and sur
gerry, stiil as a specialist, on his own ac-
count and by himself.
Remarkable success had crowned his
professional career. His income from the
practice of his profession was an ample
n oh he 10 . ..,t
of fees a prerequisite to receiving treat
ment at his hands. He was the student
always and the physician always. and a
new form of disease or a needy patient
alike served to induce his best efforts.
He had patented several improvements
upon the form of telescope in use for max
ing observations of the sun and had made
some interesting experiments and written
an interesting account of them in connec-
ton with the last total eclipse. His lat
est scientific achievement was the inven-
ton Of cheap and simple ophthalmo-
scope, an instrument used for examining
he interior condition of the eye, which IN
ITS usual form Is exceedingly expensive.
An interesting article from his pen, de-
scriptive of this Instrument appeared In
the recently issued number of the New
York Medical Journal.
At the time OF his death DR.. Aiken was
a member of the Congress Of American
Physicians and Surgeons, of the American
ophthalmoiogical Society, OF the American
astrological Society. of the Georgia Med
ical Association. and of the Georgia Med
lcal Society, the last named of Savannah.
He was ophthalmic surgeon to the Savan-
nah Hospital
He was one of the founders and for two
years was president of the Savannah
Camera Club, an institution in which he
took much interest and pride. He was a
member of the GAINESVILLE corps viii h
observed the suns total eclipse last Nav,
and made number of successful photo
graphic observations. He evolved at
length theory as to the course of the
corona and his paper published with
illustrations. in the Morning News, and in
a number of scientific journals. attracted
wide attention. Among his latest inven-
tions was an instrument for grinding
lenses, which he was about to have pat
ented in this country and in Europe, and
which many experts believed would revo-
lutionize the manufacture of telesc. pic
and camera lenses.
Letters Left a Clue.
An indication of the mournfui cast of
mind which had become habitual to DR..
Aiken was given by a poem, written in
his handwriting and signAd with his
name, which was found among some let
tiers on the desk in his Office. These let
tiers, by the way, are those which show
DR.. Aiken thought his wife wished to
have him confined in an asylum Two Of
the letters are from her to him and
breathe throughout a ki1dly and quiet
affection. They exhort him to be careful
of his health and to con ult a specialist
on the subject of h 5 nerves. On one of
them he had written: See what Anna
has tried to do with me-" The poem
entitled Isolation and is as follows:
When my naked soul shall feel
Primal darkness softly steal
Closer. closer, all about
Blotting all the light of living out
Like a garment soft and warm,
Grateful to my shrinking form
Promise of the welcome sleep,
Free of dreams and oh! so long and
deep!
When the mother angel, Rest.
Gently folds me to her breast
How far off and dim will be
All these joys and pains 'twixt thee and
me.
Naked then my Soul shall feel
Primal darkness softly steal
C-Iser, closer. all about.
Blotting all the light of living out.
Mrs Aiken was Miss Anna Potter, the
daughter of Rev. DR.. Potter of New Bed
ford, Mass, for many years the pastor
of the First Unitarian Church of that
town. Her father was man of scholarly
attachments, and his home, during his
daughters childhood, was frequently Wis
tied by such New England men of letters
as Emerson, Holmes and others of that
celebrated school of authors and poets.
Mrs. Aiken's brother. MIR. Alfred c.
Potter, is now the librarian of Harvard
University.
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