The National tribune., 1901-12-05
WHO GOES THERE?

mems minds than this which has happened
to yours; men lose their minds utterly for
n time, and then recover their faculties
entirely; men lose their identity, so to
speak: men can be changed in an hour, by
the use of a drug into different creatures,
if we are to judge by the record their own
consciousness gives them
Il cannot doubt my own Senses, said |;
my changes come upon me without a
| drug and in a moment
IF you will read Sir William Hamilton,
| you will find authentic records which Will
forever relieve you of the belief that your
condition is unparalleled. 1t may be
unique in that phase of it which hope
will prove valuable;~but as to its being the
only case of the general
Il do not dispute there having been
cases as strange as mine,' | interrupted;
your word for that is enough; but you
ought to tell me why you insist on the
possibility OF q cure and the usefulness of
the condition at the same time. If the
condition may prove useful, why change
it?"
There are many things in nature said
the Doctor, seriously; there are many
things in nature which show their greatest
worth only at the moment of their eX-
tinctiOn. Your seeming imperfecton OF
memory is, | repeat, but a relaxation of
one of its functions in order that another
function may be strengthened-and all for
q purpose"
What is that purposeT
Il cannot tell you"
why can you nOt?"
Because" said he, 'the manner in
which you will prove the usefulness of
your power is yet to be developed. Gener-
ally, | might say, in order to encourage
you, that it will probably be given to you
to serve your country in remarkable
way; but as to the how and when, you
must leave it to the future to show"
And you think that such Il service will
be at the end of my troubleE
Il think So" said he; THE laws of the
mental world, in my judgment, require
that your recovery should follow the pc
riod concerning which your factitious
memory is brightest"
But how can a private soldier serve
his country in remarkable way?' | said,
wondering.
Wait" said he.
The Doctor filled his pipe and became 81
lent. Lydia was not on duty this night.
She had listened gravely to what had been
said Now she looked up with faint
smile, which | thought meant that she
was willing for me to talk to her, and yet
reluctant to be the first to speak. not
knowing whether l had need of silence.
[ had begun TO have high opinion of
Lydias character"
"And you went to school in Bombay"
Yes, at first"
l was not willing to show a bald Gu
riosity concerning her, and / suppose my
hesitation was expressed in my face, for
she presently continued:
Il studied and worked in the British
hospital; you must know that [ am nurse
with some training. Father was very will
ing for me to become n nurse, for he said
that there would be war in America, and
that nurses would be needed"
Then, turning to the Doctor, she said:
Father, Mr.. Berwick asked me today
when it was that we sailed from Charles
ton, and l was unable to tell him"
THE Sd of September, 1851" said the
Doctor.
l remembered that this was my sisters
birthday, and also the very day on which
| had written to DIR. khayme that
should not return to Charleston. The CO.
incidence and its bearing on my afflictiOn
disturbed me SO that l could not really
continue my part of the conversation, and
Lydia soon retired.
Doctor" said |, tomorrow morning |
shall be ready to report to my company"
VERY well, Jones'" he said. Act ac-
cording to your conscience. / shall see you
frequently. There will be no more battles
in this part of the country for long time,
and it viii not be difficult for you to get
leave of absence when you wish to see us.
Besides, / am thinking of moving our
camp nearer to you"