The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-05-12
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:; was born onss farm eight miles out
from Brutusville, and l expect to
live in this county All my life. I've
beeI ~praetieing medicine here now
for a little more than thirty years. It
hats not been exciting., but have had
q pretty good timesafter all. I've got
lot OF friends here who would go
good way for me- That's one con-
solation, and, since I'm writing behind
a screen OF anonymity, / may say that
I feel have my share of good in the |
world. It's a great pleasure to be
able to be really honest in saying what
you think without the least chance OF
being caught at it.
My folks did a great deal for me. l
owe more to them than to anybody
else. Father was not rich farmer.
but when he proposed that should
go to college l jumped at his PROPOSE
ton with all the selfishness and
thoughtlessness OF youth. Here was
my opportunity and l accepted 1t
eagerly, without thinking Of the sac
rifices on my parents part which the
decision involved.
In my second year at college l dis
covered that l wanted to be physi-
clan. That meant three years more
study after had taken my degree as
bachelor OF arts. Even that did not
end it. Three years at q medical col
lsge and one in New York hospital
only prepared me for couple Of years
in Europe. l was actually selfish
enough to propose that myself and my
father and mother concealed their dis
appointment and insisted that l must
do it. They were determined that l
should have every opportunity.
went to Europe and spent not two
but three years in Vienna and Berlin.
1t was there that l came to my senses
Perhaps it was because when l first
went over ! was SO homeSick that
came to see what my folks had done
for me and how utterly selfish l had
been in taking all they had offered. AT
any rate ] did grow to realize 1t and l
determined to do what l could to make
it up to them, so far as l was able.
Again ! am glad that ! am anony-
NOUS, for it allows me to say that
when l did finally sail for New York
l was better equipped to begin the
practice of my profession than are
more than nine-tenths of the young
doctors at the age of 81. | had even
made a few little discoveries of my
own and had made my name fairly
well known by series Of articles OIL
contagious diseases in the medica
journals of both Europe and America
1t was not surprising, therefore, tina
l should get an offer from prominen
physician of New York Offering to talk
me into partnership. 1t was 1atter
ing offer, for the man had huge prac
tiCe and 1t took no wise man to Sc
that New York would be for man.
years the greatest field in the countr,
for a physician no matter whether
is looked at from the standpoint OF
financial success or purely professional
reputation.
Before gave him an answer ! wen
on to the old home in Iowa. or course
father and mother were both prou
and delighted to see me. l soon foun
out that they expected me to settl
down to practice in Brutusville. w
were driving through the town on
afternoon when father POINTED out
second-story room in the Opera-Hous
block opposite the court house an
said slyly: John, don't you thin
that would make a good location fc
a doctors ofhce?" That was enough
II had announced my offer to go
New York they would have urged n
to accept and would have hide
their sorrow in their pride. But
would have broken both their heart
for they wanted me at home after a
these years. Fortunately l saw it q
plainly, and I made UP my mind TIL
would not disappoint them. So
said nothing about the New York ma
who wanted to take me into partne
ship and a week later ] signed Il
lease Of the office father had point
out for a term of two years.
OF course it was STOW work. T
people about Brutusyille had new
read or heard of the medical journs
IN which my essays had appeared, {
cept as they had been shown abo
by my fond old mother, and even tn
It did not mean much to them. \
discoveries in the handling of &C
tagious diseases had little effect exec
TO rather brighten the few people w
had heard of them. Even the ott
doctors were rather suspicious of !
than otherwise. / would be the l;
to decry the virtues of the count
doctor. AS rule he is the most
selfish and useful man in every &C
munity. But thirty years ago he v
not likely to be as much of a stud,
and as fully abreast of the times as
is today.
I remember one old doctor in B
tusyille when | located there. He '
natural born physician, and what