The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-31
THE BETTER WAY,
A Physicians Philosophy of Life, Based Upon
Long Experience

Long Experience
To the Editor: Forty-one years ago
this writer made his debut as full
nedged NJ. d. with little knowledge and
no experience Fortune or misfortune
located him in the neighborhood OF stan
hope, Nash county.
His ambition was to become useiul
citizen and to earn his bread by the
sweat of his brow-or rather by giving
value received for bread earned by the
sweat of his neighbours brow
For many years he got much sweat
and little bread This was the fault or
the times as the war had left legacy
of sweat rather than bread to all those
who lived Immediately after the historic
unpleasantness. With much toll he scuf-
fed along and made friends ana enemies,
as he has continued to do in the strug-
gle for existence and his own family
Notwithstanding the odiousness OF
comparison, a body is prone TO contrast
the evil things of this world with the
good, and compare the beauties OF TREND
ship with the hideousness or EMMY YET
life is too short and time too Valuaple
to waste ones energies in nursing the
evil passion of hatred; and, as the world
still has room for all, true philosophy
would teach us to forget unpleasant
things. and remember the more felicitous
experiences of life.
The occasion to which this communica-
ton is due, occurred on the 22nd INST.
in the Stanhope neighborhood, and as a
picnic, was more particularly marked as
reunion of the Brantley family IL
took place in the church-yard OF Sandy
Grove meeting house, and the honored
recipients were Mr.. Handy Brantley ana
his wife, respectively aged n ana 20
years. Their children, grandchildren ana
great-grandchildren were there, together
with neighbors and friends. The num-
Der of descendants of this aged couple
amounts to exactly 80, viz: IL children
GA grandchildren and 10 great-grand-
children.
The Scriptural injunction has been
carried out to its full extent in this Fam
ilv. and the devotion shown to the aged
couple was beautiful to behold. May the
promised rewards to the good and faith
full servant crown these people from the
root to the extreme branch.
Handy Brantley and his family have
been the friends of your correspondent
from May, 1861, to the present moment,
and not a suspicion of dishonesty in busi-
ness. nor a, sign of doubt as to profess
sional competency has ever clouded the
brow of a single one To the physician
who works primarily for the good of his
patient it is a source of pleasure and
strength to feel that he is appreciated,
and when the appreciation extends
hoS ono
of love, and the Utopian idea of a uni
versal brotherhood comes nearer home.
In strong contrast with the sentiment
stands that of suspicion, where the
patient feels that he is in the hands of
an incompetent or venal attendant, and
where the Doctor feels that he would
not be employed if choice could be made
of another But stronger still is the
contrast between the real appreciation
which a lifetime will develop into love,
and that pretended friendship which too
often shows the faithful medical attend
ant that he he's been used only as con-
venience, and may be ignored or cast
aside at the whims and caprices of an
ignorant and soulless constituency.
The one fosters that brotherly love
inculcated by the Author of our blessed
religion, and makes of the physician
more than a friend, while the other en-
courages that commercialism WHICH of
late years has invaded the medical ranks
and is placing the physician on the same
footing with the grocer and the horse
trader The condition is to be deplored,
but in this day of progress and science
sentiment must stand aside, and let the
cold facts of materialism freeze out the
finer feelings of love and affection.
Mr.. Brantley seemed much interested
in the study of Scripture, and made the
statement that he had read the Bible
through three different times. But,
said he, Il can't understand it." He APP
reared to be bothered over the future
life and could not make out satistae-
tory existence for the hereafter. VINO
can? Is not the promise sufficient?
Then shall the dust return to the earth
as it was, and the spirit shall return
unto God who gave it, Suppose that
God should have informed us of what
we should be and what we would do be-
fore we came into this world. would 1t
have added to our usefulness and our
happiness? Is it not sufficient for us to
know that our spirits will go back to God
after we leave this earthly atmosphere?
Let us not try to know it all, for the
wise man has said: I'm much wisdom is
much grief; and he that increaseth
knowledge increaseth sorrow"
N B. HERRING, M. ID.
a