New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-13

BY FRANK RICHARDSON.

The greatest OF all surgeons sat deJectedly in his
consulting room. This wonderful mans broad
forehead topped by of billOwing cotton wool.
was furrowed from detection. Nervously his long
white fingers tapped another Then. toying
despondently with his offside whisker he from
his desk and walked slowly about tho room-a
room that. TO his mind, seemed TO be peopled with
the ghosts of the patients of the past.
For many months sufferer had come 10 seek
his advice but his wonderful pomposity in the do
ing Of trivial acts had not deserted him. He
lighted n cigar in the fashion Of one performing.
with incredible Skill a practically impossible sur
gicaI operation.
Turning suddenly. he faced his daughter
Then In his best deathbed manner. he looked
critically at the fair young face-at the eyes gazing
Almost brusquely he said as though diagnosing
a case Of fatal gravity, in his old manner: 1t Is
f hope es Sn5 y dear Th DR. Moace
Barton Browne may be all that you describe;
reputation for considerable ability as surgeon
admirably professional though somewhat. what. Early
Edwardian). You add that you love him!
ton. he stroked her hair
ION each OF these points, he continued II am
f faFs that girl Of your Judgment Is probably
With a touch of pride he smiled as he said: "a
daughter OF mine could not love any surgeon who
other than skilful But 1 cannot allow you 10
wave OF agony passed over the delicate oval
of her face. HildG had received an unexpected
blow, and the kindly touch OF her fathers hand did
not diminish its force.
'Father!-but love himi"
She could not understand.
Precisely" he answered with painful precision.
''your love for him prepossesSes me, 10 a certain
extent, in his favor. But l cannot permit a
da lighter OF mine marry a surgeon
The girl astOnished and mystihed AT this
statement.
"a surgeonr' che cried.
That he OF all should make what was prac-
ticaly an indictment on his own profession seemed
iIcomprehensible That he. a man or worldwlde
reputation, should take such a view mysuled her
completely. iAlso he the kindest OF fathers.
His position seemed entirely incomprehenstble
In her bewilderment she exclaimed. Il don't I'M
derstand You Yourself (She was only an
amateur OF eighteen, but she loved with all the en-
thusiasm of an expert of eighty
Yes" he replied he walked about the room
putting his cigar there was a time when made
n large income by surgery. How large IL was
I scarcely like 10 think now. When look at my
books / can hardly believe the figures l see To-
day I am not making penny. No surgeon IN
England is making income OF any sort. and
this state OF things has lasted for long time and
xcflI IN ALI probability continue. surgery Is dead
as a means OF gaining livelihood 1t Is years
since we had a fashionable disease True. he
added rehectively and not without touch Of i'm
proper pride IT inv ented double dyspepsia, gold
mine while il lasted. Pieuro-perionitis brought me
in large sums and treble typhitis was not a bad
idea In It's way. But where are We now, he
asked rhetorfcally. whoever suffers from them
now Nowadays all these things are out Of date.
sbsolutely rs out OF date the dodo
T3ut father" the girl urged this state or things
can't continue.
Without needing her interruption. he proceeded.