The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-01-13

lor Sixteen lie r. Charles COarai
Was a Helpless Cripple.
AaLs ONLY TO MOVE LOWER JAW
rcspIte His Intense suacrlOas 70

resplte His intense suHerngs For
Years, He Had Spartan Courage and
Was Cheerful to the End-ous to
Innammatory Rhoum atism.
Philadelphia. Jan. l1-Charles H.
Conrad "A patient in the incurable
ward of the Episcopal hospital, VINO
died suddenly was a wonderful eX-
ample of the superiority Of mind over
natter for though be had been a
helpless cripple for 10 years. unable 10
move any part of his body save his
lower jaw. he was more cheerful and
optimistic than the average person
who possesses perfect health.
Not cnce daring his long years Of
suffering he'd Conrad been known u
complain or rail against tne fate
Which struck him down in his prime
ana chained him a helpless lifelong
prisoner IT, he narrow confines OF a
single room Even though the lightest
toacl on any part of his body or an
accidental Iaring on his bed, gave him
the most c.cmciating pain. ne retain
od the courage ID make lisht OF his
misfortune
Colrais case was peculiarly pa.
thctic. ln that he was the acct lcntal
victim of mcst rare disease. When
a youne man be was an expert gym
mast belonging 10 section OF the
German Turn Nercin Following an
exhibition one night during his 2lst
y.-r. w1cr. hc bad carried on the
hon0r- in several events. he was sur
rounded hv iri nds who insisted on
cougrataaIne lim On his success. In
stcad of taking shower bath and
rundown. hc fingered TO make pleas
ant response % their words of praise.
As result he caEght a severe cold,
which brought on severe attack OF
nnammatory rheumatism.
Alter a long and painful Illness, he
seemingly recovered. only to find that
"rheumatoid arthoris." or hardening
of the joints" had developed. This dis
ease Is exceedingly rare and is pracu.
cally incurable Conrad was soon I'M
able 10 walk. and took To his bed. from
which 81 never arose again
After a time he grew absolutely
helpless. only being able to move his
lower Jaw equarter or one-half an
inch and to roll his eyes from side
to side He could talk and read. but
that was all Still the mans wonderful
nerve and unlailing cheerfulness OF
nature did not desert him He joined
the shutIn Society and became known
rs the king of the shut-ins.
Through the kindly Offices OF his
nurse who II is said. was his prom
ised wife. and thus devoted her life
10 the service of her betrothed. he
wrote cheering letters to other in.
vallds an over the land As time pass
cd his circle OF friends widened amaz-
lngly. many OF them on recovering
coming to sec the man who had so
consoied them I'm their darkest hours.
President Cleveland. Lieutenant
Hobson. Chauncey A. Depew and other
prominent men wrote 10 him at inter
walls. and for q man so hopelessly al
ficted his horizon of interests was
bOundless.
His food for the last eight years has
been only soups. minced meat. mashed
ND vegetables and liquid desserts. as
he gradually lost all power over his
Jaw. His arms were folded rigidly over
his chest. and were gradually growing
closer together. until in time. If he
had lived. they would have finally
come together and crushed out his
breath and life together.
His body was twisted somewhat like
the letter 5. and for l6 years he had
never known the luxury of stretching
himself to bis fall height
A curious feature Of the disease was
that his body became a barometer that
never failed An approaching storm
made Itself felt by tingling pains. be
ginning at his feet and rising mp as
the height Of the atmospheric disturb
ance approached only dying away
when the last trace Of the storm had
vanished.
To show the careful nursing he re-
ceived during his long confinement
the hospital authorities point with
pride 10 the fact that there was not
the sign of q bed-sOre on Conrad's
body His bed was specially construct
ed for him. and by an ingenious ar
rangement OF ltle cushions he rested
as easily as IT was possible for a man
in his condition 10 do.