The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1906-06-07
The MAN |
WHO OWNED He !
WAS A FOOL.

geon at Calais, one day recelVeu d
note without signature, requesting him
to repair to a hotel not far Off, with
such instruments as were necessary
for an amputation. Thevenet was
somewhat surprised at the manner
of the invitation, but concluding that
it was the work of some wag, PAID no
regard to it. Three days after, he
received a second invitation still more
pressing, and containing the informa-
ton that the next day at 9 O'Clock a
carriage would stop before his house
in order to convey.
Thevenet resolved to let the affair
take it's course. and when, on the fol-
lowing day, at the striking of the
clock, an elegant carriage stopped be-
fore the door, he seated himself In 1t,
and asked the driver to whom he was
to carry him. The driver replied in
English:
What l do not know l cannot tell"
At length the carriage stopped be-
fore the door of the hotel. A hand
some young man, of about % years OF
age, received the surgeon at the door,
and conducted him upstairs into a
large chamber, where the following
conversation took place:
Thevenet-"You have sent for me-"
Englishman-"I am much obliged
to you for the trouble you have taken
to visit me. Here is coffee, chocolate
or wine, if you would take anything
before the operation"
Thev.-"Show me the patient, sir;
[ must first ascertain whether the in
Jury is such as to render an amputa-
ton necessary"
Eng.-'It is necessary. Doctor, seat
yourself; 1 have perfect confidence in
you. Listen to me. Here is a purse
of one hundred guineas; this is the
a you will receive for the operation.
If done successfully, it is yours. Should
you refuse to comply with my wishes,
see, here is a loaded pistol. You are
in my power; 1 will shoot you"
Thev.-"Sir, / am not afraid of your
pistols. But what is your particular
desire? Tell me without preamble"
Eng.-"You must cut off my right
leg"
Thev.-"With all my heart; and, if
you please, your head, too. But the
leg is sound. You sprang upstairs just
now with the agility of a dancing mas
ter. What ais your leg?"
Eng.-"Nothing. l only want it off"
Thev.-"Sir, you are a fool"
Eng.-"Why does that trouble you,
Thevenet?"
Thev.-"What sin has the leg COM
mitted?"
Eng.-"None; but are you ready to
lake it OFF,"
Thev.-"Sir, I do not know. Bring
me evidence that you are sound of
mind"
Eng.-"Will you comply with my re-
uuest?"
Thev.-"Yes, sir, SO soon as you give
me sufficient reasons for such mutila-
ton of yourself"
Eng.-"I cannot tell you the truth,
perhaps, for some years; but 1 will
lay a wager that after a certain time
you shall understand that my reasons
are most noble-that my happiness,
very existence, depends upon my
being freed from this leg"
Thev.-"Sir, l lay no wagers. Tell
me your name, residence, family and
occupation"
Eng.-"You shall know all that here
after. Do you take me for an honor
able MANI"
Thev.-"I cannot. A man of honor
does not threaten his physician with
pistols. l have duties toward you
as a stranger. l will not mutilate
you. If you wish to be the murderer
of a guiltless father of a family, then
shoot"
Eng.-"Well, Mr.. Thevenet, l will
not shoot you; but 1 will force you
to take my leg off. What you will not
do for the love of money, nor the
fear of a bullet, you shall do for COM
passion"
Thev.-"And how 500"
Eng.-"I will break my leg by dis
charging my pistols, and here before
your eyes,"
The Englishman seated himself and
placed the muzzle of the pistol close
to his knee. Thevenet was on the
point of springing to prevent him, but
he exclaimed:
"Stir not, or l irei Now" said he,
Twill you increase and lengthen out
my pains for nothing?"
"You are a fool" says Thevenet,
''but it shall be done. I will take off
the unfortunate leg"
The Englishman calmly laid by the
pistol, and all was made ready for
the operation. AS soon as the sur
geon began to cut, the Englishman
lighted his pipe, and swore it should
not go out. He kept his word. The
1eg lay upon the floor, and the Eng
lishman was still smoking.
Thevenet did his work like a mas
ter; the wound, by his skill, and the
patients own good nature, was healed
at a fixed time. He rewarded the ur-
geon like a king, and thanked him
with tears of JOY for the loss of his
leg and sailed over the streets with a
wooden one.
About eight weeks after his de-
parture, Thevenet received a letter
from England with the following con-
tents:
"You will receive ~inclosed, rs a
proof of my most heartfelt gratitude,
an order for two hundred and fifty
guineas upon Mons. Panchard, in Pa
ris. You have made me the happiest