Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-08-10

He was a fine type Of the British stall
wart Tail, erect, with a manly bearing
and carriage which seemed TO challenge
equality with any one, his appearance
forcibly reminded me Of the picture
painted for us of our distant forebears
who crossed the North sea more than
thousand years ago. His strong Anglo
Saxon physique had been moulded and
disciplined by the tolls and rigors of war;
| the South African veldt had felt the
tread of his feet and the unfortunate
Boer had fled before his bayonet. With
| a face tanned by the broiling sun he re-
turned to England full Of the vigor of
/ youth and was rewarded with position
as instructor in gymnastics in one Of the
famous guard regiments. Life seemed
| full Of promise
II we are to believe the ancients, and
Herodtus in particular, It Is just at such
times that the cruel hand of destiny is
often stretched to humble a man in his
pride of strength, and TO show him that
he is but a weakling as compared with
fate's irresistible might. Be itso or
not in general, the particular proved It
so in this instance. AS he was showing
his comrades a difficult gymnastic feat an
awful slip occurred; for a brief moment
a whirling form could be seen going
through space, and-crash, he fell with
his head doubled under his body
Tenderly they picked him up, anxiously
from the terrible fall. eagerly asked him
how he felt. For a time no answer. Then
| when sense had so far returned 70 the
| sufferer, IT was found that he was a
physical wreck and could move neither
/ hand nor foot. Aged 20 years and sud-
denly become total paralytic, he was a
burden to himself and to the community
The doctors came to the conclusion that
nothing could be done to restore the lost
power OF movement. but that rest the
great healer, might allow OF some
strength to be regained.
So far an eternal six months he lay-a
PROSTATE formal rest. Then, when II
was seen that nature was not going to
resurrect the living dead, 1t was thought
that human hands might do something to
mitigate this parlous condition. With this
In view he was conveyed TO a largo
London hospital. and seen by many OF
The leading lights Of the medical and
surgical profession. When he arrived he
was pitiable object-mentally clear,
physically. a log. His voice still had
some little cheeriness, but IL could be
guessed at a glance that the iron of
despair had entered into his soul
The muscles of his arms were only
those OF a child; he could hardly move
his head or legs, nor were his hands
strong enough to give one grasp Of
friendship.
II don't care what they do to me" said
he ''as long as there Is the remotest
chance Of any good being done. for II
they kill me, that win not be worse than
my present state"
The doctors differed, as they so often
do; but IL was recognized that the only
possible hope which was left to the pa
tient was that a surgical operation
should be performed. 1t was a serious
risk-that everybody allowed-but It was
the forlorn hope. We prepared him care
fully for the ordeal. He grasped at this
last prospect OF deliverance as a drown
ing man catches at a straw. His con-
hdence in the eminent surgeon who at
tended him was unbounded.
IT he ever makes me walk again." he
said in grim earnest and pathetic tones
Il VIII fall down at his feet and kiss
them; yes. and I'll almost worship him. ."
shall never forget that day in the
operating theatre Nurses fitted silently
hither and thither. students throhged
around TO catch a glimpse of the proceed
ings. The centre of the tableau was the
operating table, on which lay the uncon-
scious patient, while near by stood the
surgeon waiting permission from the.
anaesthetist to begin his work
The signal was given and with in
stinctive skill and dexterous hand the
operator guides the sharp steel to the
) anected part OF the spinal column Very
soon pleased expression is seen to
cross his countenance, and he announces
to those around that he has found the
cause OF the trouble 10 be a portion Of
bone which was pressing on the vital
nervous substance beneath. With ra-
pldlty born of experience he removes all
\ the onending bone, the wound is closed
I ana the patients head supported and
) bound up. Very careful were we as we
TOOK him back to the ward well knowing
that sudden jolt might put an end IA
g All our endeavors; but fortunately no
, untoward incident occurred.
Day by day we watched anxiouslv for
any sign or return Of power in the naral
yzed limb, and in a short time We're re-
warded by seeing the arms begin to ger
stronger. Very gradually We were able
10 trace the progress OF increasinS
q srength. Almost miraculously the mar.
alyzed limbs seemed to take on neu,
e tease d life, and within a month or fyvo
$ Waiklng with little support was nos
siole. In three months the one-time mar
aIsuc walked out of the hospital a new
e man That was over two years ago
n yesterday l was walking by the hos.
r pltal, when suddenly was greeted nv q
manly voice which seemed happily famil-
lar' turning round. 1 was surprised 10
see my friend OF two years ago dressed
: up IN the fuil rig-out of a chauffeur. and
Summing py handsome motor car. OR
INQUIRY 1 round that some time after
{ eaVing the hospital he had been asked by
s ns surgeon who had saved his life tc
urIVe ms motor car. So he had sevara1
) driver e shlheo
1t was the least I could do for m,
oenefactor," said he. He was a stalwa =,
r once more-IV. 2. C. in London DaiI1