The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1907-10-10
A ROMANCE OF
PHRENOL0GY.
sy PAUL PAsHNoR.

WV WV
1t is a curious fact that I nev in
my life heard the subject of phrenol-
ogy broacEed without a laugh being
raised at Its expense, which very nat
urally annbys the supporters of this
theory, ana brings on a warm argu-
ment. 1t twas a discussion Of this
kind in tie dining room of Baron
Ethel that first made me acquainted
with Professor Selden, than whom a
warmer enthusiast in the doctrine of
Spurzheim. never existed.
1t appears that, to please the COM
pany, Selden had examined their
heads, and with many wise looks
pressed ths bumps which he declared
to be unerAsing indications of the pro-
pensities IL men. Some unfortunate
wight in Che company, however, had
evidently shocked the examiner by
a demonstration of wicked p%ropensi-
ties, for ne strenuously refused, on
this occasion, to pronounce upon the
several organs of this person, declar-
ing she might give offense," he
might By wrong" etc.
A laugh went up from the little
circle, watch flushed the cheek OF
Selden, but he said nothing.
The conversation now drifted into
a different channel. A dreadful muir
der had been committed in the neigh
borhood 'of the Black Forest. A
young gill had eloped from her par
ents sonic weeks before. The COM
panion OF her flight was supposed to
be a young man who had been stay
ing in the ne%ighborhood; he had dis
appeared about the same time. She
had just been found, savagely MUIR
dered, while the supposed partner
OF ~hexGsilt had reappeared, and de-
clared that he had with difficulty es-
capped ffom the hands of banditti,
who hae, without any apparent mo-
tive, seiFed and imprisoned him. To
prove tsis he showed several severe
woundsS which he had received in the
struggle. This story, however, ap-
peared DO improbable that no belief
was attached to it, and the young
man w$s hurried to prison, there to
abide bas trial.
This STORY was repeated, with pain
full mihuteness, to the company in
Baron iEitzel's dining room by one
Charles Hoffman, a handsome young
fellow who had lately arrived in
Baden and was already a general
favoritse in society. No one was more
pleasef with him than the old baron.
1t was even rumored that he had
proposed to. and was actually accept
ed bys Minna Ethel, with the full
sanction of her father. AS a narrator
few cbuld excel him. His vivid de-
scriptson lent life to his stories, and
whenEhe chose, as on the present oc-
c%asioi, he could harrow the nerves
OF evsn the most apathetic on depict
ing Horrors in their most appalling
colors.
"Iel go to see his execution my
self;II could enjoy the death tortures
of skch a wretch" Indignantly ex-
clairhed the Prince Of Insbruch. a
youlFg nobleman, as he took a pinch
of Fnuff, and handed to his next
n~eigabor his splendid box, which
daz&led the eye by the richness of
the diamonds encircling it. "If such
a Wretch existed on my estates, I'd
hayfs him racked."
'sAnd well would he deserve It. "
chftned in another of the company.
1May he be punished in the world
to- comet" fervently calculated
Charles.
sNay, nay" cried the baron; "that
is Saying too much. 1t is true the
m;En deserves an earthly punishment;
btk o are allowing your anger
%aeEtinst a crime, my dear boy, to
CARRY you too far"
bThus various subjects were dis
clessed and argued, but during the
WFlole evening Selden spoke not an
ofher word. At last the hour for
breaking up arrived, and, according
tk etiquette, the prince moved first.
slst ere doing SO, however, he re-
qFiested the return of his snuffbox.
Tine person to whom he had handed
If declared that he had passed it to
the next, who, in his turn, denied any
knowledge of it's whereabouts, as did
tie rest of the company. Every one
g.d seen it, every n had handled it,
Hut none could now produce it. The
4srvants had not even entered the
apartment; the door had not been
Enclosed, hone had stirred from the
fable.
The affair began to wear a serious
aspect. The old baron felt his honor
pounded, but still hoped that it
hight prove to be an ill-timed pleas
hntry. Under this impression, he
Eose and said:
Gentlemen, some person among
you has doubtless concealed the box,
HntGoding thereby to give our illus
srious friend a fright. and. In good