The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-01-22
DESIRE OF DISTINCTION.
Quaint illustration of Peculiar
 Phase of Human Nature.

Phase of Human Nature.
 In "Doc Gordon" by Mary E. Will kins-Freeman, is quaint illustration of peculiar phase of human nature. It develops with the visits of the two doctors to their poorer patients:
 James drove all the morning with Dr. Gordon about the New Jersey country. The country people were either Saturnine with an odd shyness, which had something almost hostile in it, or they were effusively hospitable. forcing apple jack upon the two doc tors. James was much struck by the curious unconcern shown by the rela- tives of the patients and even by the patients themselves. In only one case that of child suffering from a bad case of measles, was much interest evinced. The majority of the patients were the very old and middle aged, and they discussed and heard discussed their symptoms with much the same attitude as they might have discussed the mechanism of wooden doll. If any emotion was shown, it was that l terrible night, doctor" said one old woman, and smirk of self conceit was over her ancient face. "Yes, moth CT did have an awful night'' said her married daughter, with a triumphant expression. Even the children cluster ing about the doctor looked uncon- sciously proud because their old grand mother had had an awful night The call of the two doctors at the house was positively hilarious. Quantities of old apple jack were forced upon them The old woman in the adjoining bed room, although she was evidently suf- fering, kept calling out feeble joke in her cackling old voice.
 Those people seem positively elated because that old soul is sick" said James when he and the doctor were again in the buggy.
 "They are," said pr. Gordon; "even the old woman herself, who knows well enough that she has not long to live. Did you ever think that the desire of distinction was one of the most, per haps the most, intense purely spiritual emotion of the human soul? Look at the way these people live here, grub ping away at the soil like ants. The most of them have in their lives just three ways of attracting notice, the momentary consideration of their kind birth, marriage, sickness and death. With the first they are hardly actively concerned; even with the second many have nothing to do. There are more women than Een, as usual, and, al though the women want to marry, all the men do not There remains only sickness and death for a standby, so to speak. If one of them is really sick and dies, the people are aroused to take notice. The sick person and the corpse have a certain state and dignity which they have never attained before. Why, bless you, man, I have one pa tient, middle aged woman, who has been laid up for years with rheuma tism, and sheis fairly vainglorious, and so is her mother. She brags of her in- valid daughter. If she had been mere ly an old maid on her hands, she would have been ashamed of her, and the wo- man herself would have been sour and discontented. But she has fairly mar ried rheumatism. 1t has been to her as a husband and children. 1 tell you, young man, ore has to have his little footstool of elevation among his fel- lows, even if it is a mighty queer one, or he loses his self respect, and self respect is the best jewel we have"