Evening journal., 1910-10-24
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A PhrenOIOgiSt and henry
Ward BseCher
By "HoIIand.n

While Henry Ward Beecher was all
hssi life in most vigorous health, both
mental and physical never suffering
serious illness until the mortal at
tack, he was nevertheless a yearly vic
! tim OF hay fever. His tortures then
we're excessive, although he often
smiled at them, knowing well what
occasioned them. He could predict to
a day when the first attack OF hay
fever In the summer would come and
he could also tell with the precision
OF an almanac when the irritation of
| the mucous membranes would cease.
Beecher found his only relief from
hay fever in a sojourn in the White
Mountains and he was accustomed to
leave his farm. near Peekskill, n. y.
In mid-July. and to remain in New
Hampshire until the frost He was ut
torly democratic in his manner and
unconventional IN his dress. SO that
anyone who did not know him would
be likely to judge that he was a farm
er who had saved a little money and
was spending a portion of it in
summer vacation at a White Mountain
hotel. Many farmers at that time
we're accustomed to do this.
One summer morning In the late
seventies Beecher sat upon the piazza
OF his hotel. reading a newspaper
/ Upon his head was his black felt,
I slouch hat. the brim of which was so
broad that II tapped In the breeze.
He wore an old-fashioned turn-down
collar. with a sort of black string for
necktie His trousers were baggy,
as usual A few of his friends sat
near him, chatting, when suddenly
there appeared around the corner Of
the piazza a quaint and curious speci-
men of humanity. He was a large
eyed long-haired man, with the beard
of a prophet. In one hand he carried
satchel, and i'm the other what ap-
peared to be a chart, or a map. rolled
up.
I'm phrenologist." he said by way
Of introduction to the little group
that sat opposite Beccher. 81 can
tell by feeling what kind Of brain a
man has"
"You feel the bumps?" interrogated
one 'of the party.
People who don't know call them
bumps. yet they are no bumps, but,
in fact. projections of the skull caus-
ed by the development OF the brain, -
retorted the phrenologist. 81 never
make any mistakes" he added. Il
should be pleased TO examine your
head. and ! charge only a dollar"
We'll spoke up one of the party,
assuming a cautions manner and al
most whispering. I'm give you a dol
lar II youll examine the bumps on
that old farmers head, '-motioning
towards Beecher-"and # We find that
you hit it pretty nearly straight. why,
then. some of us may have our heads
examined
The phrenclogist approached Mr..
Beecher. THE gentlemen want me
to examine your head" he explained.
81 am phrenOlogist 7 can tell you
more than you know about yourself" +"
Beeeher at once suspecting that his
friends were intent upon playing a
Joke solemnly took OFF his hat. The
phrenologist began to tumble through
the masses of siiver-gray hair. Sud
denly, he stopped and stepped back in
astonishment
"You shouldn't be farmer" he
exclaimed excitedly why, you can
talk like a steam engine You've got
the biggest development Of language
that have ever met with. And you're
full of wit and humor You can
talk so as to make people cry, or ia
make them laugh. Where's your
farm"
"Aiy farm is at Peekskill. N "
said Mr. Beecher.
81 thought IL wasn't around here
your head is not like a New Hamp-
shire farmers. Do you make your
farm pay?'
"I have never been able to make
Il pay. II costs me every year more
than / get out of it" Beecher replied
truthfully.
"Of course! Why. il you'd taken &c