Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-04-19

About one hundred years ago there
was a decade which in some ways is
one of the most remarkable that any
age has seen. II We say that for some
reason the ten years from 1905 to
1S1b saw more men Of genius born
than any other ten consecutive years
of which we have accurate knowledge,
the case would not be too strongly put.
What causes operated to produce tnis
fortunate effect cannot. Of course, De
ascertained, nor IL 1t were possible
would It be profitable to discuss them
here. To cite a partial list OF great
men who were born In this auspicious
period would be to do over a work
that has been done already. II Is the
purpose of this article to call atten-
tion to the coming centennial or the
birth of one of the comparatively few
world-figures that America has con-
tributed to the nineteenth century,
and in doing so 1t is well to recall the
reasons why this man has right 10
the place which the worlds verdict
has given him.
One hundred years ago on the twen-
ty-fifth Of next January, James Mar
ion Sims, B. A., M. D., LII. D., Cheva-
lier of the Legion of Honor, decora-
ted by all the sovereigns Of Europe
physician, surgeon, discoverer, inven-
tor, and Christian gentleman, was
born in Lancaster, South Carolina.
The history of the man who merits
these honors can in no wise be un-
profitable.
In 1882 there were graduated from
South Carolina college two boys whose
lives had been intertwined and were
to be more closely associated for
quarter of a century. They are WRIT
ten on the graduation rolls B. Rush
Jones and ]. Marion Sims and both
are planning to become great men.
Both enter Jefferson medical college
in the fall, and both are graduated
with excellent records In the spring
of 1885.
Lancaster, South Carolina, had
warm welcome for Rush Jones ana
Marion" Sims on their return-we
can imagine that no ball was complete
without these two elegant young
blades-but at the bedside the candle
was amply sufficient to change by its
fiickering beam "Dr." ]. M. Sims into
Marion" Sims. and patients found 1t
hard to discern the doctor OF month
in the boy Of twenty-five, so realizing
that the old statement, "a prophet Is
not without honor save in his own
country" was as true for medicine as
for the clergy, the boys set out
for a region which was rapidly filling
I'D with some Of the best blood OF
Virginia and South Carolina
Americas two celestial empires. This
region was the "black belt OF Ala
bama, a district in which the old feud-
alism already passing in the southern
states to the northward, on account
of the exhaustion Of the soil was TO
find a new lease of life in soil almost
bursting with potential riches, but
s.,
having frequent swamps where the
busy little mosquito might mature his
malaria transmitting apparatus, until
the population came for him to at
tack.
So there was reason in the choice
of location. In Montgomery, after
time DIR. Jones married Miss Taliafer-
ro. while DR.. Sims went back to Lam
caster to wed the beautiful Theresa
Jones, the sister of his friend. DR.. and
Mrs. Sims settled at Mount Meigs, a
charming settlement Of wealthy plant
ers about fourteen miles southeast OF
Montgomery, in a quaint old mansion
with big rooms, high ceilings, many
paned windows, and galleries upstairs
and downstairs and opening out from
my lady's chamber. Great oak trees
shrouded with grey-beards of Span
ish moss still shade the very white,
box-bordered walks that wind their
way about the house. Box bushes
attain great age, so ! am sure that
those still standing can remember
we'll listening to the half-whispered
plans of the young couple as they
paced up and down the walks in the
afterglow of sunset. I do not think
that even a young leaf was rash
enough to dream that the two would,
before its successors would fall to the
call Of q score of autumns, be received
as honored guests of Napoleon III,
Queen Victoria and others Of the
worlds great.
The country planter-doctor, how
ever, did not Immediately evince any
wonderful amount of talent. and as
Mount Meigs proved very healthy for
everyone but himself, he moved into
the city. where ne hoped for wider
field, better health for himself and
worse for others. He struggled along
in Montgomery without much success
and was far outstripped by his
brother-in-law, DR.. Jones, who had al
ready built up a fiourishing practice
and was buying plantations Of his
own in addition to those of his heiress
wife; in fact, rapidly nearing po-
sition to do the crowning act by which
the older generation used to convince
themselves that riches have wings. In
other words he was preparing to go
surety for the inevitable friend.
Having finished the prologue (Which
l will assure you for your own peace
of mind is quite out Of proportion in
length to the rest of the play) we are
going to watch drama Of the terri
fic interest, because it is born in Faith
nourished by Hope and achieved in
Charity
Electromagnetic fistula is a very
formidable looking word. 1t is the
name of a disease which is much
more formidable; indeed, II was at this
time absolutely incurable. the only
treatment being palliative. And it was
very Common. For years Marion Sims
had had an almost morbid interest
in the disease, and had very boldly at
tempted to cure it by operation. but
without success: it was impossible SC