Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-11-01

Luscher sitting peacefully in
hts office. You wouldn't think
al casual glance he was a Soldier
OF Fortune" says a writer In the Kan
sas City Star
Well, he isn't-as the term has come
to be used to describe every wanderer
who strayed beyond the bounds OF his
native country. Let a track laborer
return from Mexico and he's a sol
a Cooks tourist
But there used to be real soldiers
OF fortune who had real adventures
in unreal countries. Richard Harding
Davis made a fortune writing about
them. but most OF them have been
written out. Perhaps there is a new
crop growing up in strange countries
waiting 10 come home with new sto-
ries. However, there aren't many OF
them these dull days that have new
stories to tell
That's why It is surprising to find
Doctor Luscher sitting peacefully in
his office and chatting about the
times he used to chase headhunters
in Formosa with native Chinese
troops
Il was SO unexpected. You wouldn't
judge Doctor Luscher to be the sort
of a man who plunged through dank
jungles and over bleak mountains TO
run down the head hunting savages
OF an untamed country. The doctor
seems to be too courteous to take
part In anything OF that sort Still
he's not so young as he used to be
and there is no telling what an ad-
venturous soul he used to be when he
slept under tropical stars. There
must have been a powerful spirit Of
unrest within him. for It Is known
that he has served under four flags
before he settled down to a staid prac-
tfce here.
Served Under Four Flags.
Doctor Luscher was present when
American troops moved against In
dams on the plains. when Cubans met
Spaniards and when mongrel met
mongfel In Honduras. Also he has
seen the Chinese troops charge with
songs and flags and devils heads
against deadly aim Of waiting and
grinning French soldiers. HeN has
seen the headhunters skipping through
the tangled bush and has been fortu-
nate enough to have lodged divers
spears aimed at him.
All OF these things are written In
hts memory. which goes to show that
you never can tell about your neigh.
Dor. Really you wouldn't suspect II
Of the doctor as he sits peacefully in
his Office in the Argyle building at
Twelfth and MCGEE streets.
An article published in the Star
last Sunday told how Japan is open.
ing a military campaign against the
headhunters on Formora. The head.
hunters are OF Malay descent and
were probably cast on the coast OF
Formosa by storms at sea- Since
man can remember they have been
undesirable. with their head hunting
and cannibal practices. China used
to own the island. but II was sick
and tired Of It when Japan came along
in 1895 and took II in as a war prize.
japan has its own troubles with the
natives who have only vague and in
distinct ideas OF the correct mode of
behaving toward their fellow men.
They eat their enemies and they
haven't friend on earth. Altogether
they are wicked race. but they have
been making both ends meet, after .
manner OF speaking, by hiding away
in the tops Of the rugged mountains
of Formosa
II was into these mountains that
Doctor Luscher went with 700 Chi
nese soldiers in 1885, Immediately
after China had been counted out in
the Franco Chinese war. Doctor
Luscher had been the only medical
man with the Chinese army In the
war, having organized q hospital corps
of fifty men.