New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-03
Long Lost Professor IS
Old Self Again-WilI
Meet Wife.
STARTS FOR TORONTO
UNDER COUSINS CARE
From College Chair TO Dish
washer Is Scholars
Odyssey.
-nr T.l.f-,ph % r.T-h.r. I


Colorado Springs, Col. April DR..
Cecil Fairchild Lavell. victim o. am
nesia. who disappeared from MS home
in Hamilton, Canada. in November,
1918. and Who has been sought far and
wide By his faithful wife. though others
had given up. has recovered his mem
orr here. as result Of meeting his
cousin. Professor Donald McFayder. or
Colorado University. lie had forgotten
that he was Professor Lavell, formerly
Of Columbia University and Of other
colleges in Canada and America. lie
is now clear on that subject. In COM
pany with his cousin re left here to-
day 70 join his wife IN Toronto. lie
told The Tribune correspondent the
following story:
"On November q. 1918. found my
self on train between Buffalo and
Detroit, without any iGea as 20 who
was or how ! got there. remember
it chiefly AS d nightmare ~ dizziness.
And az the days cleared little. re
member sitting there smoking and
looking straight ahead OF me, trying
70 penetrate the wall OF mental dark
ness. b. degrees ] got my balance "a
little, and searched ny pockets Tor
something tangible that would help %
clarity things. found my name. my
portion, q letter offering me char
In Ohio State University. and a ie"
business and personal letters. that
showed only that I was In good stand
ing and that I had friends nothing
more than that meant anything 20 me.
Past Memories Flee.
81 realized before I reached Detroit
that my own past was a blank wall
that I could not pierce by any effort.
Blu. 70 my relief | found that ! could
remember other things, and that ny
mind could apparently work IN normal
Ways. Then I reached a decision as 10
my immediate plans. To communicate
with any Of the persons whose letters
J had. 70 go back 70 the world IN which
I would De an alien, was just then an
impossibili;y.
IT was not fear. exactly: j. was
physical and mental shrinking from
the uncanny. decided 10 get off a.
Detroit. 20 on 20 Toledo why Toledo
7 Go not know and from there ..ke
the road heading vaguely for Colorado.
Perhaps ny memory would clear up IN
few days with the exercise and the
fresh country air; perhaps not. In
any case was simply choosing between
Two lines. the one q which ! was con-
scir1s and the one Of which ! vas not
conscious. And I chose the former.
Adopts New Name.
From Toledo walked most % the
way 10 Dsnville. III. On the way
adopted new name-Cecil Edward
OBrier-ior no other reason than that
the name pleased me. and by that name
my Colorado Springs friends now know
ne. The past was still blank. but ny
mind was adjusting itself 20 is new
probler. found that my mind worked
costly and normally; that ny memory
recalled vithou: effort all things out
SIDE Of the personal sphere.
bad weather and bad roads made me
take 20 the electric a. Danville, and az
Springfield. H.. ! bought ticket 20
Pueblo. but got OF az Colorado
Springs. For Few weeks ! rested and
took long walks Ny first Christmas
dinner was IN onion sandwich and
banana In the Garden Of the Gods.
Becomes Day Laborer.
In January entered definitely on
~ new lie that Of an unskiiled la
borer. impelled By necessity. felt
Nc rfectlv able TO teach. for my own dis
: bility did not seem 20 touch ne a. all
II regard 20 thinking and teaching. But
I could not DO the one thing was
qualified 20 do. because this meant APP
real TO records. references. things That
mean, getting into touch with the life
that was behind me, the life that was
no longer mine.