Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1920-11-12
CHAPTER xvI-continued.

ut that brought disaster TO MS sons
a laxness of MY discipline related to
their spiritual and mental develop
ment. When we were corrected or
punished it was for conduct which at
fected his comfort or dignity, never
for thing which affected the develop
ment of our character.
eve had abundant money to spend.
It was a part of our fathers egotism
that we should be young swells, and
we were early In disorderly ways.
Richard had genius for cruelty. A
normal boy is likely to be thoughtless'
but Richard was inventive in his cru
elites. 1t was brutal. He liked to
tear things to pieces slowly, a fly If 1t
was all he could catch--a grassnopper'
field mouse. / had faithful little
dog which Richard staked out in the.
ground and killed by vivisection. l
saw the little animal when 1T was
breathing its last with its bowels ex-
posed and it's lungs laid bare.
"Richard destroyed birds nests Tor
pleasure. He liked to cut a leg Off
hen and see it stagger about vainly
TRYING to walk. He manned dogs. lie
tortured cattle and horses. He killed
a fine carriage horse by driving 1t TO
death purposely to see how long 1t
would live under the treatment ne
gave it.
'T doubt that was more lovaDle
child, but at least l did not have the
attribute of cruelty. was not only
Younger but was weaker physically.
i was sensitive to degree which made
me, an extraordinary victim to Richard
when he cared to express his fendish-
ness to or upon me.
eve were getting into late child
hood should say that was about
fourteen-when Richard began to use
his inventiveneSs in cruelty upon me
directly. AS soon as he had taste
of the delight which came from tor
,menting me had no further peace.
'sI remember with a still agonized
vividness my experience in finding
snake In my bed He had put 1t there.
He used his superior strength to tor
Iture me physically He dominated me
spiritually. He made life hell, such
a hell as life can be made only for
child by mistreatment, when reality
has not starkly asserted itself, when
proportions are not established and
when illusions can be kindly or hide
Gus.
'Richard and grew up in this fash
ion, in terror of him and his malevO-
Hence. When 1 was fifteen mother died.
Circumstances and conditions were be-
yond her strength of mind or body. but
she had been a friend, and / missed
lher cruelty. 1t was really terrible
loss at time when much needed
friend
GAS we grew older Richards dia-
bolical habits became only Shrewder,
not less assertive. He contrived the
most ingenious schemes for my tor
ment. He Inundated me whenever
possible before other boys and, better
for his purpose, before girls.
''My father put US out to school to-
gether. and this suited Richards pur-
pose admirably. How / hated this
thing that bore my name and my blood
1t became an indomitable hate. 1t
exists to this day. No human being
ever was so hated by another as my
brother Richard was by me-and is
is to this moment and will be hated
while a breath remains in my body.
'When II was eighteen my father
died, and Richard and l inherited the
estate under a trusteeship to continue
until | was twenty-one. Richard was
then twenty. In another year he at
tained his majority. He was profiigate
and wild, a heavy drinker, coarse,
cruel boor, licentious young ruff1an
who had suffered twice in actions
brought by veal and unfortunate
girls.
ct irritated him beyond expression
that he had to wait the slow process
rof my coming of age before he could
come into his share of the property.
His constant demeanor toward me was
violent. Several times tried to estab-
fish the reasonable relations which
ought. in convention, to exist between
brothers. It was quite hopeless. and
nv hate for this boor came to be an
Insane passion. 1t remains as a pas
sion now.
"I may not be able t. satisfy anyone
that this was the inevitable conse-
uuence of the treatment given me, but
could if / were TO elaborate the de-
tails--or merely state them. However.
nv purpose is not so much to indict
nv brother as to record my own tri-
-umph-to assist the commission of a
crime which has been of intense salts
faction to me, a crime in which / have
maintained my culpability with Joy
and from which Richard has suffered
and is suffering.
"He is a broken old man. He is in
a penitentiary."
Here followed a section of the man.
uscript from which, as l recognized,
the page Dravada had taken was miss
ing. Then 1t continued:
"I became little more assertive of
my rights and dignity, with the result
that our quarrels were more violent.
I tried to fit myself physically to meet
Richard but he was very sturdy, and
his prof1igate habits had not yet IN
daYmined his health. When resisted
klm physically he had the better of me.
Three times he knocked me uncnn-
scious. Once / was i'll in bed q week
as the result of heating he gave me.
Frequently he threatened that he