A doctor's confession

Front matter

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Preface

It has been the author's intention to present facts and relate incidents with a view to promoting a better understanding between the physician and the laity, as well as to furnish entertainment and amusement for the general reader. A greater degree of justice would obtain if the people had a more accurate knowledge of what may reasonably be expected of the physician. It should be understood that there are some things about human ailments and their* cure that' the medical profession know, and some things they do not know ; but the training of the masses has been such as to make it detrimental to a physician's reputation and business if he acknowledge ignorance concerning a case he may have under his care. This puts the honest, though well qualified physician, at a disadvantage and encourages deception. Advice is sometimes worth more than medicine, and very often is all that is necessary.

The wonderful advancement that has been made in medical science during the last two decades should be seconded by increased enlightenment of the laity in their relations to the medical profession.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I Waiting for the Train, 1

II Tkb Picnic 6

Chapter One. Waiting For The Train

The floor of the depot and the platform around it were covered with lunch baskets, croquet sets, ropes for swings, hammocks and other paraphernalia calculated to add to die enjoyment of a day's outing in the woods.

If there ever is a time when people are inclined to invoke the favor of nature it is when they are going to a picnic ; and this morning their invocations surely were answered. The friendliness of the elements was vouchsafed in a clear sky and bracing atmosphere. A gentle breeze from the northwest whispered: "Pleasant weather in Schuylkill wood to-day."

A liberal attendance was assured long before train time. People always forget that special trains never start on time, and their early arrival at the station indicates that they even fear a premature departure ; and the result is a long and impatient waiting. Every trunk, box and truck on the^ platform was utilized as a temporary resting place. A long line of men and women were standing or squatting with their backs against tJie depot building, while the entire edge of the platform was fringed with human beings of all ages and sexes. It was as promiscuous a crowd as a local' community could furnish. Besides the small boy and girl, who are always on hand and imagine that picnics are made especially for them, there was the anxious mother who had to go along to see that her boy did not endanger his life by climbing trees or venturing too close to the edge of the water ; and the father had wisely concluded that it would do him good to break the monotony of his life with a day free from the turmoil of business ; and the young lady who feels half the time at home like a bird in a cage, and that the exhilarating atmosphere of the rural districts expands the soul as well as the limgs, remembered that romances often originate at picnics. She doted on romances, and a romance with a sylvan flavor was exceedingly attractive to her. And there was the young man who thought one gome of corquet in the forest was worth a dozen in the baclg^ard of the most popular family in Jamburg; nor was the ^^auntie" going to be left at home when there was an opportunity to indulge in experiences that would call up pleasant reminiscences of the days when she was full of vivacity and hopes ; and to complete the variety, her counterpart, that specimen of humanity who is conspicuous for his neglect of a duty he owes to the race, was well represented.

It seemed a long time to wait for the train, but there was no occasion for an astute observer of human nature, or the student of character to become impatient He could interest and amuse himself by noticing the pranks of the children, and the actions and expressions of the older ones as they contemplated the day before them. A casual inspection of the various costumes might occupy a portion of his time and thoughts. While some of the women had on handsome and comfortable, yet cheap and washable gowns, others looked as if they were going to an evening party .^ The broadcloth Prince Albert coat, high standing paper collar, and polished tile mingled with the cool linen sack, negligee shirt and straw hat. However well some were satisfied with their own dress, they were not pleased with the make-up of others, for numerous criticisms were heard.

A freckle-faced woman sitting on a baggage truck, swinging her feet six inches from the floor, on noticing a stylish looking lady step from a carriage on to the platform, remarked, "The idea of wearing a black silk dress to a picnic in the woods."

"Yes, but just look at that white French pique gown," said a lady on her left.

"Yes, I noticed it^" added the woman with the freckled face, "I don't suppose that goods cost less than fifty cents a yard."

"And then it's awful hard to wash and do up," was suggested by a third woman standing nearby with ears on the conversation and eyes on the restless crowd.

"Shoot the hat," yelled a boy perched on a pile of trunks, as a young lady from the rural districts, wearing a straw head dress with a brim six inches wide, and a broad red ribbon streaming out two feet behind, hurried from a lumber wagon to the depot as if she scarcely had time to get her ticket.

'Why, Freddie!" exclaimed the boy's mother, in suppressed yet inflexible tones," where did you learn such manners ?"

Freddie slid down the opposite side of the trunks and ran away just as his mother reached out her hand to take hold of him. The mother walked away with an expression of chagrin and humiliation and sat down on a pile of croquet boxes.

"I'm sorry for that woman," said a lady standing in a group on the end of the platform.

"I presume I feel about as bad as she does, for that boy is in my Sunday School class," remarked the woman in white piqua

"I didn't know that Fred Instep ever went to Sunday School," quietly remarked another woman.

As Fred jumped off the end of the platform his attention was attracted by a somewhat fleshy woman carrying one child and leading another, while a third trotted behind, moving in the direction of the depot as rapidly as her burdens would permit. The train had not yet arrived, but this woman knew it was about due, and she was in that condition of mind so many get into when they find they have not made the right calculations as to the time it takes tiiem to get ready to start for a train — a train that runs on its own time and nobody's else. Her motions indicated a determination not to get left The child she was leading, in its forced march, stumbled and fell to the ground. "Come here, kid, and I'll help you up," exclaimed Ered at the top of his voice.

After being dragged a rod or so the little fellow regained his feet and the fleshy woman was soon at the wicket calling, between breaths, for "A ticket and a half to the picnic !" Eivers of perspiration ran down her red, congested face, and her white sleeves were pasted like court plaster to her plump arms. She was not immediately waited on and became impatient. Had the train already arrived and the conductor called out, "All aboard," she could not have been more restless. Robert Holmes, the ticket seller, who was serving apprenticeship with the railroad and telegraph companies, was engaged in conversation with a girl whom he had called to the outside window ; but a violent rapping on the wicket sill with a fat fist and an impetuous call for "tickets !" attracted his attention. The woman purchased her tickets and, passing to the outside, confronted the girl who had delayed the transaction, with a fierce expression and said, "Girls are getting a little too smart now-a-days; they're never satisfied unless they have some boy or other to gas with, even if they have to interfere with other people's business."

"I beg your pardon," said the girl, whose name was Grertrude Stover, "I'm very sorry if I have caused you any annoyance or inconvenience. I only stepped to the window at the request of Mr. Holmes, who wished to speak to me, not intending to detain him from his duties."

The sweet tone of Gertrude's voice and the kindly expresssion of her face alone were not only ample apology for the alleged transgression, but punishment to the one who prompted them. The woman felt that she, herself, was the real transgressor.

Some boys playing with a baggage truck gave it a sudden jerk, displacing a pile of trunks that lay on it ; the motion caused a boy that was sitting on the topmost trunk to lose his balance and fall. Those who were on the scene were shocked at the sight of a boy starting to fall backwards from a height of six feet to a hard floor and sure to light on his head. Who has not experienced the terrible sensation of sudden impending danger ? The spectators thought of a broken neck, a fractured skull — a dead boy! Were the bystanders paralyzed at the scene ? Not all of them ; Gertrude Stover, standing ten feet away, sprang forward like a flash and caught the boy just before he struck the floor, evidently saving him from serious injury if not death. A feeling of relief pervaded the crowd, and Gertrude heard many expressions of praise for her presence of mind and almost superhuman strength and agility.

A whistle was heard and, "The train is coming," issued from many throats. There was the customary hurry and bustle of a large excursion party boarding a railway train. This was a special train of six coaches sent from Lebanon to carry this crowd of picnicers to their destination thirty miles away.

Chapter II. The Picnic

The trip was made without incident of note, and five hundred human beings with cheerful faces and light hearts were landed at ten o'clock on the banks of a river celebrated for its sceneiy. How fortunate when one sets apart a time for social enjoyment and recreation, if he be able to free his mind from everything that would interfere with that object Home duties should be left at home, nor should business cares be carried into the precincts of pleasure.

So long as pleasures walk hand in hand with virtue and reason they refine and strengthen. If we would be pleased we must please. There is a pleasure in pleasing, and when we make a business of pleasure we must not be occupied with other business.

The picnic grounds were a quarter of a mile from the railroad, but their superiority as a place for open air recreation was ample compensation for the walk, which extended from the track across an open plain to a regularly formed ridge about fifteen feet high. It was a beautiful ridge, matted with bluegrass, and dotted here and there with trees of various kinds. On reaching its summit the spot where this expectant party was to spend the day in search of rest and recreation, burst into view. Nature made this prospect, but no landscape artist could improve it. Taste could add nothing to its beauty, imagination could not surpass the grandeur, calculation could not make the scene more alluring to the eye. At the foot of the ridge ran a beautiful narrow stream called Pebble Creek. It evidently derived its name from the abundance and variety of pebbles that lined its bed.

The crowd, with one impulse, halted on the ridge to view the landscape before it When Albert Bruce arrived he exclaimed, "Behold the Promised Landl — beyond the Jordan,*' pointing to the little creek below them. This promised land consisted of three terraces containing about two acres each rising one above the other from the Irft bank of the Schuylkill. The course of the river at this point is directly southward, running at right angles with the ridge mentioned above.

The ground was covered with bluegrass and studded with forest trees of every species known to that part of the country. The view was unmarred by undergrowth ; only a clump of blackhaw bushes, a gooseberry shrub and a humble sumac stood here and there looking up with reverence to the tall poplars, majestic oaks and stately elms that lifted their immense branches heavenward. At the upper end of the park was a large, round, white granite rock, all covered with woodbine excepting the top which protruded through the foliage in a way that suggested a shaven scalp. This -peculiar appearance induced some one to call it the "monk,'* which name was adopted by the whole party.

The grounds were bounded on the north by a serrated bluff forty feet high, the notches, four in number, dipping half-way to its base. Viewed from the south, the points between these notches resembled immense hay stacks. One of them, however, presented a decidedly picturesque appearance. It required no tax of the imagination to see in it the image of a lion's head. The short, thick shrubbery that covered the top and sides of the mound represented the shaggy mane, a bush on either side near the top served as ears, and nature had caused two dark colored rocks to protrude through the grass that answered very well for the eyes ; and to complete the picture, a roimded projection of naked earth made a very respectable nose. Then how natural it was to call this picturesque spot Lion Park !

Between two of these mounds issued a stream of sparkling water. The Bwiftness of the brook above caused the water, on reaching the precipice at the edge of the bluff, to dash several feet through ike air; dropping six feet^ it fitrudc a boulder and glanced off in a thin sheets forming a hemisphere as it curved downward. There was a constant pouch of clear water three feet in diameter; pretty at all times, but its surpassing beauty and splendor could be realized only when the sim's rays converted it into a prism showing a dazzling, sparkling, ever changing rainbow. As the water quitted this unique form it was gathered into a narrow channel below and went dancing over the little boulders on its way to the thirsty Schuylkill.

This bluff, extending the whole length of the park, was not quite perpendicular, but just slanting enough for grass to grow thick on its side. On the east the park merged into a landscape furnishing no special pleasure to the eye. Shapeless ridges, thinly clad knobs and crags rose one above another till the view was lost in the horizon.

Between these and the beautiful ridge on the south a deep ravine furnished a pasage into the park for Pebble Creek.

With the exception of a number of impatient boys who went over with a running jump, the party crossed Pebble Creek on an extemporized "foot-log'^ and was soon located in squads all over the park.

While some were prospecting for suitable places to hang swings, others were surveying croquet grounds and tennis courts. The women lost no time in beginning to invoice the contents of their lunch baskets to ascertain how many dishes were broken, cakes crushed and jelly cups upset in the rush and confusion attending the trip in the over-crowded cars.

Mrs. Crane discovered that the cork had come out of a bottle of creamed coffee,' her napkins were soaked and a dish of fried chicken was swimming in the fluid.

"Your grief is small compared with rfine,'' exclaimed her

A DOCTOR'8 CONFESSION. 9

neighbor, Mrs. Rand, holding up a cake in her hand, "here's my beautiful cocoanut cake all saturated with vinegar."

"That's nothing" said Judge" Kem, who was watching his wife examine her basket on the terrace a couple of rods above, "my wife has two broken teacups, and her deviled eggs have managed to get into her raspberry jam."

A childish, half angry, half playful scream was heard down toward the river. It came from Fred. A party of two couples, including Elijah Swan, an eccentric old bachelor, had just finished the erection of arches for a game of croquet on a level plat of ground on the lower terrace. Some little children were rolling and turning baby summersaults down the side of the terrace. If there is aoything the small boy and girl like to do better than wading water and playing on a sand pile, it is to roll down a soft grassy mound. Fred must have envied those children, being too large to indulge in that sort of amusement himseK. He caught one of the boys by the feet, and, making a sled of him, dragged him over one of the arches, rendering repairs to the latter necessary before it could be used.

Mr. Swan caught the trangressor, turned him across his knee and gave him a good natured spanking. Fred, on being released, goodnaturedly pulled up one of the other arches, ran off with it and threw it into this river, closely followed by Mr. Swan, who stood with an expression of mild chagrin as he watched the dying ripples where the arch went down. Fred having placed himseK at a safe distance, yelled at the top of his voice,

"Lige Swan, if you're a good diver you'll find your croquet arch at the bottom of the river. Go in ; swans are fond of the water."

Mr. Swan returned to his companions and began to exercise his inventive faculties to extemporize a plan for replacing the lost arch. "That boy is a candidate for the reform schpol," he remarked.

"O, well, boys will be boys, you know," said one of the ladies.

Mr. Swan trimmed a branch, of a gooseberry bush, but in attempting to bend it into proper shape it broke. He then tried a twig of oak ; the result was the same. His countenance portrayed mental perturbation as he glanced at the author of his troubles, who had approached within a few feet to observe the proceedings. Fred stood with a mischievous twinkle of the eyei, and an expression of peculiar satisfaction. Mr. Swan caught him, and, standing him in the place of the missing arch, placed his feet about nine inches apart and said, "Now, you little brat, stand right there till this game is finished. You're the only thing in these woods tough enough for a croquet arch." For a little while there was no indication in the boy's actions that the order would not be obeyed. He stood as motionless as a statue, regardless of the jocular remarks that were made about the unique arch ; but the boy's mind was not idle. One of the ladies sent a ball between his legs and Swan was about to "make" the same arch when Fred grabbed the ball and said, "I must go to the concert; goodbye, Lige," and ran off to the bluff where a number of people had gathered about "Eainbow Waterfall," and, inspired by the beautiful sight and the grandeur of the surroundings, were singing songs appropriate to the occasion.

Fred threw the ball high up on the bluff, where it lodged, and then yelled, "Say, Mr. Swan, if you're as good a climber as that squirrel I saw a while ago on that big elm, you'll find your ball on top of the mountain," and was soon lost in the crowd aroung the singers.

The singing was spontaneous — the outburst of soul. It was not a time for pent up melody. There was too much poetry and nature's art in the surroundings for a musical soul to keep silent

When the first crowd reached this place, their emotions having already been aroused by the objects of grandeur and

-^"^^^^s^aaKSBBOH beauty, they were enraptured with this sparkling, dancing

brook. Mrs. Wells, an emotional, yet appreciative person,

b^an,

" Sweet are the Uttle brooks that run O'er pebbles g^lancing in the sun."

She was joined by the others in the singing. Eev. Mr. Rhodes spoke the following words in a cheerful, but serious tone:

" O Nature, how fair is thy face And how light is thy heart and how friendly thy grace!**

Then all, with one impulse sang :

" Come* thou fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing thy grace."

After a moment's silence, Gertrude Stover enlivened the audience by singing :

" I chatter, chatter as I flow To join the brimming river, For men may come and men may go, But I go on forever."

When she wps through the admiration of the crowd seemed to be drawn from the beauties of nature to this girl. Most of them knew her. Those who did not inquired about her. No one could hear her voice, or see her face, or look into her eyes without being interested. She was sixteen years old — not "sweet sixteen" — that phrase is too common, too vulgar to be used in describing Gtertrude Stover. Her form was a blending of the Grecian and Teutonic types. The firmness of her step indicated strength, yet there was an easy grace in her carriage that was truly admirabla She was -at once a child and a woman. While her intellect was remarkable, she was too well balanced to be called precocious. She seemed especially attractive on this day to a few well dressed young men, but Robert Holmes, the telegraph operator, engaged her attention more than any of the others.

I had known^her for some time; in fact, we had been school mates, and I admit that on this occasion I had an increasing desire to cultivate her acquaintance. Perhaps, however, the events of the day that had made her conspicuous and added to her popularity, influenced me in the direction of her society. At all events, I felt a little jealous of Eobert Holmes, and resolved to draw Gertrude away from him ; but the way did not open up very rapidly for the consummation of my plans. Gertrude was not a very approachable girl. Bob Holmes could dress better, spend more money and had more experience than I had. He belonged to a family of more prominence than I did ; and then it was known that Gertrude's parents were opposed to her receiving special attention from the boys. She was a mere girl, ^nd I was only two years her senior. Mr. and Mrs. Stover had conscientious scruples against the too common custom of rushing girls into womanhood prematurely, and their daughter's conduct did not indicate that she opposed them in their views. But I had courage and ambition. My mind was active in devising schemes for stealing myself into her favor and affections. When there was a lull in the extemporaneous exercises, and general conversation had been resumed, I sauntered around to a group in which Gertrude and Robert Holmes were standing, intending to incidentally engage in conversation with the former, and if possible, get her away from him ; but before I had spoken a word to her she turned to Robert, and with a graceful bow and pleasing smile, said, "Will you excuse me ? Mother wants me to go with her."

She and her mother walked off to another part of the grounds and joined some friends. Of course I was disappointed, but concluded that Gertrude's leaving Robert so suddenly was ample compensation for the disappointment.

About this time Albert Bruce was overcoming an obstacle that had delayed one source of interesting amusement for the youngsters. Efforts had been made to hang a swing on a certain branch of a very large elm tree that stood near

■Mi

Pebble Creek at the lower end of the park. There was a peculiar attraction about this location for a swing. The tree stood about three rods below a considerable elevation — the end of the lower terrace, where it swelled up to form a high second bank to the river. A large branch of the tree extended out horizontally and parallel with the edge of the terrace. The plan was to hang a swing at a point twenty feet from the body of the tree and forty feet from the ground, attach a line to the seat of the swing and give it momentum by drawmg it back over the elevated ground and ^letting it go. But the question was, how to attach the rope to the desired place. The tree was too large to climby no ladder was wifliin reach, and all efforts at throwing the rope over the branch had failed when Mr. Bruce appeared on the spot. Miss Orilla Rand, a vivacious young lady, said to him, with an expression of face and motion of the head suited to the words, ^T\fr. Bruce, we are about to despair; can you give us a word of encouragement ?"

"I should be pleased to do so if it lies within my power. Miss Eand. What is the cause of your grief ?"

"I knew you would be good," said Miss Rand, "and now, if you will help us out of our difficulty, we will reward you handsomely. Yes, if you will tell us how to hang our swing . on the big arm that is extended so willingly," pointing to the desired limb, "we'll give you the first swing and christen it ^The Bruce swing.' "

"Well," said Albert, "I should consider that abundant and liberal compensation. If you will get me a rock about the size of a potato I will attempt to earn the reward."

A boy was immediately despatched for the rock, and Bruce tied it to one end of the line and the rope to the other, and without much difficulty threw the rock over the branch, and drawing the rope over, he tied the two ends together, had men to hold it firm while he climbed hand over hand to the branch, on which he sat while securing the ends of the rope, and then descended in the same manner that he ascended. He was heartily cheered by the crowd, and at the suggestion of Miss Band, dedicatory and christening services of a comical and ludicrous character were conducted by Kev. Ehodes and Judge Kern-

This gigantic swing soon became quite popular with the more courageous boys and girls ; they liked tiie long, exciting sweep it gave them. But about this time I was very much interested in another part of the grounds. Having been taught that perseverance was a powerful element of success, I resolved on another effort tq secure the company of Miss Stover, so I induced another young man to join me in securing a croquet set, and then it was not long till I had Gertrude for a partner. I now felt that I was one step ahead of Bob Holmes ; and a;^ the game went on I kept a lookout to see if he wer0 not watching us with a jealous eye. Why shouldn't he now feel as I did when he was ahead ? I was happy, yet uneasy ; had what I wanted, but not satisfied. I was- desirous of making a good impression ; could I do it ? Would I be able to put the best foot foremost without stumbling? I had read in a novel how women admired champions and worshipped heroes. Then how important for me to play a successful game. We made a good start and got three points ahead of our competitors, but I made some awkward plays. My mallet would not strike the balls fairly, and the ball would always find an obstacle to throw it out of line. Deer hunters sometimes get the "Buck a.^e" but I seemed to have the croquet ague. I couldn't hold the mallet steady. We were losing ground, and our opponents enjoyed our ill-luck. I magnified the situation. Even Gertrude's composure, steady aim, graceful movements and cheering words would not quiet my nerves, and when one of my inexcusable blunders spoiled a well laid plan of hers, with a jerk of the head and a mortified but not unkindly look, she stamped her foot; I felt like sinking into the ground. It is unnecessary to say that we were defeated. I was terribly chagrined, but Gertrude's pleasing manner convinced me that my feelings were exaggerated. It was only a game of croquet. After the game was completed our party started over to the court to witness a game of tennis. On the way we met Miss Eand who said, "Have you seen tlie big swing down by the river ? It's a mammoth affair.'^