Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 294, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1910 — The ONLOOKER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The ONLOOKER

by WILBUR D. NESBIT

(Stovaine, the new anesthetic, permits the patient to retain his consciousness, and carry on a conversation, while being operated upon.) Gather 'round me, skilful surgeon, nurse, physician and chlrurgeon, Let my conversation burgeon while you carve upon my rib; I shall rest without a quiver- and without a shake or shiver As you cut apart my liver. If you won’t say I am glib. Go ahead and slice my sinew with the , best of skill that’s In you While I merrily continue to inquire a little bit: Tell me why when I am ailing and to you I come a-tralllng, I must find It unavailing to ask what you christen it. You will nod and hem and haw some in in your manner more than awesome Till you make me think you saw some subtle symptom of the plague; Then you tell me to keep quiet and you fix me up a diet That’s enough to start a riot—but the rest of It Is vague. You will write me a prescription couched In something like Egyptian, Looking like a wild conniption of a spider in the ink; Though with sclehce you have planned it and by rights you may command it. Still, If I could understand It, il would help a lot, I think. What’s the matter, doctor? Truly, I don’t mean to be unruly; Please don’t look at me so colly or I Think that I shall weep. But the doctors and the nurses brought the drug that talk dispenses And In spite of feeble curses put the talking one to sleep!