1 62 HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL SKETCH OF 



of perfect health, that in order to enjoy it we would 

 run the risk of incurring even a worse penalty than 

 country fever. But any violation of the condition 

 of its enjoyment — that is, any exposure at improper 

 seasons, and under unfavorable circumstances — ren- 

 ders one liable to be called upon to endure the pen- 

 alty. It must be confessed, however, that even 

 when no violation had been offered to the condi- 

 tions, not only Pineville, but every other pine land, 

 has presented sporadic cases of fevers. There are 

 persons so sensitively and ridiculously alive to the 

 reputation of a place for health, that no case of 

 fever can occur without the cause being diligent- 

 ly investigated ; and this ascertained, how frivolous 

 soever it may be, the poor patient is allowed to die 

 as soon as he may. And it is astonishing how friv- 

 olous are the causes which are sometimes gravely 

 assigned and believed. Thus, we remember when 

 the first case of yellow fever made its appearance in 

 Charleston, in 1839, it was said that the young man, 

 its victim, had neglected to provide himself with a 

 sufficient number of towels in going to the bath, 

 and was consequently obliged to spend some time 

 in damp clothes. It never occurred to these good 

 people, that if such a trivial neglect could produce 

 such fatal consequences, it would argue a deadliness 

 of climate which ought to make every one, who has 

 it in his power, to abandon it at once and forever. 

 And we could not but remember how, when a 



