312 LITTLE BIOGRAPHIES.—HOW SOCCESS LS WON.

Such injustice could not but have its effect upon
the strongest body and the most courageous heart.
True, he had reached the best success, that of im-
perishable fame as a benefactor, and had received
the largest gold medal of the Institute of France;
the Order of St. Viademir ” from Russia, the first,
itis said, ever bestowed by Russiaon an American ;
the “Order of Le Vasa” from Sweden ; but anxiety
for the welfare of his family, a sense of wrong treat-
ment and unfair dealing, broke his health and his
heart. One year after, with a public funeral, as be-
fitted his great service to humanity, Doctor Morton
was buried in beautiful Mount Auburn, Doctor
Jacob Bigelow writing these expressive words, now
upon his monument, erected by the citizens of Bos-
ton ;

IV. T. G. Morton. Inventor and Revealer of
Anesthetic Inhalation, Before whom in all time Sur-
gery was Agony. By whom Pain in Surgery was
averted and annulled. Since whom Science has Con-
trol of Pain.

In the attractive Public Gardens of Boston, stands
the Ether Monument, of granite, the gift of Thomas
Lee, with a fine bas-relief on each side, and the
words: ‘ Zo commemorate the discovery that the in-
halation of ether causes insensibility to pain, first
proved to the world at the Massachusetts General
Hospital in Boston, October, 1846.”

Mrs. Morton, with her five children, was left at
her husband’s death, to struggle on, as best she
might. Doctor Sims of New York, for many years
her husband’s warm supporter, now suggested that
he would try to secure from Congress two hundred
thousand dollars tobe equally divide between Mrs.
Morton and the widow of another claimant. Though
her beautiful home was in the market for sale, in

- name they bear.

order to obtain means to support and educate her
children, though her own health was shattered,
though before her was the probability of poverty
while life lasted, she said to a friend, “The prospect
of one hundred thousand dollars gained by the ‘sac-
rifice of my husband’s just claim, or indeed any
amount of money, presented to me not the slightest
temptation, and she of course declined Doctor Sims’
proposal. And a little later the lovely home at
Wellesley was sold.

The children are now grown-up, grown up to a
heritage of honor and to honor in turn the famous
The oldest son, Doctor William J.
Morton, graduating from the Boston Latin School at
seventeen with the first prize, from Harvard Univer-
sity at twenty, and later from the Medical Schools at
Harvard and Vienna with honors, practising for
two years in South Africa, stands now one of the
leading men in his profession in New York City;
President of the Neurological Society, a member of
the medical department of the University of the
City of New York, and Professor in Vermont Uni-
versity. The youngest son, Doctor Bowditch Mor-
ton, named for his father’s devoted friend, a grad-
uate also of Harvard, is universally esteemed for
his ability and successes already won; Mrs. Morton
lives in the happy home of her oldest son,

But though America has never paid Doctor Mor-
ton the debt she owes him, though he died in sad-
ness, count his life a success—the imperishable
good of it is secured to humanity.’ His patience

and perseverance, his courage and hope, his indom-
itable will and unflagging energy, under the most
trying obstacles, in the light of his achievement, re-
main also a legacy, almost as priceless, of inspira-
tion to those who are struggling unaided, either
in the development of science, or the progress of
philanthropy.