Tiring of _acting_ as priest, Wolcot returned to London, and vainly endeavored to establish himself in practice. Neither preaching nor practising physic was his forte, and he resorted to the pen. Here he discovered his genius. Adopting the _nom de plume_ of "Peter Pindar," he became famous as a political satirist, and the author of numerous popular works. He died in London in 1819. Wolcot possessed a kindly heart, and a benevolence deeper than his pockets. POLICEMEN AS DOCTORS AND SURGEONS. Some very laughable scenes, as well as very touching and painful ones, might be recorded, had we space, where policemen have necessarily been unceremoniously summoned to act as physician or surgeon in absence of a "regular." In Portland, the police have to turn their hand to most everything. Circumstances beyond his control compelled one Mr. J. S. to act the part of midwife to a strapping Irish woman at the station-house, one evening, he being the sole "committee of reception" to a bouncing baby that came along somewhat precipitately. The account, which is well authenticated, closes by saying,-- "Mother, baby, and officer are doing as well as can be expected!" We have seen the "officer." He did better than was "expected." The writer was on a Fulton ferry boat in the winter of 1857, when a similar scene occurred. A German woman was taken in pain. A whisper was passed to a female passenger; a policeman was summoned from outside the ladies' (?) cabin; the male occupants were ejected,--even myself and another medical student, and the husband of the patient. The latter remonstrated, and demonstrated his objection to the momentary separation by beating and shouting at the saloon door. "Katharina! Katharina!" he shouted, "keep up a steef upper lips!" This roaring attracted nearly all the men from the opposite side of the boat, who crowded around him and the door, to learn the cause of the Teutonic demonstrations of alternate fear, anger, and encouragement. "Got in himmel! Vere you leefs ven you's t' home? Vich a man can't come mit his vife, altogedder? Hopen de door, unt I preaks him mit mine feest; don't it?" So he kept on, alternately cursing the policeman and encouraging "Katharina," till we reached the Brooklyn side, and left the ferry boat. [Illustration] V. WOMAN AS PHYSICIAN. "Angel of Patience! sent to calm Our feverish brow with cooling palm; To lay the storm of hope and fears, And reconcile life's smile and tears; The throb of wounded pride to still, And make our own our Father's will."--WHITTIER.