Our Doctor is Ill

The most shocking blow that has struck our village in many a year was that last week when word was passed around that Dr. Colteaux was dangerously ill at his home here.  We are glad to report that the doctor is considerably improved this week and while we all have hopes that he is on the road to ultimate recovery and will be back in his old time from again, the fact that he must take an enforced vacation and must rest for a good long time was a blow and it was hard for us to realize the truth.
As a boy in the schools of Roberts, Dr. Colteaux was a model student.  His duties always came first and pleasures afterward.  In his sports he always took the lead.  He was the most energetic of the lot.  No matter what company he was in, he lead and others followed.  As a young man in the store he was always attentive to his duties.  In the medical collage, in a class of considerably more than a hundred, he led the class and delivered the valedictory address.  When he began the practice of his profession, here in his own town, among his own people, where his whole life history is known, he began his work and his success was the most wonderful that has ever come to the knowledge of the people here.  But with it all there was one thing that Dr. Colteaux never learned and that was to disappoint the people.
His skill was known and in demand.  Suffering humanity called him and he could not say "No."  Many a time for weeks and weeks he has gone from place to place, and almost the only sleep he could get was in his car between calls.  Going, going, going, and when he reached his office there would be anywhere from twenty-five to one hundred people waiting for consultation.  And he could not tell them "No."  Many is the time that he has told us that he was tired and wished he might go away to get some rest.  And he has said, "In a few more weeks I am going away," but there was always some one or many who wanted his services here at home and he could not refuse their request.
Did he do this for the sake of the money?  No, ask the thousand who have been benefitted by his skill and you will not find one who will say that his practice was for the sake of accumulating money.  When his patients paid him he took the money because his investments to equip himself to do his work required money but he would go just as far, use just as much skill and be just as patient, for suffering humanity, though he knew that he would never receive one cent for his services.
A man of skill, of wonderful ability, a man of high principle, and greatest of all a man whom everybody loves.  He has no enemies.  This man is very ill but he is getting better and will be back in his office.  Perhaps not for several months, but he is coming back. 

--Roberts Herald.  23 May 1923.