TV Radio Mirror (Jul - Dec 1955)

Dr. Crane's experience proves that taking life too seriously is as great a mistake as taking life too lightly MOST PEOPLE, in all walks of life, are called upon at various times to do more than is expected of them. For a doctor, however, this is not the exception but the rule. A doctor's primary mission in life is to cure the sick. But, at times, he also has to be an adviser, philosopher, mediator and helping hand. In a city hospital, a doctor's complex role is magnified, for — in addition to attending all kinds of patients with all kinds of Uls — a doctor often finds himself involved in problems concerning his colleagues and subordinates. . . . Dr. Barton Crane of City Hospital is a man of great talent, patience and wisdom, as well as a successfxil man of medicine. It is only natiiral, therefore, that his advice and comfort should be sought by members of the City Hospital staff, as weU as its patients. Recently, this occurred with Albert Wexler, one x)f the hospital's pharmacists. Albert, a serious but often over-anxious young man, was in love with Laura, a nurse at City Hospital, and planned to marry her. But Laura, a widow for ten years, was also the mother of twelve-year-old Toby. Worrier that he was, Albert was afraid to break the news to Toby for fear that it would make the boy iinhappy or cause him to resent Albert. . . . "The main cause for Albert's concern was that he took matters too seriously and had a tendency to underestimate himself. This was made clear to Dr. Crane after he had lent Albert several books on psychology. For, no sooner had Albert read them, than he began applying what little he had learned to his own relationship with Toby. "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing," Dr. Crane mused, as he tried to make Albert realize that his situation was not some abstract case history. "Take it easy," he advised Albert. "Toby will be tickled pink to have you for a father — especially if you want to be one." . . . Although Albert found it difficult to "take it easy," he did make an attempt to get closer to Toby. That evening, when he went to see Laura, he brought Toby a present — a baseball mitt — and told the boy that he and Laura planned to marry. Toby accepted the gift and the marriage news covirteously, but showed no visible sign of being happy or sad. Albert never had been very interested in baseball — chess was more to his liking — but he assumed Toby would be. Later, when Lavira heard about the mitt Albert had given Toby, she explained that Toby didn't care much for baseball because his eyesight was not good enough. Immediately, Albert tried to apologize to Toby for his slight blunder, but again Toby showed no significant reaction. . . . Feeling he was completely to blame, Albert again sought Dr. Crane's advice. Dr. Crane told him, "I know you love Laura, and I'm svire you love her son. You'll get through to the boy. He'U know the way you really do feel about him." Albert brightened a bit as he told Dr. Crane, "I feel a great — affinity for Toby. Because he's so little, and I was always little. And he hasn't had a father, and that's like me, too, in a way, because my father never took any notice of me. I can tell how he feels. ... I just hope that somehow I can get through to him." . . . The next time Albert visited Laura, he discovered that Toby loved dogs, although he had never had one of his own. This set Albert to thinking and, the following day, when Dr. Crane ran into Albert at the hospital, the young man was brimming over with excitement. Then he showed Dr. Crane why: He had gotten a lively little puppy for Toby. As he told Dr. Crane, "I think this might be the answer to all our troubles," Albert's words were piinctuated with sneezes. As long as he was near the dog, he coxildn't stop sneezing. Dr. Crane thought it was possible that Albert might be allergic to dogs. Albert, however, was positive that was the case. . . . Once again, Albert felt defeated and worried about what to say when Toby and Lavira came to meet him. Dr. Crane sent Albert down to his office and, when Toby and Laura arrived, he took over. When Toby saw the dog, he was overjoyed. "He's the most wonderful dog I ever saw," he enthused. Then Dr. Crane explained about Albert's apparent allergy to dogs. When Albert came in, Toby bravely told him he'd give up the puppy, but Albert insisted that he keep it — ^he just couldn't stand to hurt Toby again. But Toby, a proud and valiant little fellow, replied, "I don't reaUy need a dog. I've done without one for a long time. And — well, which does a fellow need more — a dog or a father?" As Albert listened, amazed and a bit dumbfounded, Toby went on. "I've been spending a lot of time trying to figure out what I could do for you that you'd like. That we could do together. I mean, you got me that swell glove, but I'm no good at baseball, and I didn't want to be a disappointment to you in everything, and . . . well, I've been learning how to play chess, and — look, Dad, we can give the dog to somebody else. . . ." As Albert tried to choke back a happy sob, Dr. Crane said, "There's no reason why you should be allergic to dogs, Albert. Once we know what. your allergy is, it's a pretty simple matter to desensitize you. And once we do . . . well, I agree that a father's a bit more important than a dog. But why shouldn't Toby have both?" . . . With those words. Dr. Crane brought to a happy end one more chapter of the dramatic book of life that forever vmfolds at City Hospital. City Hospital is heard on CBS Radio, Sat., 1 P.M. EST. Pictured here ift their original roles, left to right, are Joseph Fallon as Toby, Linda Watkins as Laura, Melville Ruick as Dr. Crane, Ted Osbom as Albert Wexler. 59