Chapter 7 7. The last letter

Six months later, in April, 1890, I found him dead in his bed. He was on his back, and at first I thought he was asleep, but he didn't move when I spoke to him. Then I saw that the skin on his face turned blue, and I knew he was dead. He usually can't sleep on his back because his head is so big and heavy, so he often sits on the bed with his hands around his legs and his head on his knees so he can sleep well. But he also wants to lie down and sleep like you and me.He tried to lie down to sleep that night and his massive head fell off the bed and broke his neck.He died soon after.

The next day Carl Gormond, director of the London Hospital, wrote another letter to the editor of The Times: Excerpt from The Times, April 16, 1890 Dear Sir: Three and a half years ago I wrote to you about a man named Joseph Merrick, known as the "Elephant Man," who was born with an ugly elephant-like body.Merrick is not sick, but he cannot work and has no money. The readers of The Times sympathized with him and gave him a lot of money.With this money we can give him a home in a London hospital, his first home.For three and a half years he lived happily, with the help of the doctors and nurses in the hospital, and the visits of many important people.He read a great deal, went to the theatre, and spent six weeks in the country for the summer.With the money from readers, we have arranged his life to be very happy.

Joseph Merrick died quietly in his bed last night.He is an ugly man, but he is very nice and kind, and he has many friends.We all enjoyed talking to him, and we all regret that he died.Many will always remember him. There is still some money left, and I am going to donate the money to the hospital.Thank you for your help. Sincerely, FC Carl Gormond, Director, London Hospital April 16, 1890