ysterious Hatbox

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

Everything was usually quiet and serene in Lilliland located next to the majestic Alpine Moutains and on beautiful Castle Lake. The Baron and his fiancée, Lady Angela of Alpine Castle, liked to go for long quiet walks and reflect on the tranquility of life in Lilliland.

All was peaceful until one day a large, very pretty hatbox arrived at Lilliland Castle. When the Baron’s secretary opened the box she thought that it was a lovely hat for Lady Angela.

To here horror and amazement, there was no hat, but the head of a man all wrapped up. This was the most horrible thing that had ever been seen in the castle in over a century. The Baron was immediately informed of the contents of the hatbox and called in his chief advisor, Professor Hamblin.

The Professor was placed in charge in the investigation of this horrible event. The Professor called in a medical specialist from Switzerland to study the head in search of some identification.

A few days later the Professor was told that the head belonged to a man who had died of natural causes. The head also had surgical marks on it.

The Professor knew that Lilliland Hospital was a teaching hospital that used cadavers for scientific and educational purposes.

It was also discovered by the Professor that a cadaver was missing from the hospital. That is, parts of a cadaver; the head of the cadaver to be exact.

The man in question had died in a nursing home and willed his body to science. Some of the young interns, it was learned, wanted to use this as a cruel practical joke on the Baron.

When the Professor told the Baron he was furious. This immature prank was unconscionable. He immediately suspended all procedures using cadavers at the hospital and closed down the teaching facilities for one year.

Perhaps in that year the students would be more respectful of the deceased and treat their remains with greater dignity. The young interns responsible for this indignation apologized to the Baron and his secretary and did not return to continue their studies in Lilliland.

The man was given a proper dignified burial with full honors in the private Lilliland cemetery reserved for only the royal family.