Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-10-04
Howard, the Phiianthro rop,st,


We were not aware, says the N. Y. Mirror. |
of the extent to which this friend of man carr.
ed his Indifference to the common comforts and
appliances of life, till we met with the follow.
ing extract from work entitled "Pratt's Clean
ings." We do not commend his example in
minu,ia. for general imitation, unless preceded
by resemblance TO him in the general outlines
of his character He is wonderful instance
of the triumph which the mind sometimes
achieves over the body. and in point of view
his life is a study Of the philosopher But to
our extract
ale was singular being in many Of the
common habits of life he bathed daily in cold
water; and both on rising and going to bed,
swathed himself in coarse towels, wet with the
coolest water; in that state he remained half
an hour more. and then threw them off, fresh
encd and invigorated as he said. beyond mea-
sure. He never put on great coat in the cold.
est contries nor was ever a minute under or
ever the time Of an appointment for twenty.slx
years. lie never continued al place, or with
parson, single day beyond The period prefix.
ed for going in his life and he had not, for the
last ten years of his existence, eat any fish, flesh
or fowl, nor sat down TO his simple fare of tea,
milk and rusks all that tine. His journeys
were continued from prison TO prison; from one
group of wretched beings to another, night and
day. and when he could not go in a carriage,
he would walk. Such thing as an obs,ruc-
ton was out Of the question.
Some days after his first return from an at.
tempt to mitigate the plague at Constautinope,
he favored me with morning visit to London
| The weather was so very terrific, that had tor
got his inveterate exactness, and yielded up the
hope of expecting him. Twelve at noon was
the hour; and exactly as the clock struck, he
entered nv room the wct-'or it raned in tor
rents-drppng from every part of his dress,
! like water from a sheep just landed from wash.
ing. He would not have attended to his situa-
,ion. having SAT himself down with the utmost
composure. and begun conversation, had not
made an oficr 20 dry his clothes. Yes said he
smiling, Il had my fears, as knocked at your
door. that we should 90 over the old business OF
apprehension about a little ranwaer, which
though it does not run off my back as it doe:
from that of duck, does me as little injury, ant
after long drought is scarcely less refreshing
The coat that have on has been as often wet
ted through as any ducks in the world, and in
deed gets no other cleaning. assure you, q
good soaking shower is the best brush fer broad.
CLOTH you smile said Mr.. Howard after .
pause, 'but am living instance of the truths
insist. a more pnny youngsier than mvsel
was never seen. II wet my feet was SURE
to take cold could not put on my shirt with
ont it's being aired. To be serious. l am con
WINGED. that uhat emasculates The body, debih
fn'es the mind. and renders both unfit for thos
sxer,ions VIII ch nre Of such use TO US social be
/, ings. therefore entered upon a reform of m
ccns,ion have succeeded in such a degre
, That have neither had cngh, cold, the vapors
t nor any more alarming disorder, since su,
| mounted this seasoning"