The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-11-06
THE SEIDLITZ POWDERS
BY JOHN JONES.

Captain Tom, as we called him, was a
man who had seen the world, in the
true sense of the term. He had been
from one end of it to the other-from
the North Pole to the South, and from
. the farthest island in the Pacific to the
most extreme land in the Atlantic. He
had been in every city IN the Old World
and the New; he had drank blood with
the negroes under the very equator, and
yedki with the fur. clad natives of
Northern Russia. He had smoked opium
with the Chinese, and tobacco with
the Indians in the Rock mountains.
Every place, everything worth seeing
he had seen, and now in his old age he
had settled down in a snug little home
of his own, not many miles from O GER
tain "big town" in New England, where
he could look out on the blue waters he
loved so well. He was keen, sbrewd
fellow, with a hearty love of fun, and,
in spite Of his rowing propensities, had
managed to acquire considerable sum
with which to keep comfortable in his
latter days. He had married late in
life woman who had waited pa
tiently for him for twenty years, and
now he had happy home, or "a snug
harbor," as he laughingly called it.
Captain Tom was great favorite
with the young people, and in my own
young days it was one of my delights
to visit the old man. We were all sur
Of a warm welcome, for Captain Tom
was a merry, sociable old fellow, and
was fond of young company. Many a
tale he told us, too, some thrilling, some
lsughsble. One of these il is my pur-
pose TO relate here.
Many years age, toward the begin ming
of the century, Captain Tom took it in
to his head to visit India. He first turn
ed his attention TO that part Of it oc-
cupied by the English. He was anxious
to see the country, and was also bent
upon rather singular speculation. He
had heard il said that it would be q
charitable deed for some one TO intro
daoe selditz powders into that tropical
region; that, besides forming most de-
hghtiui beverage for that climate, they
Woulu greatly add to the health of the
people, and prove sovereign remedy
IN many cases OF sickness to which India
is liable. This put Captain Tom IN the
notion OF introducing the powders him.
self. Besides the charitable part of the
operation, 1t seemed to the CAPTAIN that
this was chance for realizing q hand.
some sum of money on his investment
He laid out all his spare cash in seidlitz
powders, and set out for India, laurhe6
as by every one to whom he commitment.
ed his scheme.
In due time he reached India, and set
to work, travelling from one city to an.
nth ItS " Of
and for awhile the Captain thought he
had made mistake for once in his life.
At last, however, he sold box to a
high gransee, who was so pleased with
the effect that e hastened to the Sultan
of Delhi, to relate the delights of the
wonderful drink sold by the Yankee
Magician. The next day, Captain Tom
received the Sultan's commands to re-
psir 20 the palace. The order was obey
ed with light heart.
upon oeing ushered into the royal
presence he was graciously received.
Inc Sultan told him he had heard of
- his wonderful drink, and was anxions
80 Try it. First, however, he reon;rsd
Captain Tom to mix and drink hefore
him, SO that he might see the effsct Co.
himself. Captain Tom obeyed and 20
sed off bumper of the foaminS Ton;S
to the great delight of the Sultan whn
at once commanded him to mix six ~,
powders, so that his gracious palata
might have six times the pleasure of
that of an unbeliever. Captain Tom
was about to demonstrate, when the
Sultan commanded him to obey in ST.
lence.
- The powders were mixed, and the soda
was swallowed. The Sultan made a
wry face, and called the Captain an i'm.
poster. Captain Tom then explained that
me pleasure was obtained by mixing the
acid with the salts, and, before he could
make himself thoroughly understood
the sultan raised the solution to his
nps and drained it, to the captains hor.
ol anu uismay. There was a grave 81.
fence LOT moment, and then the Sultan
: splapg 70 mis- feet with yell, and clap.
Ped his hands to his stomach.