The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-08-17
Orpheus C. Kerr--A Queer Story
About Him,

A New York letter TO the Chicago
Tribune says: You know II. y. Newell,
who, under the nom de plume of cor
pheus q. Kerr" has furnished the coun-
try with some of its richest and most
pungent humorous literature during the
last fifteen years? You remember his
famous letters from "rhe Mackerel
Brigade" during the war, and how his
comcally sagacious criticisms con-
NVulsed the army and molded public
opinion? ColfaX and Frank. Carpenter
| y arson, lked to tell how "0ld Abe" went
round with Newell's book in his pocket
repeating its shrewd allegories and read
| ing its fun to commanding Generals and
Cabinet officers, and especially how he
once gave Grant lesson from it.
Wen, Newell is now in a bad way, and
unless there is a radical change he can
not live month. Since closing his de-
| licious and popular "Social studies" in
| the World, three years ago, he has been
on the working editorial force of the
| Graphic, editing the weekly and con-
tributing sketches and humorous poems
to The daily. He has not been absent from
his desk day in the year, but for the
past twenty-seven days he has eaten
nothing whatever. mean just this,
1t Will be tour weeks tomorrow since a
mouthtul or o crulnb OF food passed his
lips. During this Time he has lost thirty
pounds OF flesh, ana now though live feet
ten inches in height, he weighs only one
hundred and Two pounds, He has drank
one cup of coffee every morning, and
has taken small glass OF milk.punch
every other day, anu this has been his
entire nourishment, unless his two daily
cigars may be supposed TO nave his nu-
tlitious qualities. His condiIon is get
ting to be problem for the doctors, es-
pc cially when IL is added that he walks
u mile and halt every day, 0u his Way
to the office and back, and drives out two
Dr three times. q week with his fine
horse. He Is very weak, but has no feel
ing Of iaintness or hunger, and is cheer
full as the sun.
Newell is a man Of forty, and has inde-
pendent meaus. His habits have al
ways been riyidy temperate. His iamI-
" are profoundly alarmed at his condi-
ton, but he declares that ne can not eat.
There is obviously no physical lmpedi-
ment, as in The case Of hydrophobia, for
ne can swallow as easily as ever, and he
has no repugnance 10 food. He prom
lses his friends that he Will try to eat,
and accordingly siIs. down TO every
meal, and even puts morsels to his lips,
bat then, without any nausea, there
comes what he calls a NERVOUS revolt"
ana the food is rejected. The dinner
looks as good as ever, lie declares, aud
he likes to see others eat, but he is total
ly indifferent to it himself, and when he
tries to partake of it his organs and func-
lions re use to cooperate in the act OF
swallowing 1t.
talked with him to-day, and tried to
get at the symptoms OF his physical de-
rangement. lie comprehends his ex-
tremlty, wonders if he will live through
the curious rebellion oil appetite, sym
pathizes with the alarm OF his friends,
laughs with the dozen OF doctors who
are sent to advise him, and says they
| talk like fools, Tor he can no more eat
than he can fly, or walk on the water,
He does not appear to have a mama or
nallucinatlon. Nor can there be the
| least doubt as to the truth OF his com
| plete abstinence. He is gentleman U
the hignest integrity, an almost morbid
conscience, the delicacy ana sensitive
ness Of woman combined With strong
will and robust manllness.