West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-06-05
The Far West.

Old llr. Potts Of san Francisco and who
is an enthusiast in his profession, is thu
originator Of the theory that much disease
Is transmitted 10 human beings through eat
ing the flesh of immature animals, such AS
calves, IN the early spring The doctor
maintains that young animals, in their
lneNpcricnCe eat grccdily OF certain naN.
lous weeds, and that the poison thereby
aSSimllatcd Is transferred to the blood of
the consumer of the animal flesh Asthis
assertion was disputed 10y some of his con
temporary NJ. DIS, DIR. Potts determined
to make some useful experiments before
giving To the world his discovery. lie ac.
cordingly purchased "A siN-months' cali
one OF the kind that appear TO bc built ON
suits and, AS the doctor had no back yard
To speak of, he had the brevrt cow placed
IN the cellar, where he proposed To mix the
weeds lnjqucstion among it's food for few
days prior TO its being converted into test
outlets, so To speak. The China boy was
buhed not TO mention the Calf's presence 10
the other members of the household. who
1t happened, had been absent while the
quadruped was being secretly let down
through the coNl-holc by the butcher. To
prevent its blcating the doctor had placed
stout leather mulzlc ON its nose.
That night the doctor was awakened by
Mrs. Potts, who sat up in ped and raspcd
I'm horror-strickcn voice Gracious
heavens! Archibald don't you hear that
singular noise down stairs 2"
The calf had evidently gotten the muzzlc
about hall of, and was making peculiar
sound resembling small foghorn tortured
10y remorse, but Old Potts stammorcd ont
that he couldn't hear anything in particu-
lar
mot hear anything, Dr. Pottsl Are
you deaf just listen To that! It's per
tcctly blood Curdling.
Perhaps it's rats halardcd tbc miscr
able physician.
Rats, DIR. Potts Are YOU insane
Did you ever hear rats wniing like a lost
soul in purgatory ~
'Wcll, not exactly like ii, said the doc
tor, soothngly "but perhaps"
II can stand il "A moment longer.
shall go wild # you don't go down and see
what's the matter. It's my belief that
burglars are trying TO murder All Wrong. &"
wei, my dear, If you insist IN"
But Just then there came sudden Jerk
at the bell and terrible hammering at the
front door. The doctor put up the window
ana Dehcld "A delegation of about ffty half
dressed ncighbors with four police officers
IN their midst.
''ls he dead yet 2n said one OF the crowd
as the doctor poked his head out.
Is who dcad?' said the latter much
astonshcd
why, your brother, down there i'm the
cellar. Didn't you tell us your brother had
made big strike in stocks, and was com
ing to stay with you this week Z" asked
Didimus, the doctors next-door ncghbor.
"Why, yes What of itl'
You cold-blOOded villain. DO YOU sun
pose no one heard you numbering him IN
the cellar just nowl BY Jovc. he is not
dead yet-hc's grooming still. Just lis
ten !"
"lf you don't lemmc in III bust the door
down." SAID one of the police.
"Oh, Archibald to think you should
turn out TO be "A murderer" gaspcd Mrg.
Potts going into Mysteries.
Old Potts was too mad TO utter "A word
He just walked down stairs i'm his night-
cap, admitted the whole crowd, conducted
1t to the cellar stairs, handed the policeman
candle, and told him to go ahead lie
then went up stairs and awaited results.
Oh course the calf made break for the
light as soon as il saw il. The big officer
holding it was upset by terrible butt i'm
the stomach the candle went out, and
amid the rattling Of the coal and the un-
earthly yells OF the crowd, the cellar began
TO yomit forth hatlcss, grimy, and disgustcd
men.
When they had all gone, Old Potts quiet.
~ descended, locked the house up again,
tied a sponge full Of chloroform round the
calf's nose, rcsuscitatcd Mrs i. and then
returned goomily 10 his dreams Of science.
mus ended one Of the most interesting in
cldents OF pioneer life In the far West