Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-10-13
AN Ex.CoNsUL's sTORY.

Brooklyn Eagle,
To TIE Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle
A late United States Consul at one Of
the English inland ports. who is now q
private resident Of New York, relates
the following interesting story. He OBJ
jects, for private reasons, to have his
name published, bat authorizes the scriter
TO Su6Stdntidte his statement, and, II nee
essary, to refer to him, in his private
capacity, any person seeking such refer
ence. Deferring to his wishes, thereby
present his statement in almost the exact
language in which he gave it to me.
c. NJ. FARMER,
1890 Third avenue, Neto York.
ION my last voyage home from
England, some three years ago, in
one of the Cunard steamers, l noticed
one morning, after q few days out
of port, a young man hobbling about
on the upper deck, supportedb by crutch-
es and seeming to move with extreme
difficulty and no little pain. He was
well dressed and of exceedingly hand
some countenance, but his limbs were
somewhat emaciated and his face very
sallow and bore the traces of long suf-
fering. AS he seemed to have no at
tendant or companion, he at once at
tracted my sympa hies, and went up
to him as he leaned against the taffral
looking out on the foaming track which
the steamer was making.
Excuse me, my young FRIEND
said, touching him gently on the Shout
der, you appear to be an invalid and
hardly able or strong enough to trust
yourself unattended on an ocean voy-
age; but if you require any assistance
ana a robust and healthy man and
shall be glad to help you
I" You are very kind he replied, in
weak voice, but require no present
i'd beyond my crutches, which enable
me to pass from my stateroom up here
to get the benefit of the sunshine and
the sea breeze
doubt 1 said, and judge that you
have been afflicted with that most
troublesome disease rheumatism;
whose prevalence and intensity seem to
be on an alarming increase both in
England and America
"'You are right he answered; 4
have been its victim for more than q
year, and after falling to find relief from
medical skill have lately tried the
Springs of Carlsbad and Vichy. But
they have done me no good, and 1 am
now on my return home to Missouri to
die, ] suppose. I shall be content if life
is spared me to reach my mothers pres
ence. She is widow and am her
only child
There was a pathos in this speech
which affected me profoundly and
awakened in me q deeper sympathy
than had felt before. i had no words
to answer him, and stood silently beside
him watching the snowy wake of the
ship. While thus standing my thoughts
reverted to child-a ten-year old boy
of a neighbor Of mine residing near
my consulate residence, who had
been cured of stubborn case
Of rheumatism by the use of
st. Jacobs Oil, and remembered that
the steward of the ship had told me the
day before that he had cured himself of
a very severe attack of the govt in New
York just before his last voyage by the
use Of the same remedy. at once left
my young friend and went below to find
the steward. I not only found him of
duty, but discovered that he had bottle
of the Oil in his locker, which he had
carried across the ocean in case of an
other attack. He readily parted with
it on my representation, and, hurrying
up again, l soon persuaded the young
man to allow me to take him tohis berth
and apply the remdey. After doing so
l covered him up snugly in bed and re-
quested him not to get up until should
see him again. That evening re-
turned to his stateroom and found him
sleeping peacefully and breathing gen.
tly. reused him and inquired how
he felt. Like new man. he an
swered, with O grateful smile Il feel
no pain and am able to stretch my
limbs without difficulty. think I'll
get up No, don't get up tonight, ]
said, but let me rub you again with the
Oil, and in the morning you will be much
better able to 90 above All right,
he said, laughing. 1 then applied the
Oil again, rubbing his knees, ankles
and arms thoroughly, until he said he
felt as if he had mustard poultice al
over his body. 1 then left him. The
next morning when went up on deck
for a breezy promenade, according to
my custom, found my patient waiting
for me with smiling face, and tCithou
his crutchcs, although he limped in hi:
, movements. but without pain. l DOM
. think ever felt so happy in my Life
To make long story short, attended
him closely during the rest of our voyage
some four days-applying the Oh
every night, and guarding him against
too much exposure to the fresh and
: damp spring breezes, and on landing al
New York, he was able, without assis
lance, to mount the hotel omnibus and
60 to the Astor House. called on him
two days later, and found him actually
, engaged in packing his trunk,
preparatory to starting West for hi:
r home, that evening. With a bright
{ and grateful smile he welcomed me
, and pointing to little box, care
r fully dene up in thick brown paper
? which stood upon the table, he said
My good friend, can you guess what
that tsp "A present for your sweet
3 heart" answered. No. he laughed
, that is dozen bottles of st. Jacob:
,, Oil, which 1 have just purchased from
Hudnut. the druggist across the way
e my good mother what has saved hel
sons life and restored him to her in
+ health. And with it, would like tC
p carry you along also, to show her the
face of him, without whom, 1 should
probably never have tried it. If you
, should ever visit the little village of Sc
dalia, in Missouri, Charlie Townsend
and his mother will welcome you to theil
little home, with hearts full of gratitude
and they win show you a bottle of St
Jacobs Oil enshrined in a silver and
gold casket, which we shhll keep as 9
parior ornament as well as memento Of
our meeting on the Cunard steamer
1--WE parted, after an hours pleasant
chat with mutual goodwill and esteem,
and few weeks afterwards / received
a letter from him telling me he was In
perfect health and containing many
graceful expressions of his affectionatt