The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-03-02
An EX-COmsul's Story.

the English inland ports, who Is now
private resident of New York, relates the
following interesting story. He objects,
for private reasons, to having his name
published, but authorizes the sOriter to
substdntiate his statement, and, if neces-
sary, to refer to him, in his private
capacity, any person seeking such ref
erence. Deferring to his wishes, !
hereby present his statement in almost
the exact language in which he gave it
to me, G. M. FARMER,
1890 Third AUenue, Ne,O York
con my last voyage home from England
some three years ago. in one of the Cunard
steamers noticed one morning, after a
few days out of port, young man hob
bling about on the upper deck, supported
by crutches 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 sal
low and bore the traces of long suffering.
As he seemed to have no attendant or COM
panion, he at once attracted my sympathles,
and went up to him as he leaned against
the taffrail looking out on the foaming
track which the steamer was making.
E" Excuse me, my young friend, said,
touching him gently on the shoulder, you
appear to be an invalid and hardly able or
strong enough to trust yourself unattended
on an ocean voyage; but if you require any
assistance l am a robust and healthy man
and shall be glad to help YOU
You are very kind he replied, in a
weak voice. but 1 require no present aid
beyond my crutches, which enable me to
pass from my state-rOom up here to get the
benefit of the sunshine and the sea breeze ;
"' You have been great sufferer, no
Doubt said, and judge that you have
IL. 4,o, II
disease : rheumatism, whose prevalence
and intensity seem to be on an alarming
increase both in England and America
"' You are right, he answered; j have
been its victim for more than year, and
after failing to find relief from medical
skill have lately tried the Springs of Carls-
bad and Vichy. But they have. done me
to Missouri to die, suppose. 1 shall be
content if life is spared to me to reach my
mothers presence. She is widow and I
am her only child
"There was pathos in this speech which
affected me profoundly and awakened in
me deeper sympathy than had felt be-
fore. had no words to answer him, and
stood silently beside him watching the
snowy wake of the ship. While thus stand
ing my thoughts reverted to a child-a ten
year old boy-of neighbor of mine residing
near my consulate residence, who had been
cured of a stubborn case of rheumatism
by the use of st. Jacobs Oil, and [ remem-
bered that the steward of the ship had told
me the day before that he had cured him
self of very severe attack of the gout in
New York, just before his last voyage, by
the use of the same remedy l at once
left my young friend and went below to
find the steward. l not only found him
off duty but discovered that he had bot
tie of the OIL in his locker, which he had
r;a1 in of fhor
attack. He readily parted with it on my
representation, and hurrying up again,
soon persuaded the young man to allow me
to take him to his berth and apply the
remedy. After doing so covered him uI
snugly in bed and requested him not to get
up until 1 should see him again. That
evening I returned to his stateroom and
found him sleeping peacefully and breath.
ing gently l reused him and inquired
how he felt. Like a new man, he an.
swered with grateful smile. Il feel nc
pain and am able to stretch my limbs with
out difficulty. l think I'll get up No, dom,
get up tonight 1 said, but let me rub yor
will be able to go above All right he said
laughing. then applied the Oil again rub
bling his knees, ankles, and arms thor
oughly, until he said he felt as if he had
a mustard poultice all over his body. l theI
left him. The next morning when ! wen
upon deck for breezy promenade, accord
| ing to my custom, l found my patien
aUithout his crutches, although he limped il
his movements, but without pain. | dom
think ever felt so happy in my life TX
make long story short, I attended hin
closely during the rest of the voyage-som
four days applying the Oil every night
and guarding him against too much expos
ure to the fresh and damp breezes, and OF
/ To- o% V<,-t 1,A ohl 10 xvys% 4
out assistance, to mount the hotel omnibu
and go to the Astor House. l called on hin
two days later, and found him actually en-
gagged in packing his trunk, preparatory t,
starting West for his home, that evening
With a bright and grateful smile, he wei
coined me, and pointing to little box care
fully done up in thick brown paper, whicl
stood upon the table, he said: my goo,
friend can you guess what that is p A pres
ent for your sweetheart answered mo,
he laughed-'that is dozen bottles of ST
Jacobs Oil, which 1 have just purchased
from Hudnut the druggist across the way
and am taking them home to show m
good mother what has saved her sons lif
and restored him to her in health. An
with it would like to carry you along also
to show her the face of him, without whom
I should probably never have tried it. ]
you should ever visit the little village 9
sedalia, in Missouri, Charlie Townsend ant
his mother will welcome you to their littl
home, with hearts full of gratitude, ant
they will show you bottle of st. Jacob
Oil enshrined in silver and gold casket
which we shall keep as a parlor orna
! ment as we'll as a menento of our meeting
| on the Cunard steamer
| "We parted, after an hours pleasan
chat, with mutual good will and esteem
and a few weeks afterwards received let
ter from him telling me he was in perfec
health, and containing many graceful ex
pressions of his affectionate regards. ~
Brooklyn Eagle.