Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-02-08
An Ex-Consul's Story,


name published, but authorizes the
and, if necessary, to refer to him, in his
private capacity, any person seeking such
reference. Deferring to his wishes, /
hereby present his statement in almost
the exact language in Which he gave it
to me, @. M. FARMER,
1880 Third Avenue, New York:
con my last voyage home from Eng
land, some three years ago, in one OF the
Cunard steamers, [ noticed one morning,
after few days out of port, young
man hobbling about on the upper deck,
supported by crutches and seeming to
move with extreme difficulty and no lit
tie pain. He was well dressed and of
exceedingly handsome countenance, but
his limbs were somewhat emaciated and
his face very sallOw and bore the traces
Of long suffering. AS he seemed to have
no attendant or companion, he at once
attracted my sympathies, and / went up
to him as he leaned against the taffrail
looking out on the foaming track which
the steamer was making.
Excuse me, my young FRIEND |
said, touching him gently on the should
er, 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 | am
a robust man and shall be glad to help
you
"'You are very kind he replied in
weak voice, but L require no present
aid beyond my crutches, which enable
me to pass from 10 y stateroom up here
to get the benefit of the sunshine and
and the sea breeze
"You have been a great sufferer, no
doubt [ said, 'and I 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 a.
You are right he answered; Il
year, and after failing to find relief from
medical skill have lately tried the springs
of Carlsbad and Vichy. But they have
done me no good, and ! am now on my
return home to Missouri to die, sup
pose. l shall be content if life is spared
to me to reach my mothers presence.
She is q widow and [ am her only child
"There was pathos In this speech
which affected me profoundly and awak-
ened in me deeper sympathy than I
had felt before. [ 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 10-year old boy
of @ 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 him
self of 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 be-
low to find the steward. not only found
him off duty, but discovered that he had
bottle of the Oil IN his locker, which
he had carried across the ocean in case of
another attack. He readily parted with
1t 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 I
covered him up snugly in bed and re-
quested him not to get up until [ should
see him again. That evening [ returned
to his stateroom and found him sleeping
peacefully and breathing gently [
reused him and inquired how he felt
Like new man, he answered with a
grateful smile L feel no pain and am
able to stretch my limbs without diff
Guilty. [ think I'll get up No, don't
get up tonight, [ said, but let me rub
you again with the Oil, and in the morn
ing you will be able to go above All
right, he said, laughing Il then ap-
piled the Oil again, rubbing his knees,
ankles and arms thoroughly, until he
said he felt as if he had mustard poul-
tice all over his body. I'then left him.
The next morning when / went upon
deck for breezy promenade, ac-
cording to my custom, found my pa
tient waiting for me with smiling face,
and aDithOut has crutches, although he
imped in his movements, but without
pain. I don't think [ ever felt SO happy
in my life. To make long story short,
[ attended him closely during the rest
of the voyage some four days-apply-
ing the Oil every night, and guarding
him against too much exposure to the
fresh and damp breezes, and on landing
at New York he was able, without as
sistance, to mount the hotel omnibus,
and go to the Aston House. I called on
him two days later, and found him
actually engaged IN packing his trunk,
preparatory to starting west for his
home, that evening. With bright and
grateful smile he welcomed me, and
pointing to little box carefully done up
in thick brown paper, which stood upon
the table, he said: my good friend, can
you guess what that s?' "A present for
your sweetheart, answered. No. he
laughed that is dozen bottles of st.
Jacobs Oil, which I have just purchased
from Hudnut, the druggist, across the
way, and I am taking them home to
show my good mother what has saved
her sons life and restored him to her in
health. And with it I would like to
you along also, to show her the face of
him, without whom, should probably
never have tried it. If you should ever
visit the little village of Sedalia, in Mis-
souri Charlie Townsend and his mother