Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-01-19
An EX.COn,ui'S Story.

A late United States Consul at one OF
the English inland ports, who is now
private resident Of New York, relates
| the following interesting story. He OBJ
iects, for private reasons, 10 having his
name published, but authorizes the lUriter
| to sa,5sfantiats his statement, and, if nee
essarv, to refer him, in his private CO
pacity. to any person seeking such refer
ence. Dcferring to his wishes, I here
! bv present his statement in almost the
exact language in which he gave it to
me, G. NJ. FARMER,
1890 Third Avenue, \. Y.
"On my last voyage home from En-
gland, some three years ago, in one O.
! the Cunard steamers, I noticed, one
morning, after few days out of port,
a young man hobbling about on the
upper deck, supported by clutches, and
seeming to move with extreme Difficult
ty and no little pain. He was well
dressed and of exceedingly handsome
countenance, but his limbs were some
what emaciated and his face very sal
| low, and bore the traces of long suffer
! ing. AS he seemed to have no attend
ant 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 shout
der, you appear to be an anvalld and
hardly able or strong enough to trust
yourself unattended on an ocean voy-
age but if you require any assistance
l am robust and healthy man and
shall be glad to help you
"'You are very kind, he replied, in
weak voice, but require no present
aid beyond my clutches, which enable
me to pass from my stateroom up here
to get the benefit of the sunshine 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
"'You are right he answered; I
have been its victim for more than a
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, [ suppose. / shall be content if
life is spared to me to reach my
mothers presence. She is widow and
[ am her only child
"There WIS a pathos in this speech
which affected me profoundly and
awakened in ME deeper sympathy
than I had felt before. had no words
to answer him, and stood silently be-
side him watching the snowy wake of
the ship. While thus standing my
thoughts reverted to q child-a ten
year old boy-of q neighbor of mine
residing near my consulate residence,
who had been cured of stub
born 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
below tO.tind 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 it on my representation,
and hurrying up again, | soon per
suaded the young man to allow me to
take him to his berth and apply the
remedy. After doing so covered him
up snugly in bed and requested him
not to get up until l 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 a new man. he answered with
grateful smile. Il feel no pain and am
able to stretch my limbs without diff
Guilty. I 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 able to go above
All right he said, laughing. I then
applied the Oil again, rubbing his
knees, ankles and arms thoroughly,
until he said he felt as if ne had mus
tard poultice all over his body. then
left him. The next morning when [
went unn~ deck for breezy prone
made, according to my custom, L found
my patient waiting for me with s. smil-
ing face, and pith0ut his crutches, al
though he limped in his move
ments, but without pain. [ don't think
| ever felt SO happy in my life. To
make a long story short, [ attended
him closely during the rest Of the voy-
age-some four days-applying 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 assistance,
to mount the hotel omnibus, and go to
the Astor House. I called on him two
days later, and found him actually en-
gagged in packing his trunk, prepare
tory to starting west for his home, that
evening. With bright and grateful
smile he welcomed me, and pointing to
a little box carefully done up in thick
brown paper. which stood upon the
table, he said: My good friend, can
you guess what that is?' "A present
for your sweetheart answered. No
he Iaughed-'that is dozen bottles of
st. Jacobs Oil, which [ have just pur-
chased from nudnut, the druggist,
across the way, and l 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 [
would like to carry 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 SedaIia. in Missouri.