The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-03-09

| three or four days i was TO leave OH
| taking butcher-meat; no alcohol OF any
| description, no tea, NO coffee, no spices
| In fact, to my idea, no anything. My
obedience to the natural system was
put to a severe test. No meat, no aleO-
| hOl! 1t was terrible. And where,
then, was the strength to come from to
sustain me during this ordeal? Dire
| phantOms of my own self, emaclated
| and pale, rose before my terrified soul.
| L debated as to what l was to do. My
| first impulse was to fly from this star
vatiOn; but my curiosity stopped me. Ii
would be interesting to see the results
of this unheard-Of cure. felt l must
be strOng-minded and give it a fair
chance.
This resolution once taken, under
went like lamb all that was ordered
to do. | must confess l was sometimes
highly amused when l compared my
London existence with my present life,
and the extraordinary situations 1t in
vOlved. Can you picture to yourself a
fashionable barrister in the undlgnltied
position of wet-packP l was grateful
that my friends were not there to see
the spectacle. will confess the worst;
l walked barefOOted, and | even liked
it. My diet became in time equally rig
OrOus. Milk, brown bread, and fruit
pudding, and fruit for dinner; milk,
bread, and fruit for supper. That was
all.
Time wore on, and l remembered one
day that l had already been for whole
week at Waldesheim, and that my first
resolve had been not to stay longer.
However, l did not feel inclined to go
Just yet. | felt better than had done
for many years. had become attached
to the place, to the natural means, and
my food, which, seasoned with a
healthy appetite, seemed delicious.
thO't it was best to give the Waldesheim
system longer chance. So remained.
Time went quickly. The days seemed
to fly. The cure and Open-air exercise
kept the patients busy the whole day
long. Besides, the social life of the es-
tablishment was very pleasant. Excur-
siOns into the woods were planned and
pleasantly executed; in the evenings
we had singing and music, sometimes
dancing. Dusseldorf is within walking
distance, and the Great Industrial EX-
hibitiOn and the exhibitions of paint
ings in the town amused us on the
rainy afternoons.
l began to love the place and it's sim
pie ways. Out of weak, weary, dys-
peptic, gOuty man, l was fast growing
into strong, healthy one, full of spir-
it's and energy. By degrees l also felt
a mental regeneration. l saw before
me most palpably demonstrated the fall
lacy of the argument that meat and al
cOhOl give strength. | had felt the yir-
tue of a simple vegetarian diet. A few
days before me, German Lieutenant
had come to Waldesheim so crippled by
rheumatism that he could not take a
step; he had to be carried about. He
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walk alone. | should hardly have be
lieyed such cure possible, had | not
seen it with my own eyes. This man,
since the FTancO-Prussian war, had
tried one great medical authority after
another. No one had helped him; he
had only grown worse and now he was
on the high road to recovery. have
heard since that he is now quite re-
stored to health.
Five weeks had elapsed since l had
come to the Kuranstalt, when | Teceiy-
ed telegram from an old friend, Join
me at Cologne, Hotel du NOrd," etc. |
went, as Cologne is reached in an hours
time from Dusseldorf. My friend was
more than astOnished. He could hardly
believe it was myself when L shook
hands with him, l looked so much
stronger and younger. Jack was going
to make the Rhine tour, and to take his
sister, Mrs. L., young widow, to
SchWalbach, to drink the waters, as she
was weak and ailing.
So we agreed to take one of the large
Rhine steamers the following morning
at nine o'clock, and go down as far as
Eltyille, the station for Schwalback.
The weather was glorious. We glided
up the majestic river, and admired the
Drachenfels, ROlandseck, the LOrley,
and all the other lovely and poetic
places that adOTn the banks of the
Rhine. | had often seen these sights
before, but had never enjoyed them as
| did now. began to feel the truth Of
the assertion, Health is the true key
to happiness" Never had nature
seemed so beautiful to me; never had |
taken such interest in the scene around
me. Who has not at least once wit
messed the life ON these Rhine steamers?
Tourists of all natiOnalities enliyen the
deck in eYer-varying groups; so we be-
guiled the time by looking on and by
pleasant conversation. My friends
wanted to know at which spring of
health and youth | had been drinking
1 gratified their curiosity, and gave
them a true picture of my Waldesheim
experience. 1 told them that water,
exercise, and vegetarian diet had made
me a new man. My enthusiasm was
Infectious. The curiosity or my friends
was raised, and they determined to go
and see my vegetarian EldOradO. per-
suaded Mrs. L. to give up her intended
Schwalbach cure, and try the natural
one.
We travelled on as far as Mayence;
and then we returned, enjoying all the
lovely sights thoroughly; for the
weather favored us. At each place of
interest, we left the boat and strayed
there for day or two. We rambled all
over the country, my friends riding,
walking. 1 remained true to the
Waldesheim principles. My daily fare
was fruit, milk, and bread, to the never
ending wonder and amazement of
walters and travellers. l should have
been very sensitive to that year ago
1 bore it now with perfect equanimity.
After a fortnight's absence, Returned
to Waldesheim, accompanied by my
friends. They soon fell into the ways
of the place; and it was not long be-
fore they felt the same wonderful ben
eft from the treatment as had done.
We enjoyed the lovely woods, the splen-
did country, and our simple life, until
the autumn tints reminded us that
work had to begin again. We were
sorry to part from our dear Waldesheim
Mrs. L. and / especially, as the place
had now more than ordinary assOcia-
tions of happiness for us.
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