The National tribune., 1882-12-07
WHAT IS 1T q?
The Experience of Tribune Reporter Who Tried
TO Find Out.

ut seems to me I have seen that adver-
tisement before" said the editor of THE
TRIBUNE, but, do you know, I have not the
slightest idea whether the medicine is really
good for anything or not Have you?"
The reporter Of THE TRIBUNE to whom this
strange question was addressed, replied that he
had a vague recollection of having read some
thing about it in the newspapers, but, so far as
he was personally concerned, he was entirely
unacquanted with its merits.
"Well," said the editor of THE TRIBUNE, " I
should like to know what sort of a thing it is
that 1 am advertising as st. Jacobs Oil, the
Great German Remedy for Pain. Suppose you
take holiday and see if you can find out?"
At the suggestion of a &" holiday" the reporter
put on his hat. At the Riggs House he paused
a moment to have his boots bIacled. As it
happened, Mr.. Robert Williams was on hand
to supply the polish
Mr.. Williams is the Nestor of bootbacks.
He was IS years old on the Sd of June last and
has practiced his profession for % consecutive
years. Despite his years, Mr.. Williams is still
hale and hearty, and his knowledge of the art
of boot -blacking is something astonishing.
81 can't blacken as many shoes as l used to-
said he, "my hands are beginning to get a
little stiff nOw!"
"Rheumatism
mo, I guess not. If it was rheumatism 1
should know what to do for it,"
"Yes? What would you do?"
"Why, I would use St. Jacobs Oil, of course
There's Ned Smith, who used to be carver at
the Ebbitt House for so many years. He has
been down with rheumatism forseveral months,
but | sent him a bottle of that oil a few weeks
ago, and he tells me he is mending right fast
now"
"Bootsl"
"Take a chair, sir!"-and Mr.. Williams, re-
adjusted his spectacles and getting out his
brushes again set to work to polish off the next
customer.
"Well, said the reporter to himself " it is
the unexpected which always happens! Here's
one man, anyhow, who knows what st. Jacobs
Oil is good for,"
In the Ebbitt House. few minutes later
THE TRIBUNE man ran across Major Peabody
of Colorado. The major is one of those genial
wholc-souled gentlemen, whom it is always
pleasure to meet and, in appearance, he is the
however, he has been at times great sufferer
from rheumatism, as the writer knew
"Have you ever used st. Jacobs Oil, Major?"
he ventured to inquire
The major smiled. He had evidently been
asked that question before.
"Oh, yes" he replied; 81 have used St
Jacobs Oil, and it is the best remedy for rheu-
matsm that l know of. l always keep a bottle
handy"
well, tell me, Major-how did you come to
try it, in the first place."
Major J. Mckee Dunn, Of General POpc's
staff, recommended it TO me two years ago, and
[ have used it ever since But there-if | say
anything more you'll write column about it
in the newspapers
Just one question more" insisted the re-
porter, who was unwilling to let the opportu-
nifty slip. "Do you know anybody else in
Washington who uses st. Jacobs Oil?"
"A good many" answered the major, "but l
can't stop to name them over. You see we old
stagers, who have twinges now and then of
rheumatism or gout, are in the habit of COM