The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-01-05
FASTING FOR FOUR YEARS.


FASTING FOR FOUR YEARS.
ucut Woman-Living on the Juice of
oranges and Eating Not "a Morsel of
Meat or Pastry.
lFrom the New Haven (Conn.) Newsl
In cosy little cottage overlooking the
Quinnlpisc River on Pine Street, Fair
haven, lives Mrs. John l.. Evarts, a
lady who, 1t is asserted, has virtually
eaten nothing for four years. During
this time she has subsisted wholly-so
her friends say-on the juices of fruit
taken IN such scanty quantities as to be
almost inappreciable. The juice of a
SINGLE orange has served the purpose of
food for days. Eminent physicians have
studied the case and have all alike been
puzzled and routed in their efforts to
master 1t. That the story of her won
derful fast Is true nobody knowing Mrs.
Evarts questions. Her own reputation
and the character of the friends who
surround her dispose of any suggestions
OF trick or humbug which the cynical
might seek to interpose.
And yet the appearance of the lady
does not lend much plausibility to the
Idea that she has suffered through any
loss of appetite. When met by re-
porter of the Morning News at her door,
yesterday, it was with difficulty that Re
| ould believe that he stood in the pres
nee of one who had tasted no substan-
ial food for fifty months. She was the
picture of health. Slightly past middle
| age, she seemed indeed fine specimen
OF the rugged, old-fashioned New Eng
land woman, used to out door exercise
and younger in reality than the average
woman a half-score years her Junior.
Her eye spark d and the flush ON her
cheek seemed the tint of perfect health.
Her manner was bright and pleasant.
Though averse to discussing her re-
markable experience, and feeling dread
of newspaper mention, she finally con-
scented to tell something of the strange
story.
-Four years ago." said Mrs. Evarts.
81 visited friends at Portland, Me.
While there l suffered from a severe
cough of which was unable to rid my
self. [ consulted physicians in Port
land and took many kinds of medicine,
but all to no effect. Ore spring day
the cough left me as suddenly as 1t had
come upon me few months before.
Soon subsequently [ began to suffer
from severe pains in the stomach. Plas,
tiers were applied and other remedies
sought 1t vain. l became unable to eat
anything. The bare taste of food sub
jected me to nausea. In this condition
l returned to New haven. The best
medical aid was procured for me, and
under the advice of my physicians used
to drive daily to the slaughter and
drink warm blood. For a time this
seemed to help me, though l was still
continually affected with nausea, and
was unable to eat anything substantial
whatever"
Up to the time you were attacked in
Maine had you been in good health ?"
asked the visitor.
sob, yes. | had not known really
what sickness meant; and MY appetite
had always been excellent; in fact, |
never missed a meal or failed to do my
full duty at the table morning, noon
or night. After my return the sickness
began TO develop which has had me in
its clutches ever since. The doctors.
one after an other, have tried to fathom
the mystery, but all have been defeated,
it seems. Some have treated me for
cancer of the stomach, and others have
supposed the trouble to be from an in
ternal ulcer. For fifteen months / suf-
fered indescribable fortunes, and was
kept almost constantly under the influ-
ence of chloroform. Ether had no effect
whatever upon me, and the only nour-
ishment took in all this time was lit
tie brandy and ice Suddenly I grew
better and stronger, but my appetite
showed no signs of returning.
at seems strange that you could have
continued alive?"
'Yes, almost miracle. Fer months
the church bells did not ring, the vibra-
tions affecting me so that l was again
and again taken with cramps that
doubled my body into most painful
shapes. A celebrated physician of Phil
adelphia heard of my case and came to
see me, and attended me for some time,
but his labor5 were unavailing. There
seemed no remedy and no skill equal to
the demands of the case, and / have
continued until the present with no re-
turn of appetite and subject to nervous
prostration."
"And all this time you have eaten no
meat and no pastry of any kind % the
reporter asked.
"None whatever, nota single morsel, F"
was the response. "My physicians and
friends will all tell you this. Twice in
this time | have been hungry. It was
| terrible, and l cannot begin to tell you
what was obliged to suffer. L did not
dare to eat anything, and at the same
time my rawlings were such that when
saw little dog running in the street /
felt as if l could eat every particle of
flesh upon it. | go out to ride nearly
every day, and consider myself well
woman with the exception that partake
of no substantial food, and never sit at
table except for sociability.
"What keeps you alive -
"My only subsistence is fruit; not
fruit eaten as other people eat fruit. /
| can swallow none of the substantial por-
tons. 1t is only the juice that I dare
| take-all that l want to take This only
for the past four years has been my en-
tire nourjshment, except that occasion
ally allow little loaf sugar to melt in
my mouth. The odor of cooking in the
house has not the least effect upon me. F."
Mrs. Evarts smiled as she babe her
caller goodbye, and lovingly fondled
the rich yellow orange she held IN her
hand.
A Sunshiny Husband.
From the Congrep ationaistl