The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-07-05


fairly rich, and having no family, he
spends his money on mendicants. He is
a vegetarian in medical practice and in
his own habit. lie is so cranky that he
only eats meat once every six months,
and he will hot touch coffee, tea, alcohol
or tobacco. His Sanitarium is divided
into rooms neatly furnished with centcel
beds, chairs, tables, bureaus, &c. Here
the whisk y soaked victim finds home,
but not the set treatment for inebrateS.
He gets milk, fruits. vegetables and
plenty of pure water. He gets rest also,
and is sent away with some good advice
and dollar. For all of which he is not
charged farthing. Many practical re-
forms are credited to HIS.
Nevertheless, DR.. Gross is a very &C.
centric man. He believes in astrology,
and he sits out on his roof studying the
stars. He carries potato in his pocket,
for luck. He wears "a large sponge filled
with cool water all summer under his
hat. He is a firm believer in luck, but
he Is an expert in anatomy, botany and
technology. He is also sun worshiper.
The old doctor has had some severe ex-
periences with his patients. \ year or
so ago, gigantic fellow had a room in
the sanitarium. During the night he
demanded whisky. which the doctor re-
fused. The crazy drunkard seized his
benefactor and hurled him through a
second story window, bGuising him rather
seriously. It took several policeman to
subdue the wild patient and restore pos
session of the house to the doctor.
A perfect garden of ecccntrics is the
Washington Asylum, which has three
departments, the almshousc, the work
house aud the asylum hospital. In the
latter is George Butler, the cranky but
brilliant nephew of old Ben. George is
doing some Literary work in the shape of
letters for various papers throughout the
country, but his productions betray a
loss of power. He is given a good room
and all the paper and pencils he wants.
Occasionally he breaks out, comes into
the Capital and paints the town red, but
is invariably recaptured and taken back.
There are 96 colored men out there, each
one of whom is over 100 years of age.
Some of them cultivate little patches of
corn, and others sit in the sun all day
l. i1linr fins nnn tn Of thn aims.
house, Aunt Betsy smith, has been
there since 1887. She came from Prince
Georges county, Nd, where she has a
sister living. Twenty years ago she
made her gray clothes and it is her
pride to inspect them every day. SIZE
was present when the British burned
named Thompson relates how he would
go out horseback riding with Thomas
jefferson. Until yesterday the Queen
of America held forth there. This old
lady, Mrs. Lucinda Benfield, came here
several weeks ago, proclaimed herself
Queen of America and demanded the
keys of the White House. Yesterday
friends from Louisville reached here and
took her away.
Somebody has been taking a census of
the fishermen in the Senate. 1t appears
that Senator Edmunds is the boss angler
of that august body, though Senator
Wade Hampton is close second. Sen;
tor Frye is an expert fisher for trout.
and Vest has passion for the rod, but
is lazy. Senator Mcpherson has the
most costly fishing outfit in the country,
and Platt of Connecticut. spends most of
the time fishing and hunting in the Adj
rondacks. Senator RiddleberGer is the
mighty hunter of the Senate aud is only
waiting for adjournment to start out on
camping froic. Beck likes to go a
fishing more to hear the good stories that
are told. Vance, Ransom. Garland, vii
iams, Sewell and Miller are also passion
ate disciples of Izaak Walton. Don
Cameron only goes a-iishing to enjoy the
Jolly crowd, and Senator Hoar doeSn' t
know IA fishing line from clothes line.
Cockrell is deer stalker, and Joe Brown
used TO fish about 60 years ago, when he
WAS a younu man