Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-03-26
THE sExToE's STORY.

If all the strange tales that scxtons can
tell were put together in one volume, tie
book would be moro fascinating than Arab
ian Nights or Pilgrims Progress. Sections
see many sides of life, and of death too,
which other folks know very little about.
From the orange blossoms of the wedding
procession to the black robes of the Funeral
cortege is but step in the every day life
of the sexton. He knows all the gossip
among the church people, and keeps in
his head, more or less, the accurate account
of those who come regularly, and of those
who stay aways Nobody except the doctor
and the minister know as much as the
sexton knows of what is going on in the
community.
Sexton Judd, of the North Church in
New. Haven, Conn.,, is as well known as
the church itself; the church being one of
the most famous ecclesiastical landmarks
of orthodoxy. His genial face and pleasant
smile are part of the recognized religious
features of the city. He has a CHEEKY
word for everybody, and SO has every body
for him. Some time ago Sexton Judd had
q severe tussle, not with ghosts, nor with
the powers of darkness, but with an enemy
Of the human race, which singled him out
for its victim and laid him on his back in
grievous torture. AS that same enemy had
knocked down SO many good people who
have not yet obtained the victory in which
Sexton Judd rejoices, Mr.. Judd's story
is of personal interest to thousands. We
will let him tell it as he recently told it to
q friend who called on him in New Haven:
"For a good many years 1 had been
troubled with the pains of neuralgia, par
ticularly those which attack the hip and
thigh, in the way of sciatica. At times
they were severe, and then for some time
| would have almost none. But about two
years ago l felt the sciatic attack coming
On me stronger than it had ever come be-
fore. For four or five days the pains
would strike me at intervals, just as if to
let me know that big attack was coming.
Well, it came, in full force, and all of q
sudden. 1 was at. the store,-for during
the week I am busy with curtain-fxtures,
and all that sort of upholstery work,-and
l was seized with a sciatic attack which
knocked me entirely helpless. For two
hours l was in such agony as l had never
suffered before, and never want to suffer
again. After while Mr.. Searles came in.
He had been out of town that day and had
just returned. I knew about his, AthIo-
phoros, and what it had done for himself
and others. But 1 had never, up to this
time, taken any. Now 1 was ready to see
what it could do for me. I asked Mr.
Searles if there was any use of trying it
for a man who was suffering as l was
He laughed cheerfully and said, "we'n
break this in short order" was taken
home in a carriage and helped up stairs,
for could not walk by myself. I took a
dose of Athlophoros. Three hours after
that | took another dose. Oil what a
change there was! I had no idea that any
medicine could act so quickly and do SO
much good. By the time 1 had taken that
second dose most of the pain was gone.
Indeed all that sharp, biting, cruel, tor
menting part of it was over. For while
/ felt some twinges and lesser palms, but
the third dose took them out"
So l suppose you were soon on foot
again; and you ventured out before many
days, did you, Mr.. Judd?"
Before many days? Well, [ should
think so. Let me tell you. Next MORN
ing of course they did not expect me at
the store, and one or two of the others
came there earlier than their usual time,
so as to help on with the work 1 generally
do. But you may judge their surprise
when they saw me already there and do
ing my customary work as though nothing
had happened. Did they talk about it
much? Why sir, it was the talk of tie
whole store, and of the neighborhood. We
all agreed that Athlophoros was the most
extraordinary medicine we had ever heard
of. And SO I say to this day That was
two years ago, and I have not Ead airy
neuralgia, nor sciatica CT anything Of that
kind since. But you may depend rpcn il,
if l were attacked again, l should trnit
this same Athlophoros, first, last, fo-,-
most and altogether"