The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-14
Eating Glass and Soap.


~ - ctcddl uACt 4oA GA@f 4NdAiG-
ped, and certainly net for biped-
So when Bill Jones attempted to
bluff Dame Nature be was bound TO
be called-and believe that he will
be.
/ Toward the close of his exhibition
/ in this city Jones became hi, not on
account Of his singular appetite, but
because be stayed out 100 late o
nights. He crunehed glass every
day as usual, but there was a sort Of
"holler" feeling in bis stomach which
could not be satisfied. am sorry
10 say that Nr. Bill Jones took TO
alcohol to relieve this uncomforta-
bic feeling. and as 4 consequence lie
lost all appetite for such food as or
dinary people eat-beef, potatoes,
coffee and the ike He was obliged
TO eat glass every day as usual, and
on the Saturday night that he closed
his engagement be wa. taken with
slight pains Physicians were call
ed to attend him at his boarding
house. They worked on him for
six hours. without a moments IN
termission. One OF them tsld me
afterward that he had never in the
whole course of his professional ex-
perisnce. extending over thirty years,
encountered such a case, or, IN fact,
a case that IN any way approached
IT. Jones did not appear to suffer
the keen agony that one would ex-
pect, although he was in pain. The
only thing that appeared to bother
him was his lack Of appetite aud
consequent torpidity Of the digestive
organs. It was discovered that the
mans intestines, while not at all in
famed, were punctured IN hundreds
of places, and the only wonder was
that be had not died years ago. Not
withstanding his condition, his NOR
bid craving for shsrp-edged food
continued, and be actually begged
during the treatment 10 be permit
ted to eat part Of glass vial This
may sound like an exsggeration,
and. to tell the truth, so regarded
it at first, bat the physician. IN whose
veraeity | have every confidence, as
sured me that such was the fact.
The patient was given some sOOth-
ing medicine. and apparently recov-
cred, but, IN the opinion Of the prac-
titiOners who attended him, ms
heath l. buta a question Of a very few
weeks. II Is probable that there
will be a scramble at the post NOR
TEN examination.
While l am on the subject Of sin
gular appetites, want to tell you Of
maa | saw for or five years ago.
His name was Peter johnson, and is
vet, if he mas not filed = deserved
grave To say that Mr Johnson
could discount an ostrich would De
putting it mild-in fact, | think the
noble bird would De Obliged 10 own
up that its digestive organs were
rank failures when compared with
the digestive organs of Mr.. Peter
Johnson. II is nv firm belief that
Mr.. johnson not only possessed a
gizzard, but an assimilating organ
in his insides not possessed by the
common run of people. After wit
Messing the feats performed by him
/ would not have been very much
surprised had he announced that he
possessed q copper-lined intestinal
canal or two or three hearts Mr..
johnson announced that he was pas
sionately fond Of oysters with sugar
on them, and that for an appetizer
nothing could equal fnely-shaved
soap. topped of with a good draught
of beer or ale He proposed, he
said, to show that such food was not
only palatable, but actually nutri-
tious, and be knew of 10 better way
than to eat oil the oysters, the soap
and the sugar together and drink
the beer afterward.
remember him as lean and
hungry-looking man, with bald
head, a bad eye and a depressed
stomach He mounted a platform
and Immediately ate three oysters
rom a plate in front Of him before
be made his bow. The master of
ceremonies pulled his sleeve and
the human ostrich made an awk-
ward bob Of the head and then pick
ed up a knife, with which he es0lly
shaved of 4 piece Of soap from q
pound cake, put piece Of sugar on
It and an oyster on top OF that and
deliberately swallowed the mass en-
tire. Gimme bowl, said be with
out paving the slightest attention TO
the laughter and shouting of the
crowd. The vessel was brought, and
Johnson graYely Clipped three or
four ounces Of soap into II, follow
ing with about four ounces Of sugar
and four or five Blue Point oysters.
This be stirred up With q fork, and
then took a good draught Of beer.
This Is an oysters eye, sal6 be,
taking a piece Of soap on MS fork
and putting It in his mouth, "and
this is the oyster as he swallowed
the pulpy part Of one Of the bi-
valves. which was dripping with
half melted sugar. The mouthful
did not seem to disconcert him in
the least. and be swallowed il with
evident relish. He did the thing 20
nicely that II seemed Ike a man eat
ing a very ordinary dinner. After
he had finished and satisfied every
body that be had really eaten what
be professed to eat, be had a desert
Of pine shaviDgs mixed with ice
cream. He said he had possessed
the peculiar appetite from boyhood
up. and was not at all satisfied with
the dishes Of everyday life.
What's one mans meat Is another
mans poison, sure enough
Srenanxf