The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-09
MR.. NICHOLS QUEER FREAK.
He Says He Can't Keep His Clothes On
and Has Given Up Trying.
From the Neto York World.

tieudlilluS Oue uSdRtS OI clNIllZou SOCictJ
has not worn a stitch of clothing for over
two months. He has conceived the idea that
clothes are unhealthy; that-as Carlisle
held, in his famous Essay on Clothes"-it
was originally intended that man should
wear nothing but the garb nature provides
| him with
This man, far from being ignorant, is a
! person of considerable culture and ability.
He is at the head of a Bureau of Political
| Information; he writes or dictates to
stenographer from twenty to thirty letters
| day. His visitors are numerous; but he
receives them all without ceremony or
| apology for his appearance.
The name of this man-whose freak is
! causing much comment among the politl-
| cians-is Thomas NJ. Nichol. He halls from
| Wisconsin and is not unknown to fame.
He was a soldier during the war and was
one of the founders of the Hard Money
League in the West He has since been in
terested in various philanthropic and patri-
otto schemes for the benefit of mankind
in general and himself in particular
His last achievement in the West be-
fore coming to this city was the organiza-
ton of the 'Patriots' League" in Chicago
This league was formed in December. 1856
Gen. John L. Thompson was elected Presi-
dent, Thomas NJ. Nichol, Secretary, and M.
IL. JT.,
Committee consisted of such men as Jesse
B. Spalding, ex-Colllector at Chicago;
10 V. Farwell, Jr., c. NJ. Morton, w.
E. Strong j. r. Putnam and o. +. Adds,
of Chicago The object of the
league was to circulate patriotic literature
among the working classes to offset the
productions from the Anarchist bureaus.
A good many business men in Chicago con-
tributed literally to the scheme and the
cd for
incorporated, however, and the only pam
phlet known to have been circulated by the
league was one prepared by Mr.. Scudder
called 1.-The Labor Value Fallacyn Mr..
Nichol left suddenly for New York having
received an offer, it is said, from Senator
John Sherman to take charge of his litera-
ry bureau in this city for tue promotion of
the Sherman Presidential boom. Between
patriotism and cash the latter prevailed.
In the campaign of 1880 Mr. Nichol acted
as private secretary for Con. Garfield at
Mentor and accompanied him to Washing
ton He gave it out that he had had the
forming of Garfield's Cabinet and would
direct the financial policy of his admins
tration. Garfield, to get rid of him, ap-
pointed him Indian Commissioner, but the
Senate refused to confirm him and Mr.
Nichol had to content himself with minor
office.
Yesterday a reporter called on this eccen-
trio individual in his rooms at the Cam
bridge Hotel on Fifth avenue. In response
to his inquiry if Mr.. Nichol was in the clerk
smiled and said 81 guess he is: he hasn't
been out of the house for two months"
A few moments later the reporter was in
formed that Mr. Nichol would receive him
in his rooms on the fifth floor. He accord
ingly stepped into the elevator, mentally
wondering at the clerks peculiar smile,
and was soon ushered into Mr., Nichols pres
ence Then it was that he understood the
significance of the clerks action. The
proverbial reportOrial modesty sustained
shock from which it will take months to
recover. The door was opened by a stalwart
son of Ham.
rs Mr. Nichol here"
Eyes; come in"
Passing a screen near the door the re-
porter beheld a small nude figure reclining
in q large easy chair 81 beg pardon" he
stammered; 1.-THE clerk told me to come up"
IAN right, young man." was the reply,
in a thin, harsh voice. "You can take a
seat. Don't drum on the floor or make a
noise, or shall have to have you thrown
out. Ny nerves are all out of sorts to-dav.n
Mr.. Nichol was engaged in scribbIing
something on pad. He resumed his writ
ing for a minute, and the visitor glanced
around the room. The temperature was
nearly go. In a corner was a stalwart
young man busily engaged in writing at
table covered with papers His coat was
off and he looked warm. Another table
close by was loaded with letters aud doom
ments. The floor was heavily carpeted and
the negro moved about silently. Mr. Nichol
reclined in an easy chair and rested his feet
on another drawn up in front. Across his
lap was small table, its legs resting on the
floor In the rear a door opened into a
bedroom.
To the most casual observer it becomes at
once apparent that Mr.. Nichol makes a
mistake to - without clothes. His figure
is neither robust nor graceful. There is
very little flesh on his bones. He can
hardly compete with Mr. Barnum's living
skeleton as vet, but with little training
he might press him pretty close
"Well, what can | do for you,n he said at
last, throwing down his pad.
at is said that you are running a literary
bureaum
Mr. Nichol glanced around at the papers
that Uttered up the floor and tables "This
does look little like it"
you are reported to be running this
bureau in the interest of John Sherman for
the Presidency"
That is not true The man who makes
that statement is a liar and so are all his
ancestors"
Are you opposed to Sherman
ooh, no. If could have the appointing
of the next President | would name John
Sherman for the place. But | can't do
that. and whether it is possible to nominate
and elect Sherman is quite another matter
A great many people write for my opinion,
ana | answer their letters. | also receive a
good many callers who wish to confer with
me about the political situation. I am
always glad to see them and give them the
benefit Of all | know. ] haven't been able
to get out for several months, but can SIT
here and write and study with greater
facility, if anything, than ever before.
do not get tired easily; can sit in this
chair for fifteen hours at a time. writing
and reading without fatigue. / also sleep
well and have good appetite But some
people imagine that | am crazy because |
choose to wear no clothes!
Il have been in New York since last
August" ne continued, and | came TO this
hotel more than two months ago | have
not teen out of it, | was taken sick early
in tue winter, and have been more or less of
an invalid since. | can hardly tell what is
the trouble with me now. For more than
two months | have found it impossible to
keep any clothes on, and, as you per-
ceive, / have given up trying. Once
or twice / have put on an undershirt
and a long pair of stockings that came up
TO my hips; but | found even that too much.
Fro n the region of my heart to below my
hips my flesh is especially sensitive If