Smyrna times., 1890-11-05
Going West For Health.
SCOTT WAY, IN PUCK.

One morning 1 walked to find myself
an invalid. had begun with a mere
cold in the head, which I had chased
about from place to place with one
sort of panacea or other, until finally
it had got tired fOOling with me, and
had fixed itself in myself in my system
where my doctor could not locate it
and medicines would not reach it.
In tie meantime 1 had grown pretty
thin. IL the dim, uncertain light of
the hall my friends were accustomed
to mistake me for the hatrack but my
appetite still held out. My doctor
said that my appetite was all that was
keeping me up, but the good woman
with whom l boarded said that was
what was killing me.
was advised to take some outdoor
exercise, but failed to find Just the
kind of exercise my case seemed to
need. tried saving a little fre-wOod
in the morning, but after the first day
l quit that. 1t gave me pain in the
back. Then l was persuaded to try
walking, but the walking was usually
bad when felt in the humOr for walk
ing. Again l was told of the benefit
to be got from hOeing in the garden be-
fore breakfast, and tried that, but, in
a day or two got out of the way of it,
1t seemed sort of enervating exercise
to me. 1t didn't suit my case at all
Finally l was advised to try the bicy-
Gle, but l said no; if death were inev-
liable preferred to meet it quietly at
home did not think l could die COM
fortably while standing on my head.
I IcOntinued to lift the druggist from
prosperity to independence, and to
spend the most of my time between
meals in growing thin.
An undertaken with whom enjoyed
speaking acquaintance began to take
a new interest in me. Frequently,
when he had something on in the way
of rich and unique burial case, he
would call me to his shop to see it
and while expatlating enthusiastically
on the beauty, workmanship aud COM
fort of the ching, would take my meas
ure mentally, and his eye would wan
der up and down me and seem to in
quire if something of that style would
about suit me.
And the enterprising citizen who
had laid out new cemetary would
drive through its serpetine ways,
and, with face full of human sym
pathy. ask me if lever saw a more
comfortable place for poor, weary men
to rest 2"
My physician was a kind and can
did man. When he had tried all the
remedies in his books without doing
me any manner of good, one could no
longer conceal my true conditions
from me, he came to me one day and
said
81 must be plain with you, young
man. fear you are beyond medical
skill. You've a frame and sound ap.
petite left, and that's about all. /
can't afford to have you die on my
hands, my reputation is at stake and
l want you to travel. l want you to
go West and rough it, Eat and drink
every thing you want ; stay out of
doors as much as you can work be-
tween meals and get enough money to
pay board and keep yourself as far
as possible away from doctors. If you
follow this course to the letter, you
will either die or get we'll; in either
case you will be better of, and will
have my best wishes"
He wrung my hand and went away
Thought ofhis strange advice forabout
five minutes, and decided to take it.
1t was the least nauseating thing to
take he had ever prescribed for me.
l went to an old and well beloved
friend, who has spent many years in
the far West.
II have decided to cross the cOntin-
ent for my health" said, grasping his
brawny honest hand, Have you any
advice to give me ?"
"Yes," he answered, after NOM
ents meditation; "if you're going
West for your health, young man,
never borrow horse by moonlight,
nor pull your gun unless you intend to
shoot"
Next day / packed a lunch basket
with things suited to the needs of a
thin invalid with an appetite, and set
out to the setting sun.
NOfac about E1OVuarc