The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-09-04
HE SMOKED BY PROXY.
HOW UNCLE IRA TRIP, OF scRAN.
TON, STOPPED SMOKING.

4
His PhysiciaE Ordered Him to Give Up
Consuming twenty-five Cigars a Day
So theoId Dtan Hired Smoker to Blow
the odor of the Weed Into His Face.
"UncJe Ira Trip, of Scranton, said a
former resident of Scranton, now of this
city, "was for years familiar figure
down town in New York, when the old
| Merchants hotel was in existence in
Cortlandt street. His tall, erect form,
his immense flowing beard, white as
snow, aud, more than all, the peculiar
manner in which he enjoyed his cigar,
attracted attention to him at once.
"When Bill Schenck gave up the
Merchants aud took the Westminster,
up town, Uncle Ira became just as strik-
ing a figure in that part Of the city, on
his visits to New York. He was one of
the oldest and richest individual coal
operators in Che Lackawanna valley, his
father being 5ne of the pioneers of the
region, and settled on land that, when
coal was discovered, proved to be in the
richest part Of the anthracite belt.
"Thirty years ago Ira Trip, from one
of the rnggedest Of men, had gradually
fallen into poor health. His physician
told him that he was slowly dying from
nicotine poisoning, and that unless he
gave up smoking his end was not far off.
For years he had smoked daily from
twenty to twenty-five of the strongest
imported cigars he could buy, and it was
supposed thai be was so welded to the
habit that it would be an impossibility
for him, to break it.
"But he did break it, and broke ii
square off, too, SO far as smoking cigars
himself; was concerned; bat he continued
to enjoy his smoke right! along, after
novel plan of his own. He bought the
same kline of cigars be had always
smoked, ard then hired man to accom-
pany him wherever he went, smoke the
cigars and Blow every puff of the fra.
grant vspor into his face, so that ne could
inhale it.
SECONDHAND sNoKE.
at wasn't Song before Ira declared that
he got inst as much enjoyment out of
his smoke atIsecondhand as he ever did
when he was pulling aw;I ay at his Per-
fectos himself He had hard work,
though, to- get smokers who were willing
or able to consume a couple of dozen
strong cigars, one quickly following the
other, in the, course of a day and even
ing, and at tae same time be companions
agreeable TO him. Two resigned after a
few months trial, one was discharged on
the spot for jnhaling the smoke before
putting it into the face Of the gentlen
for whose benefit and moi his own pleas
ure he was smoking, and! 1.-two died in the
service.
''It was not until abort fifteen years
ago that UnGle Ira got man that suited
him exactly, and that was his colored
man, John, who filed the bill in every
respect, and became the old mans con-
slant attendant and smoker. For all
know John was smoking; for him up to
the day he died.
''Sonie years ago, when Bill Schenck
was still running the old Merchants, |
Uncle Ira was a guest there and Of
course had John along; At that time
Karl Kase, well kndwn newspaper
man OF tnat day, since dead, was an
habitue of the Merchai hts, and he and
Uncle Ira got well acquainted. Karl
suited Ira SO well that he was content to |
let him rest John for hours at stretch |
in doing tile proxy Smoking, task
which was most agreeable to the jour
nalst, as he was lover Of the weed.
zone day Uncle Ira had business up
town and ne asked Karl to accompany
him and do the smoking, and of course
Karl went with him. They got on the
front platform of Sixth avenue car at
Broadway aud Vesey strict, and Karl lit
a cigar. As the car tru hdled along he
kept putting the smoke il! Ito Ira's face and
Ira stood with his back against the end
of the car enjoying the cigar with silent