The St. Johns herald., 1893-11-23
A CURE FOR INSOMNIA.
The Odd Way in Which Man Got Rid of
 His Sleeplessness.

The Odd Way in Which Man Got Rid of
 His Sleeplessness.
 ssI once was a sufferer from insom- nia." said a dentist from an interior village to a New York Tribune man, ''but I got rid of the trouble.''
 ''What did you take for it?''
 ''Buclking pony"
 ''Tell US about that, please"
 ''Well, you see, there was nothing the matter with me, only I couldn't sleep. The doctor looked me over and said I wasn't suffering from any dis ease that he could detect, but all the same I could get only few catnaps every night, and felt that I would go crazy if such condition of affairs con- tinued much lcnger. A wise friend of mine advised me to try horseback ex- ercise. Just at that time a man had brought to the village a string of pO- nies from the west. As the ponies were wild they were offered for sale cheap. I bought one. He was such a sleepy looking animal that we called him Rip Van Wrinkle. After we knew him better we dropped part of the name and called him plain Rip. The first ride I took on him furnished ex- citement for the whole village. Two men helped me to saddle and mount him in the stable. When the door was opened he shot out into the street like a streak of lightning. He ran full against the fence opposite the stable and broke several picl1ets. Then he reared up on his hind legs and came near throwing me over backward. Next he tried to stand on his head, but I yanked him back onto his feet and drove the spurs into him. He started to run then, and let him go as fast as he could leg it until we got to the Methodist church at the end of the street. A temperance meeting was be- ing held in the church and the door was open. Before I could stop the pony we were in the church and half way up the aisle. Women screamed and tainted.
 ''Some of the men led Rip back into the street. I didn't dare to get off his back. When the men let go of the bridle he began to buck, and for a few minutes thought my neck would be broken. He would go at a gallop when he went at all but he would stop now and then to indulge in more bucking. Presently he changed his tactics and went from one street to another, across lots, jumping fences, tearing up flower beds, damaging gar dens and keeping me busy lodging the branches of fruit trees. The next street led to turnpike, along which I spurred him for miles until he was covered with foam and nearly tired out. He seemed to be docile when I got him back to the stable. Next day, however, he was nearly as bad as when 1 first rode him, and every day for a fortnight was obliged to race him along the turnpike several miles. My! my!. How he did buck! was so lame at the end of two weeks that could scarcely walk to my office, but I could sleep. A few minutes after got into bed at night was sleeping sound ly, and I awole every morning thor oughly refreshed.
 ''Do you still ride the pony?"
 ''No. By the time I was cured of 1 sleeplessness l had broken Rip to ride, and 1 sold him for double the sum had paid for him. My advice to any body who is suffering from insomnia is to get bucking pony and ride as hard as he can. If no necks are broken both man and pony will be benefited by the treatment"