San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-09-04
CRAZY PHILIP.
A Sad Story of the Imbecility of a
Well Known Character in
San Antonio.

San Antonio.
Perhaps one of the best known
and most to be pitied men in San
Antonio is Philip Schweitzer better
known as "crazy Philip" He is
now a poor homeless .waif, de-
pendent upon public charity and
to the credit of San Antonio he
never wants the necessaries of life.
He picks up tritle by odd jobs
given him as chance of a seeming
independence and the charitable
give him money, food and clothes.
But alas what a change in mans
circumstances, and one that all
men may well pray to be spared.
Some years ago heiwas quite a gal
liant, in fact, almost dude, dressed
well, and was recognized all over
as an educated man, a gentleman
and leading teacher. He "loved
and lost" and upon that rock his
reason was shattered. The lady OF
his choice for time encouraged
his affections-or he thought so
and he wandered in "fools para
disc" His dreams of anticipated
welded bliss were rudely dispelled
when he learned that his inamO-
rata loved another and became the
wife of the other fellow. Life then
lost it's Zest, and he gradually de-
VelOped into the Wretched, harm
less individual that we now see
him.
Crazy Philip is seen daily on our
streets, bare-headed, with rugged
grey hair, unkempt, and his shah
by costume much dilapidated. He
almost invariably carries a bundle
of papers under his arms. These
he never reads but collects daily
from the waste basket of the post
office and of the newspaper offices
to which he has free access, con-
sisting mainly of newspapers, pam
| phlets, patent medicine almanacs,
pictures and other things. Hav-
ing gotten what he needs he re-
tires to the rear room of Meyers
saloon, the lobby of the Nave
rick bank building and other
quiet places and there sorts
them out, methOdically too, for dis
tribution among his patrons. Med
zeal papers and books go to doctors
and druggists, legal papers to law
yers, commercial papers to bust
ness, and so on. Then he starts on
his delivery round. Going into the
selected store or Office respectfully,
he pulls his hoary forelock, smiles
in an unbecilic way, delivers his
package and walks civilly out I'M
less the kindly proprietor stops
him, as is often done, to make him
a little gratuity or present. Rain
or sunshine, crazy Philip automat-
ically continues this daily routine
as if it was the most important
feature in the city's progress.
Every Sunday morning, rain or
shine, Crazy Phillip can be found
for a few minutes at Albert
Persch's saloon on Market street.
You will see him walk up to the
bar and salute the proprietor, or
barkeeper in charge with pull at
his forelock and smile. A schooner
of beer is given him and some
small change. He drinks the beer,
pockets the money, again the fore
lock is pulled, there is another
smile and then he disappears until
the next Sunday when the same
course is pursued. He owes the
beer to the kindness of Henry
Michel, who has given orders that
he be supplied with it every Sun
day at his expense and the small
change to the genial Albert Persch.
Truly Crazy Philip presents a
sad picture of fallen humanity,
even though mercifully he has not
the mentality to realize it. He is
| apparently happy and contented,
but it is a pity that we have no
institution to take care of such I'M
| fortunates or that some arrange
ments cannot be made for the care
and comfort of the poor old man
in the few declining years of his
| wrecked life.