The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1893-10-18
ONE CURE FOR INSOMNIA.

81 nee was sufferer from insomnia
said a dentist who lives in one of the
small villages of the state, as he sat talk
ing with other men in the sitting room
of an up town hotel, "but I got rid of the
trouble"
"What did you take for it,"
"Bucking pony"
"Tell us about that, please"
"Well, you see, there was nothing the
matter with me only l couldn't sleep.
The doctor looked me over and said l
wasn't suffering from any disease that
be could detect, but all the same | could
get only a few catnaps every night, and
l felt that would go crazy if such a con-
dition of affairs continued much longer.
A wise friend of mine advised me to try
horseback exercise. Just at.that time a
man had brought to the village a string
Of ponies from the west. AS the ponies
were wild tney were offered for sale
cheap. l bo1ght 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 l
took on him furnished excitementfo 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 pickets.
Then he reared up on his hind legs and
came near throwing me over backward.
Next he tried to stand on his head, but
l yanked him back on 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 tenn
perance meeting was being held in the
church and the door was open. Before |
could stop the pony we were in the
church and half way up the aisle. Wom-
en- screamed and tainted.
Some Of the men led Rip back into the
street. didn't dare to get off his back.
When the men let so of the bride he be-
gan to buck, and for a few minutes l
thought my neck would be broken. He
would so at a gallop when he went at
all, but he would stop now and then to
indulge in some bucking. Presently he
changed his tactics and went from one
street to another, across lots, jumping
fences, turning up flower beds, damaging
gardens and keeping me busy lodging
the branches of fruit trees. The next
street led to a turnpike, along which I
spurre1 him for miles until he was COW
cred with foam and nearly tired out.
II seemed TO be docile when | got
him back to the stable. Next day, how
ever, he was nearly as bad as when /
first rode him, and every day for a fort
night was Obliged 10 race him along the
turnpike several miles. My! my. HOY:
he did buck! Twas 50 lame ut the end Of
two weeks that | could scarcely walk to
my office, but l could sleep. a few min
utes after l got into bed at night I was
sleeping soundly, and l awoke every
morning thoroughly refreshed"
DO you still ride the pony
No. BY the time was cured Of sleep
~lessness I had broken Rip to ride, and l
sold him for double the sum | had paid
for him. Ny advice to anybody who is
suffering from insomnia is to set a buck
ing pony and ride as fast as he can. If
necks are broken, both man and pony
be benefited by the treatment"