Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-09-25
NIISAPPLIED DEVOTION.
A Drummer Gets n Mustard Plaster
That n Good Wife had Made for Her


Husband.
From this Washington Post
With the sole exception Of Chicago II is
probable that Washington in the course of
| a year, shelters more strangers from the
country than any other city In the United
States. As consequences, clerks IN hotels
st the capital always have stock Of good
stories In which the Innocent granger fur
nishes the laugh. The most laughstla In
cident that has occurred for many years,
though, happened not long ago In one OF
the down town teverns.
An old gentleman and his wife arrived
from western city and took up quarters
| on the third floor. The husband wac an
invalid, having suffered from stomach
trouble for many years. Ee came to the
capitol TO press his claims for the Office of
postmaster in his city, ard brought his
wife along for the purpose of taking care
of him. Tee f5st night ths couple were in
the hotel the Old gentleman was se'zs Cd sud
denly shout midnight with violent cramps
Il was an old si1liction with him, and,
knowing ths! her husband was liable to be
30 sffllcted al any minuts, the wife had
come prepared for any emergency, having
a quantity of mustard sud cloths In her
satchel. Very hos mustard piastsrs, IL
seemed. were tbs olly thing that offorded
the sufferer anF relief in such attacks.
Accordingly when hsr husband uttered
his fret grusp, bia wife sprang out of bed,
slipped on q wrspper snd, and dived into
the depths of the gripssck after the niue
mustard. She produced small tin box
filed with the harmless looking yellow
powder aud roll of soft strips OF muslin,
then glided softly cat Of the loom, re-
| marking to her husband who lay on the
bed bent MP like iackknife;
'I'n have your plaster ready in a mo-
| ment"
Eoisel-ssiy che hurried sllng the corTi-
dor until che rss hid tie toilet room,
| where, by means of 4 flow OF water, she
| prepared plaster about the sizs Of q din
ner plate Then she hurried back to ths
| room. The gas in the room hsd bsen
| turned very low, but there was light
enough for the faithful old wife tosee Whist
| che was doing. Ste approached the side
| of the bed very gently, and, with all the
\ tenderness Of her nature, spplied the p!ss
/ ter to the psin-rscked abdomen of the nsn.
/ Then she crossed 20 tie other side Ct the
| bed, and, lying down, awaited results.
"Do you feel easier. dear I" sae inquired
sweetly after few minutes.
| No answer.
| "Don't you fesl better. peti' she asked
again, as she turned over 10 her husbAnd.
"Ugh!" was ths reply ss the male form
| turned and stretched. Then there was a
| yell and scramble such as nevore or since
disturbed the peaceful quiet Of that hotel
The woman had made the astonishing dis
covery that the man to whom she had ap-
piled the mustard plaster Was not her hus-
band, bat instesd, wss total stranger.
She had entered the wrong room
Bounding out like frightened antelope,
she rushed into the adjoining room wiring
ing her hsnds snd half dead with fear and
excitement. Her sick husband, who by
this time had grown easier, was sitting uP-
right IN bed, a1d as his wife entered toe
rom ard ssuk EXHAUSTED on the floor he
said:
HWhat on earth Is the matter, 9arths'
Has anybody hurt yoCl Speak, quick,
woman"
"I-oh, I-ob, mercy. 20. into the
wrong room" Rosccd tho wife, valniy en-
deavortug % calm herself. She then ex
planned fully wh4t hal happened, and
when she had conpls:el the story of her
embarrassing mistake :he husband in
quired:
"I-I left 1t on the ot her mana stomach, II
sobbed the poor woman, again bursting in
to tears.
Before the astoDished husband had time
to realize what his wife had said there
csme a sound from the next roo.r: "Clerk
| landlord! bellboy help. On my lordl"
The gentleman in the sdjournins rooH
. had discovered the mustard plaster. Ht
! was . commercial traveller, and, as Il after
ward developed, had besn laboring undel
a heavy "jsg" when hs retired that night
: BE afterward esid that when he awoke snC
: felt that terrible burning he thought h
: chad EN-"
He reached down IN the vicinity of tn
= scorching fensaion and came in contsc
. with the cold, clammy plaster, Whicl
curled into roll es he moved his han,
. over It, He threw the plaster across th
Z room aud ss he turned over AID buried hi
facs In pillow, moa2s5: ''0h, IF 1 hs
only stopped drinking yesrs age! TIE
= told me whiskey would eat out my insides
!, and now the worst has CONT! rm am &c
= ing to die"
y But he didn't He Is still drinking an
y selling whiskey.
:. AS for the Old gentleman and his wife
u they had their meals served In their rooI
z the n.xt day and the following day left Ii
= city.