The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-17
Mr.. sprunt,s Queer House

The Georgia jag spring and the New
York COW that gives down beer had as well
dry up and go out of the business. North
Carolina has developed a phenomenon
that can give the razzle-dazzle to both
of them, and Mr.. James Sprunt is the
happy, sole owner of it. Mr.. Sprunt is a
prosperous business man Of the city of
Wilmington. AS is the custom with pros
porous business men of the city of VIII
mington, Mr.. Sprunt resides at the sea-
shore during the season. He takes the
which is on the coast directly east of
Wilmington and about 1.-TWO sights and
a peep" as they say in North Carolina,
south of the town of Wrightsville. MIR.
Sprunt's cottage is one of the most com
modious and well-appointed in Ocean
View, and during last season the most de-
lightful hospitality was dispensed thereat.
But very queer thing has happened
to Mr. Sprunt's house. 1t has ''got a jag
on" and possesses the mysterious power
of communicating that Jagged feeling to
all who enter it. Indeed, it is affirmed by
our reliable contemporary; the Whining
ton Messenger, upon testimony considered
by it to be unimpeachable, that visitors
begin to get gloriously dizzy by the time
they are within five feet of the house.
Upon going inside" relates the chroni-
cler, "the sensation is that of being
drunk (they say)." That is the effect when
one gets in on the ground floor. Usually
IL eli m W. hon In,
the ground floor he gets the best that is
going. But in the case of Mr.. Sprunt's
house, the good thing does not reach its
best until one goes up stairs. On the sec
ond floor the sensation is one of extra
dry champagne ntoxication. Some per-
sons who have tested it have been made
sick. 1t is always the case however,
that there are people who do not know
when to quit. 1t is a wise man that
knows when he has got enough.
Whence Mr.. Sprunt's house derives its
power cannot be guessed. Some time ago
during a storm the foundation under the
front part of it was washed away by
the high tide, with the result that the
house took a slight pitch forward, to-
wards the ocean. From that day all who
came within the range of it's influence
have evinced an almost irresistible in
clination to pitch forward not only while
in or about the house. but after it has
been left, the inclination lasting about
the space of time that 1t usually takes
for an alcoholically acquired jag to wear
off. One gentleman who went into the
house stopped long enough to acquire a
condition of intoxication which made it
necessary for his friends TO carry him out
in their arms.
1t is not stated what use Mr.. Sprunt
will make of his most remarkable house.
He has the opportunity, however, of set
ting up resort that would appeal power
fully to certain men of means, who spend
the major portion of their time in efforts
to keep in a state Of intoxicaton. At
Mr. Sprunts house there would be no
trouble about getting drunk, and keep
ing drunk all summer, without the slight
est bit Of exertion-without even the trou-
BILE OF cracking ice or pulling corks. At
such a resort the governor of North Car
olina and the governor OF South Carolina
might meet and hold conferences with
out the necessity Of making any remarks
whatever and numbers Of prominent gem
tiemen from Kentucky would probably be
delighted to keep them company.