Daily camera., 1900-10-31
TRY TO DODGE DEATH
Strange Freaks of Rich Men to Es-
cape the Grim Reaper.
The Most Childish Expedients Re-
sorted 10 by MOnOmaniacs ON ThA
Subject - Some of the
Queerest Cases.

A man who. while poor, is not more
afraid to die than most people, often
develops haunting terror OF death att
er he has made big fortune. and
spends an unhappy life and huge sums
OF money in trying to avoid the com
ing fate, frequently hurryng himself
into a premature grave through sheer
worry ana fear This passion. says
London Answers, has TUNED the brains
of good many wealthy people and
made. monomaniacs of them. They re-
sort to the most childish eNpedients to
keep death from their Goors.
You remember Kipling's character,
who had his chair sung on ropes from
a beam that the world might spin un-
der him. instead of carrying him along
to grow older. There was an actual
Ease very ike this few years ago. when
John isIip, an Engiishman, who made
a huge fortune out of silver in Mexico,
drove himself mad through worrying
about his death.
After exhausting all the safeguards
london could offer, he bought small
rocky island called Brychil, on the West
Irish coast. taking with him one faith
ful servitor. Here. in feverish haste.
he had four stone pillars raised and "a
small one-storied cabin. with three
rooms, rather like a houseboat, sJung
on chairs from iron girders that crossed
the pillars and swung clear of the
,rrnl.nJ a., l.
self up with some books and pet Jack
daw for company. and never left his
swinging house until his death.
The attendant, who lived in a small
house close by used to row 10 the m ain
land-a mile and half-when the
weather permitted. for provisions. The
master spent his time reading and look
ing out over the Atlantic from the
cabin vii )ws. His brain had given
Wa, OF course. and he ina gined his life
stood still, while the earth revoIveG un-
Ger him. He had no relatives to insist
on his entering private asylum. and
he died three years later in the cabin.
worried out of life by he fear of death.
His hair was snow-white, though he
was Crlr 43.
Another wealthy man, Jean Ingle-
SAINT, though he had made a fortune by
shrE Nd speculation, also gave way to
the dread of death. He conceived the
idea that all movement and effort vast
ed the tissues of the body. and this no.
ton suak SO deeply into his mind that
-se Wen to bed in quiet country house
and hardly moved hand or foot for
years; if he even stirred finger he did
it with dread. believing it used up his
vitality and shortened his life by so
much time. He spoke as little as pos
sible. sometimes not opening his lips
for days, and was fed by attendants
with spoons. All his food consisted of
''s.ops," to save him the fatal exertion
OF chewing. and his one amusement was
being read to by the hour together for
he would not hold book or turn the
pages. Even the reading he did away
with toward the close of his life. believ-
ing that listening shortened his exist
'enCe,
: One Of the queerest cases was that of
d Mrs. Holmes. a very wealthy widow,
who had a terrible fear of germs and
bacilli of all kinds. She had studied the
Subject deeply. and it affected her rea
son, to all appearance. The dread Of
death seized her, and she was convinced
She would die by some wasting disease
INSPIRED bv microbes. Knowing that
cold is fatal to the average germ. she
haG two rooms adjoining each other
fitted as refrigeratOrs and kept con
stantly at temperature of about 30
degrees. or just below freezing point.
CHe would suppose this TO be more
trE,ng than any quantity Of microbes:
bCc the owner wa> happy in her con
- business OF freedom rom germ dis
eases. Winter and summer the rooms
were kept at the same point, and the
adjoining rooms and hail were also
KEEP cool, hat nc current of warm air
might bring bacilli in.
This lady lived clad in furs through
out the hottest days that bazed out
side. and her attendants and servants
were obliged to constantly disinfect
themselves before entering her pres
ence. They lived in a perpetual at
mos sphere of carbolic acid. and their
mistress had to pay very high wages to
induce any servants to stay with her.
How Beers Spot the British Officers.
II is curious to note that the earl