The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-01-27
DR.. McGee'S Plan to Lose
Weight in Arizona Desert.
TOLIVE ALONE FOR MONTHS
Resort Selected by St. Louis Worlds
Fair Chief of Anthropology Is 40
Miles from Railroad and Is Said
to Be Hotter Than Yuma.

The proposed trip around the world
by David r. Francis, who was presi-
dent Of the st. Louis worlds fair, and
Isaac S. Taylors recent cruise through
the waters Of the gulf Of Mexico in a
private yacht are but commonplace oc-
currences when compared to the plans
Of the chief OF anthropology at the
worlds fair. w. l. MCGEE. who has
evolved a way Of seeking recreation
and recuperating from the labors Of
the exposition that will defy the at
ternpts Of the other versatile directors
or chiefs to equal. says the St Louis
Globe Democrat.
No triumphal tour for DR.. Niece.
He says that the hard workrof the past
year has to a certain degree decom-
posed the walls of his capillary arteries
and caused him to take on ain excessive
amount of flesh, and in order to restore
his system to its accustomed vigor he
will bury himself for three or four
months In the heart Of the Arizona des-
ert, with nothing but prairie dogs for
his companions His wife, DR.. Anita
McGee, the famous war nurse. has
written him from Washington that she
thinks his purpose foolish, to say the
least, SO he is certain that she will not
60 with him.
While sojourneylng in the desert DR.
Niece will live on beans. bacon and
rice, prepared by himself. lie will take
enough rations to last him six months
and will be driven to his resting place"
over nearly 100 miles Of desert The
spot selected Is forty miles from the
nearest railroad, and the closest town
is Yuma, reputed to be the hottest
place in the United States
The spot which the doctor has select
ed is only water hole in the desert.
and. according to his statements, Is
hotter than-Yuma. The yearly rain
fall only averages half an inch. and the
temperature reaches 125 degrees In the
sun--there Is no shade. Natives OF Yu-
ma claim that the spirits Of bad men
are frequently seen In this part of the
country. They invariably reply when
| questioned that they are coming back
for their blankets.
Fuel is scarce In the desert, and the
doctor will cook his food with the aid
Of large magnifying glass and the
| suns rays.
During the daytime DR.. MCGEE will
occupy his attention BY roaming over
his domain costumed la Igorr0te and
endeavoring to solve great scientific
| problem. The mesquite and cactus
plants of this country. unlike ordinary
plants. are green throughout, and sci
entists have discovered that they abb
sorb light for food In place of water.
DR.. MCGEE says be viii try to discover
how this Is done and then evolve q
| scheme by which the suns rays can
\ be used for motive power The cactus
/ he says. holds the secret Of this proc
ess, and he believes he can by the
/ great discovery substitute the suns
rays for steam and electricity.
The water hole where the doctor Ia
\ going was formerly on the track Of the
California pioneers. and the trail on Ell
Their side Is marked by the bleaehec
bones Of animals and men. Over loo
graves are scattered about the spring
nifty Of the pioneers perishing there al
one time The doctor will walk to Yu
ma when his stay is over He thinks
he can do this at the end Of three
months His friends say he viii wei
come the opportunity. Or. MCGEE Il
now finishing the report to the govern
ment on the anthropologieal exhibit Al
the worlds fair. AS soon as this is fin
ished be will make his trip.
| When Or. Niece returns from hi'
prolonged sun bath he viii no longei
be fat, be says, and his nervous energy
| exhausted By the click Of typewriter
and their operators tongues. will b.
completely replenished