The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26

THE humorous side Of massage Is
not in the least apparent to the
man whose tired nerves and mus
cles demand toning up. He seeks the
masseur and submits to having muscles
stretched and rubbed and twisted, has
his sluggish circulation quickened and
the cobwebs brushed away from his
brain and then departs, once more
equipped and quickeIied and made
young.
But to the man who does the muscle
stretching there is point of view that
makes for humor; he sees humanity In
all its idiosyncrasies. bereft of clothes.
with no distinguishing insignia to tell
whether the subject be banker or bar
Der, whether his muscles were acquired
upon the college football team or
gathered by dealing professionally in
short arm jabs and uppercuts, Human
ity. however. does not shed It's individ-
uality with the clothes that evolution
and the art of tailoring impose upon
us and thus the little humorous side
lights OF human nature that make all
the world a stage are still existent.
still ready to crop up and create mirth.
The point of view achieved by the
masseur comes with many years ex-
perience. and no man in San Fran
cisco is better able TO tell IL than
Jerome Lerwiek. who conducts place
where tired humanity is toned up and
made fresh and fit. Lerwick has had
world of experience, and his dealings
with humanity include a close up view
to royalty. for in the years of 1902
and 1903 he was masseur to the royal
family of Sweden whenever they made
their home at the palace at Chris
tiania, and while serving in this ca
paeity he had many little experiences
that proved to him that royal folk
are very much the same as those of
us who toll that we may eat our daily
bread. At Christiania while he was at
tending the university. Prince Gustav.
the present king OF Sweden, and was
then crown prince, had made some
statements in lecture before the stu
dent body of the university that Of
Tended 1t, collectively and individually,
and also from the standpoint OF the
Dane. The students not being awed
by any pomp, especially any Swedish
pomp. resolved to make a demonstra-
tion of disapproval against the prince
and Lerwick was a witness of their
vengeance. One day when snow was
on the ground the prince strolled out
into the palace grounds. and when he
had reached some distance from the
palace body OF 200 students, equipped
with ammunition in the shape OF snow
balls descended upon him and made
things merry for a little while. At
first the prince relied upon the dignity
and power that Surrounds-or should
surround-the heir apparent to the
throne, but finding that there was no
Immediate benefit derived from haught-
mess, he turned and scuttled through
the paths that led up to the palace
like a rabbit seeking cover. while the
snowballs peppered all about him like
a charge of shot. At this time Lerwick
was a student at the university. and
after graduation he was made the prf-
vate masseur to the royal family
For two years Lerwick served in this
capacity. being called TO the palace
when a royal muscle ached or royal
rheumatism trespassed upon royal toes,
being an especial favorite of old King
Oscar, whose son, the prince that had
the SNOWFALL party with the Danish
students, is now the king of Sweden.
In his work both in Christiania and
in this country Lerwick has had many
experiences that are humorous and the
prime element necessary for success in
his profession. he declares, is an ability
to read human nature like book
Sometimes tired businessman will
come into the massage room and de-
mand that he be given a hard massage
and then when his direct order is be-
ing carried out he will arise suddenly