Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-08-08
Old Sidman's
Sirup
BY CLARA DELAFIELD
20, 1923. Western Newspaper Union.)

n
~ very i'll. 1t was not exactly old age,
for he was only little past sixty.
But some people, when they grow old,
lose interest in life. Sidman was los
ing interest In life.
This was peculiar, In its way. He
had nice wife, lovely daughter, and
q magnificent home in the suburbs.
Sidman was nearly millionaire. Life
was at his beck and call. He was the
inventor of that world-renowned rem
edy Sidman's Sirup.
He revealed the cause Of his world
WEAKNESS to his wife in moment Of
dependency.
Fact is, I'm fake, Mamie" he
said. i've spent my life piling up
millions fooling the populace, and I
guess it's come home to roost. That
there sirup-"
Now, darling, I won't hear word
against Sidman's Sirup," replied his
wife, for she firmly believed In the
proprietary remedy. She used 1t for
| everything from sprains to asthma.
| So did Susie, the daughter. So did the
maids. Even Sidman's friends took his
sirup occasionally, for bronchitis or
chilblains.
Its water, dearie," said Sidman In a
broken whisper. water and advertis-
ing and a few harmless herbs. And
that's what's got me-
Mamie Sidman was not convinced.
1t is hard to persuade a loving woman
that you are an impostor. Mrs. Sid
man had always believed In Sidman's
Sirup and always would.
Its the herbs that make 1t what
it is" she answered. "Those wonder
full herbs gathered by night on the
dew-swept hills of India"
ITS the advertising" said Sidman
with weak conviction.
Mrs. Sidman took the matter to the
family doctor. MY husbands got
delusion that his wonderful remedy Is
a fake, DOCTOR" she said.
The DOCTOR who knew it was fake,
hemmed and hawed.
80 that's what's wearing him
away?"
That's it, doctor. He thinks he's
spent his life making money out Of
fake. How can it be fake" she con-
tinued Indignantly, when only last
month the maid had such a bad head
ache. gave her dose Of Sidman's
Sirup and little aspirin and sent her
to bed, and next morning she woke up
perfectly we'll"
1--WE must get that idea out of his
system, them" said the doctor, who was
diplomatist. IF once we can con-
vince him that his sirup is not fake
he will begin to mend.'
Three days later, when Sidman was
little better, the doctor came to him
with an air of professional secrecy.
"Well, Mr.. Sidman, we've turned the
corner at last" he said, land I'm go
ing to reveal to you what's done it.
I've been treating you with your own
sirup."
whats that?" shouted Sidman in
credulously.
THE most wonderful stuff ever in
vented" said the doctor, and went on
with a noble lie. 1--WE prescribed your
sirup in my practice constantly for
years past, but l never tried it before
In such a complicated case as yours.
Hereafter 1 shall prescribe Sldman's
Strip for everything"
But it's only colored water and
few herbs" exclaimed Sidman.
1T may be so, my friend, but those
herbs have done the trick. Hencefor-
ward you will mend steadily. And you
must never let a day so by without us
! ing your magnificent sirup."
! A week later Sidman was out Of bed.
month later he was at his office, with
all the interest in life renewed die
tating the contents for new adver-
Using folder about Sidmans Sirup.
Doctor, you're a wonderful person."
said Mrs. Sidman. II just knew that
his strip would cure him. But he had
! got so downhearted that he couldn't
! even be persuaded to try it. Now that
he believes in his sirup again he's like
different man."
"Ye-es," said the DOCTOR and went
away.
Funny thing he contided to pro-
| fessional friend. 81 was telling you
how old Sidman had lost his grip be-
cause he didn't believe in his strip any
more. well, l pretended to the old
boy that was curing him with his own
medicine. He thought he was taking
doses of Sldmans Strip three times a
day, and it positively made new man
Of him. Actually what do you suppose
I was giving him?"
"Tonics, hypophosphates-
"Nope. Colored water, In fact, it
was, in a way, Sidman's Sirup, and Just
as innocuous But it fooled him just
as he fooled the public"
The other laughed. "The mind Ger
tainly works wonders" he said.
yep. The mind or the Advertising"
replied Sidmans doctor.