A TRUE STORY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7502, 3 July 1903, Page 4

A TRUE STORY.

England is a locg way off and fiftythree years is rather far in the past; still there are a few people among us able to recall what the old country was like in 1850, the year of the incident to be related.

At that timo there lived in a detached cottage near an English caiherdal city a very eccentric bachelor. He had formerly been wealthy ; but having dissipated the greater part of his fortune, he went to the other extreme, and not only became a teetotaller but also denied himself the necessaries of life. For years he kept himself a prisoner in his cottage, his only companions being two ferocious bull dogs, named Beer and Whisky.

Two tramps, who chanced to hear that this singular reclusoWas very well off, and that he was never without beer and whisky, resolved to rob him. Accordingly they one night broke into the lonely man's cottage, and immediately discovered that the Beer and Whisky therein wero of quite different brands than they had expected to find. One of the tramps, fleeing in mcd terror from the dogs, fell into a mill stream and was drowned. His companion, badly bitten, just managed to climb a tall fence; but fell over it and fractured his skull, so that he died the next day.

Tho incident caused much excitement at the time, and it had scarcely subsided when the local shopkeeper reported that the only answer he could obtain to his knocking was the growls of Beer and Whisky; whereupon the police broke into the cottage and discovered the old man —dead. The inquest was remarkable for a dispute which it occasioned between two doctors. One maintained that death was the result of fright at the recent attempted robbery; the other, that deceased died from chronic indigestion brought about by improper diet and want of exercise, ho not having been outside his cottage for eighteen years. The discussion was taken up by tbe giants of the medical profession, ana ably debated, tho conclusion reached being that indigestion is a disease arising from infinitely numerous causes, and itself productive of complaints hardly less numerous. But it was not then known (as it has been now for thirty-five years) that indigestion has one euro cure— viz., Seigel's Syrup.

Mr H. C. Blackie, of Post Office Chambers, Auckland, New Zealand, has not kept within his house for eighteen years. On the contrary, he is a traveller and knows tho world well. Writing on 16th March, 1903, Mr Blackie observes: " For years I was a martyr' to indigestion and flatulence. Wind used to press on the valve of my heart to such an alarming degree that on two occasions I fainted on the platform when publicly speaking. Dietary and medical treatment failed utterly until, on the recommendation of a Professor at tho Working Men's College, Melbourne, I tried Mother Seigel's Syrup. By taking it regularly after each meal I very soon found relief, and have ever since been able to enjoy all food without inconvenience. My cure was affected about four years ago, when I had consumed from six to eight bottles; but one bottle was sufficient to afford me relief. I have never ceased to praise tho virtue of Seigel's Syrup in the Colonies I visit as commercial traveller, merely in gratitude for the great benefit derived from it—for I have no business connection whatever with its proprietors. What I now say is quite unsolicited. Certainly there is no other such potent and easy remedy for all forms of indigestion." Such is the testimony of an intelligent and experienced man. Of indigestion it may be said, as was said of fame, some inherit it, some achieve it, and some have it thrust upon them (as in the case of persons compelled to lead a sedentary life); but all may eradicate it by following the example of Mr Blackie.