CLOSING INCIDENTS OF THE FORTY DAYS’ FAST.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 169, 2 November 1880, Page 4

CLOSING INCIDENTS OF THE FORTY DAYS’ FAST.

Tin? New York Tribune, describes tlie incidents attendin'; the conclusion of Dr Tanner’s fast. The report begins at five minutes to 12, with the doctor “ paring his poach”:— “ ‘ Oh, I wish that whistle would blow,’ groaned the doctor, as lie impatiently glanced at the peach so tantalisingly near him. The time crept steadily though slowly on. Five minutes of 12.’ ‘ Have a glass of milk ready,’ exclaimed the doctor, A new light Hashed into his eyes. Eagerly fumbling for his knife, he began to peel his peach. As the delicate skin dropped off, and the mellow, juicy fruit lay before him, the doctor’s lips twitched convulsively and his nostrils began to expand. The temptation'was almost too great. A paper was procured and laid over the doctor’s knee, and the peach was hidden from view. ‘Two minutes of 12.’ Everybody was silent. The great crowd that beat up against the doors of the ante-room was for an instant still. Breathlessly the seconds were counted, and seconds never seemed so long. The doctor gathered himself up as for an effort. His watchers eyed him with looks of undisguised anxiety. “ Suddenly the steam whistle rang out loud and clear. A murmur ran through the crowd, relieved from its suspense, and the doctor, half leaping from his chair, raised the peach to his mouth. Almost, but not quite, it touched his lips. A watcher seized his arm. ‘ For sake don’t eat that doctor; you’ll kill yourself !’ he exclaimed. An ugly scowl settled upon the doctor’s face. He writhed and struggled, and at last shook oil the hand from his arm. Instantly the peach was raised to his mouth, his parched lips opened to receive it, and with along-drawn ‘ Oli !’ of intense satisfaction the faster tasted the first food that lie had had for 40 days. “ But outside the ante-room, in the main hall, fully 1,200 people were eagerly watching for Dr Tanner’s approach. They had wearied of examining the free advertising display within the arena. Three long tables were ranged in line. At the ends were huge boxes of crackers and prepared food, surmounted by bottles containing various nutritious preparations. A sample of framed worsted work at one end bore at the head the dates of the fast incorrectly given, and below the representation of a modal, apparently representing an aged crow, with I To Dr Tanner ’ upon it. Sixhuge water-melons filled the length of the table. The largest was sent from Atalanta, Georgia, by the Georgia State Horticultural Society. An electric battery just sent is rested on one of the water-melons, while the next one bore a box of collin nails. A pair of slippers sent by ‘ a poor old shoemaker,’ flowers, ornamented loaves of bread, zweibacli, bottles and cans of every form of milk completed the display. His easy chair was placed on a table at the head of the long line of water-melons, and the doctor climbed into it. He hungrily eyed Professor Wark, who was uncorking a bottle of fresh rich milk. Filling a beer glass almost to the brim, Professor Wark placed it in the outstretched hand of the hungry man. Dr Tanner lifted the glass, threw back, his head, and two-thirds of the milk disappeared at a gulp at which the people crowding against the railing lustily applauded. The doctor lowered tlie glass, wiped his mouth, and looked around at the eager faces that surrounded him. ‘Aon <1 better believe that tasks good,’ he sai 1 and the crowd cheered. “‘Now bring on the Georgia watermelon,’'he exclaimed. Dr Gunn, who stood on his left hand, remonstrated, but Tanner’s stomach was up, and he waived him impatiently away. One of the regular watch brought forward tiie huge (01 h melon, and laid it on tlie table at Dr Tanner s feet. ‘Ah,’ grunted the doctor with a satisfied smile. The melon was sliced ;it fell apart into halves, and as tlie rich, juicy interior was disclosed, the hungry man bent forward, and voraciously seizing a handful from the interior of the melon, crammed it into liis; mouth, and at (! minutes past 12 enjoyed the first taste of what he lias been longing for during 40 days. ‘Oh, this is grand,’ he chuckled. He carefully masticated each mouthful, swallowing the water, hut ejecting the fibre in small pellets. 1 He eats like.a pig,’ said one of the spectators, and the doctor’s sharn ears overheard this remark. ‘Tt’smy privilege to eat as T please’ ho exclaimed,, shoving another piece of dripping melon into his mouth. Dr Gunn expostulated with him on his imprudence. ‘ I know my business,’ said Tanner, and he kept on eating. “ All this time he was fanned by a medical student, H. B. Plunkett, who stood behind him. The doctor seized .another piece of melon, and again Dr Gunn hogged of him to desist. ‘ Look Imre, T have been through the mill before. This is what let’s up the strain. Just stand aside and let me have my own way. The doctors around grew pale with apprehension of a sudden and terrible fit of convulsions. Dr Tanner’s brother-in-law. Mr Gardner, approached him, and asked him, for his sake, to stop eating. ‘ Let me alone,’ uas the response grumbled out between the mouthful's of melon. ‘By . I’m turning this thing now;’ 1 Then, turning to Dr Gunn, lie said, ‘ Why, T ate half a melon at the end of my other fa f st.’ At last his appetite seemed a little assuaged, and. perhaps, fearing that he liad estranged his physicians, he turned toT)r Gunn, and said, ‘ You can take these tilings a wav now : Dm through. “ Aftc r the fast Dr-Tanner drove proudly tip'.Fourth-Avenue, with a piece of melon in his hand, and a whole melon on tlie seat by the driver. Arriving at No. Ml East Twenty-fourth-stnct, he walked lightly up the steps, and asc mdoij. to a chamber. ‘By George, this is a pleasant room,” lie exclaimed, as he sank into a chair, ‘hut I want some more-melon.’ He ate another piece, and fell asleep, taking a nap of halfati hour. Then he awoke. His thoughts were still bn melons. Prowling around the room he discovered one in a closet, and soon the days of that watermelon, were numbered. He ate two slices. Then lying down he,rested until 3 o’clock.

“ 1 1 want some 'move melon.’ lie suddenly exclaimed.' T>r Ueillv gave him two pire’is as large as lifs fist, and Tanner aR; it. fii.ro and all. At half past 3 ho asked for an ounce of red Hungarian v/ine, Then ho. read a paper for a little while, lmt the mnnory of thpiinelon in ftjie closet was too much fi r hini, and going ..to the closet 1m stood np, and dexterously helped himself to three slices.,, ‘Does your stomach distress you, doctor ? ’ asked one of his attendants. ‘Ry (decree, I wouldn’t have a stomach that distressed me,’ was the laughing reply.”