Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1896 — An Eccentric Vegetarian. [ARTICLE]

An Eccentric Vegetarian.

News has conn from Jamaica, West Indies, of the death of one of the most remarkable monomaniacs that has ever been known. His name was Boeter, and up to two years ago be was a swell lieutenant in a crack corps of German hussars. But one day, without any apparent reason oi excuse, Lieutenant Boeter announced that he had become a vegetarian—or, mon strictly speaking, a “fruitarian.” In order to carry out his fad, or his mania—for such it speedily became—be resigned bis commission and embarked or a tour which should take in every coun try and clime of the globe. He believed in nothing but fruit; but the difficulty was how to get fruit at all times, and he de termined to discover the modern Garden of Eden, if it existed, even though h« traveled all his life in the attempt Europe was, of course, out of the question—it was too circumscribed; so h< started for the sunny East, and landed ir Java. But here his strange quest was unavailing. Then be started for Ceylon, and visited, in turn, Egypt Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and India, bui failed to find what he wanted. Herr Boeter had money galore, his time was his own. and so he returned to London with a view of starting afresh. As a companion be picked up another ‘-fruitarian,” and they embarked together for They reached Jamaica last January, and once more began the hunt for the unattainable. They journeyed about the island, visited several of the same villages and, as the reason of their visit and the object of their mission had been spread abroad, the simple inhabitants peered at them with unusual curiosity. But the climate of Jamaica is deadly unless one is used to it; and it was not long before Herr Boeter caught the fever. He sard that he did not suffer any, but merely felt tired, and decided to return tc Kingston for a rest and convalescence swinging in a hammock under the palms. He reached Kingston on a Friday, but refused to see a doctor He died the next night. His companion has decided to abandon his fruitarian theories and return home as speedily as possible.