Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-06-30
miscellaneous.
from tho chronological Journal.
A CHARACTER.


Sharon Carter was born at Chester, Delaware
Co.. Pa, Feb. 10, l772, and consequently is now in
the eighty-fourth year of his age. lie has n strong
frame, a 1orid complexion, which IL very fair and
youthful, aud n predominance of the vital temper
arnent. lie is straight ms an arrow, broad shout
oered, deep through the chest, has q full develop
ment Of the abdomen, the region Of those organs
which manufacture nourishment for the body and
has, on the whole, just the organization for health,
longevity, activity, and power.
He is a picture Of perfect health, has rarely or
never been sick in his life, and to all appearance
may live twenty years longer.
His habits of life, which have contributed so
largely to the maintenance of his health and vital
force, affords a theme iof profitable contemplation,
which we will revert to alter glancing at his his
tory.
lilo was instructed in the coopcriug business,
and worked very hard in early life, which served
to promote development and physical NigVr. In
1879 he was married, and had five children, who
are now living. In 1909 he engaged largely in the
china business in Philadclphia-in 1915 travelled
through and in 1894 failed in business in
consequences of losses on large purchases made
during the war.
lie has since followed the occupation of Col
'@lector, which has required him to be much in the
'open air, and to walk almost constantly.
He drinks nothing but rdtey, retires to rest at
rine o'clock in the evening, and rises at halfpast
four the year round. lie washes himself all over
every day, in cold water, and ru5s the surface dry
WIN a CIdsh tONCl. Tic Sleeps Win MS NlnuUNs
wide open in the coolest of weather, and one morn
lug last winter, he says, his housekeepcr carried
out OF his bed-chamber three pals full of snow
which had blown in during the night. He never
wore underclothes nor an overcoat. He wears
light cloth-goes with .his shirt bosom open. not
even leaving. buttons CD it so that t could be closed.
lie has not worn a glove or mitten for thirty years
seldom carries an umbrella, and is out in all
weather. lie never rides, though he should
have three miles to go. Not long since, having,
about sunset, paid over a sum Of money which he
had collected for a gentleman, and having three
miles to so to reach home, the man insisted on
paying his fare in the stage. He took the amount,
paid it to the driver, rode out of sight Of his friend
got out Of the stage and walked home. ~
could not, " said lie "be boxed up and jolted about
in IL stage" His extremities, unlike those of old
people generally, are warm, plump, and muscular.
Ills blood circulates freely, and tinges the surface
with the hue of youth. His eye sparkles with a
playful wit, and he seems to relish the pleasures Of
life with as keen a zest as q youth Of eighteen
With such habits as his, should we be surprised at
his health, endurance, and high spirits?
Sharon Carter, as we have said, is very extern
siyely known in Philadelphia yet among the
thousands who know his person familiarity, there
are comparatively few who know him as Sharon
Garter. lie has a rs style Of dress that attracts
universal attention and his pedal e%Xtremities are
ever encased in buff-.opped boots that double over
like the cuff of a coat, according to the revolution
AIRY pattern, people know him by them, and he has
thus acquired the soubriquct Of Boots" OF
course zee do not approve the application Of this
name to our venerable subject, nor do we recon-
mend such q singularity Of dress as shall provoke
wits AMI urchins TO apply 4 nickname. But we
are WYiiHg history, not creating it. lie has, Of
course, therj9ht to wear small clothes, and such
boots as he thinks proper to do, and he cannot seri-
ously complain of the irreverent wit which pro-
vokes a name for himself suggested by these same
boots. He is certainly distinguished by them, and
nobody in this great city has SO good q right to the
appellation. In these,
Gle stands alone;
There Is but one in all this world, but one
Such pair Of boots"
Little things often make or mar a mars fortune
These boots have been scrvicea5le to friend Carter
above and beyond the ordinary use of boots, viz,
in a business aspect. He is Il collector, and has
followed his pursuit rore than twenty years. 1t
has passed into a proverb that if he cannot collect
a bill, it is beyond the reach of hope and he is
mainly employed in desperate cases Of indebted
ness, especially such as have assumed the linger-
ing, chronic form. In these cases, the boots, COM
bined with the quiet, pertinacious patience of their
wearer, become omnlpotcnt. Wherever they rove
or rest, there the eyes of all are concentrated, and
as everybody knows their owners business, and
the kind Of subjects he generally has to deal with,
the debtor forks over" without delay, when sher-
IFS and executions would be powerless. In Il city
like Philadelphia, there are a sufficient number Of
slow paynIasters to keep at least one man employ
ed as collector for this class alone, and he who can
At-lN llJASIOlC - NlN opDh1C SNh 'hIlloLl
a generous per centage. AS no man who sees
these boots on his track, and knows the character
Of their owner, ever delays payment an hour lon
ger than it is necessary for him to earn, borrow or
beg the amount, friend Carter drives a prosperous
business. These facts Justify our assertion, that
the boots in question are pre-eminently serviceable
to their wcarer. His manner of doing business is
peculiar, and may, perhaps, be probably copied
by others. He uniformly eXacts his per centage OF
the creditor, in advance, if the case is very despe
rate fr he snvs - Now. John. thee has tried I'm
best to collect this debt, and ! may not get it, but
shall work Just as hard if l fail as if | succeed
and I cannot afford to work for nothing. II | worl
long and faithfully, l shall, thee knows, earn m,
pay, and therefore l must have it in advance.
Armed with the bill, and more than doubly arme
with digniied manners, amiable lmperturblllt.
and last, though not least, those same buf-toppe
boots, he. calls on the delinquent and says, " frienC
does thee Owe this man that sum-" lie, Of courst
gets an Affirmative answer. well, can thee pa
it now?' II the man knows little or nothin
about the collector, he answers indiferently that i
must call again. "Nerywell when shall call ?
ii he is told u week hence, he replies "This da
week l will call for the money" If he don
obtain it at sight when the set day arrives, tn
peaceful battle for victory then begins in earnest
"Boots." 'Well, friend, | have called, accor'
ing TO thy promise, to get the money for tn
Delinquent Debtor. Il have MT the money
SPARE to-day; you must call again"
b. Thee promised it to-day, thee knows. but a
arc liable to mistakes but as thee hasn't it
thee now, thee may receive enough to-day to e.
able thee to pay it. ! will call again in the afte
noon"
y. D. I'm n pct mo, you need MT come agai
to-dly-l tell you | can't pay it."
b. NO one knows what may happen thee ma
receive money in the course Of the day. III loo
in towards evening. EtreueU."
True to his word, he is on hand towards evenin,
and Il he finds the man busy with customer
and he tells him that be is engaged, and woul
prefer that he should call again, he replies wit
the most perfect blandness, 8 Oh, never mind,
am in no hurry-I can wait until thee is disel
gagged"
lie cents himself as il determined 10 sit it GU
the debtor becomes confused and irritated, al