Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-07-29
Noted Character.

scenery, III puDnc euinces, anu III pecuh@i ih0n'
The former are known to the public at large
while knowledge Of the latter is mainly con-
fined to residents.
Many men have no character at all. They
glide along on the surface Of society like chip
on the tide. Others have character, but it Is
SO near like that of the great mass of men
that it does not distinguish them from the rest
of the world. A tree, standing on par with
its brethren of the forest, does not attract at
tention but let it tower above oil others, or,
without great height, acquire an unusual
thickness of trun1 or let II attain all the pro-
portions of a well-developed tree and be
dwarfed in size ; or let it be crooked and
gnarled, whatever it's size, and it's arrests special
attention, and becomes in its day and genera
ton an object of notoriety. 1t is precisely so
with individuals of the human race.
Sharon Carter was born at Chelsea, Delaware
Co., Pa, Feb Is, ITS, and consequently is
now in the eghty-seventh year of his age. He
has strong frame, forid complexion, which
is very fair and youthful, and prelominance
of the vital temperament. He is straight as an
arrow, broad-shouldered, deep through the
chest, has full development Of the abdomen,
the region of those organs which manufacture
nourishment for the body and has, on the
whole, just the organization for health, Ion
gevity, activity and power
lie is a picture of perfect health, has rarely
Or never been sick in his life, and to all appear
ance may live twenty years longer.
His habits of life, which have contributed 50
largely to the maintenance of his health and
vital force, afford a theme for profitable con-
temptation, which we will revert to after
glancing at his history.
He was instructed in the coopering business,
and worked very hard in early life, which served
to promote development and physical vigor. In
1899 he was married, and had five children,
who are now living In 1909 he engaged large
ly in the china business in Philadelphla-ln
1915 travelled through Europe-and in 1924
failed in business ia consequence of losses on
large purchases made during the war.
He 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 ,cater, retire to rest at
nine o'clock in the evening, and rise at half
past four the year round. He washes himself
all over every day, and rubs the surface dry
with acrash towel. He sleeps with his windows
wide open in the coldest of weather, and one
morning last winter, he says his hous keeper
carried out of his bod-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 on it so that 1t
could be closed He has not worn glove or
mitten for thirty years; seldom carries an UNI
brella, and is out in all weathers. He never
rides even though he should have three miles to
CO. Not long since, having, about sunset, paid
9 over sum of money which he had collected
{ for a gentleman, and having three miles to go
, to reach home, the man insisted on paying his
! fare in the stage. He took the amount, paid ii
to the driver, rode out of sight of his friend
r cot out of tho stage, and walked home. 81
could not" said he, -" be boxed mp and joltec
about in stage His extremities, unlike
those Of old people generally, are warm, plump
, and muscular. HIS blood circulates freely,
and tinges the surface with the hue of youth.
, His eyes sparkles with playful wit, and he
, seems to relish the pleasures of life with as
h keen zest as the youth of eighteen With
q such habits as his, should we be surprised at
k his health, endurance, and high spirits?
v Sharon Carter, as we have said, is very ex-
;. tensvely known in Philadelphia yet among
d the thousands who know his person iam'llarly
n there are comparatively few who know him as
Sharon Carter. He has '76 style of dress
that attracts universal attention, and as his
l. pelal extremlties are ever encased in buf-toppeo
p boots that double over like the cuff of coat
O according to the Revolutionary pattern, people
o. know him by them, and he has thus acquired
: the soubriquet of GO BooTs" Of course zoe d'
/. not approve the application of this name to oul
Y venerable subject, nor do we commene such
e singularty of manners Or of dress as shall pro
n woke wits and urchins to apply nickname
e But we are ,oriting history, not creating 1t
a He has of course, the right to wear small
clothes, and such boots as he thinks proper t
do, and he can not seriously camplain of tn
,t irreverent wit which proposes name for h'"'
J. self suggested by those same boots. He is cer
,e tainly distinguished by them, and nobody els
n in this great city has 50 good a right to tn
). appellation. In these,
He stands alone
u There is but one in all this world, but one