The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-12-12
The Tenncsee Hermit.

Daniel West, the well known Hermit of
Tennessee, died September %, at the age of 7S.
FIe had for years in the hollow Of large A
merican poplar, in the opening Of which he had
fitted rude door. In the center Of this hol-
low be would build his fire in winter and for
cooking his plain meals. This hollow served
as his sleeping apartment, and it Is said that he
slept in sitting posture, reclining against the
wall his house. Adjoining or near to this
tree be had rude shed which he used as a
work shop, where he manufactured chairs, box
es; cider mills, &c. A short time since a lady
visited the old Hermit in company with her
husband and some gentleman friends, and from
her account the following is taken:
Being of the sex to which all hermits are
said to be perfectly inimical, made up my
mind to suffer some such inhospitality as that
which St. Kevin is reported to have inflicted
upon poor Kathleen. But my eyes of blue
seemed to exert contrary effect upon the re.
cluse, so that instead ofbecoming exasperated
upon my introduction, he gave me very cor
dial shake OF the hand, and hustled about fol
one Of his new chairs, with all the politeness, i
not grace ofa Chesterfield. On the whole. Sill
Charles Gradison himself could not have done
the agreeable with more satisfaction to me
or credit to hims f-Instead Of having my head
snapped off in a twinklipg ofan ogre, found
the hermit simple, genial, conversable ole
man. Poorly clad, and, il must say it, no
scrupulously clean, yet there was dignity q
bout him which l cannot express otherwise
than by saying that it seemed to me the dig
nifty oftrutb, for the old man appeared, some
how, as though he never dreamed Of falsehoot
or redemption, though doubt that in his lif
he has suffered from both.
Finding my watch had stopped / inquired o
mon am' the hour. Immediately one OF tn
gentlemen turned and proposed the same ques
to Uncle Daniel He brought forth from hi
capacious pocket piece Of sheet lead in tn
form Of o quadrant, marked with the degrees
and with line and plummet attached; sitting
this in a peculiar position in regard to tn
sun, he told US the hour, and correctly, too, /
moment. The queer little chronometer wa
of his own construction. 4 lad by this tim
climbed into the enclosure 10 observe his man
ner Of taking time and then he showed m
his cooking apparatus, his cider presses, &c.
purchased one of his unique chairs for my lit
tie boy, and taking hold Of mon ansi's' han'
stepped cautiously up and took sly peep int
the tree Oh! it looked like den. Well,
Diogenes lived in tub Uncle Daniel has G
vnced much better taste, to say the least, il
choosing the greenwood tree You would b
astonished by this man; he is so simple yet S
shrewd; so child-lke, yet SO critical; crazet
one would think, and yet exhibiting more goo
sense than one in thousand of those VIII
make more pr:tentIons. His manner IS quie
his conversation candid, his language good, an
at times even choice, and his voice singularl
soft and winning. In religion he is an fire
thinker, in politics he has ever been suppol
er Of the old hero Of the hermitage, under who's
guardianship he has so often fought.