Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-06-18
TFor the Spectator.

The newspapers tell us of two remarkable fe-
males one, we believe, in New York and the
other in one of the New England States, both
of whom have been, for great while, in a sort
of somnambulent and clalryoyant state, and nell
ther of whom have eaten anything for many
months past, or at any rate not as much as
would feed five mosquitoes for three days.
These two cases are spoken Of in some news
papers as somthing very wonderful indeed
We should think, if they had ever heard of the
cold man. who lived in Abney cave many
years ago and who, it is supposed, came over
with the pilgrim fathers in the May Flower, the
two cases above would be looked upon as q ute
trifing affairs. We have never been able to
get an entirely authentic and particular account
of this old gentleman.
The following statement given us upwards OF
a good while ago by that trustworthy and rella-
BILE person, "the oldest inhabitant,' is, we be-
lieve. the most truthful account Of him to be
had. It said his name was STILES MANDIsH,
and that when he and his fellow pilgrims landed
on Plymouth Rock, that he refused to leave the
rock, and that he remained on it for three years,
seven months five days and nineteen hours /;
and, during that time, he ate three red her
rings, halt pound of picked pork and fifteen
ed he travelled by the underground railroad.
and never stopped until he got into Abney' S
Cave. How long he was in making the journey
we are not able to say, and how long he slept
after he reached the cave we have never heard
bnt we suppose 1t was an exceedingly long nap,
perhaps, as long as Rip Van Wrinkles. Ourin
formant said he understood that before leaving
Plymouth Rock, he was considered rather an
illiterate man, but after he walked up in the
cave he could read and speak variety OF an
cient and modern languages, and could also,
solve tue most diinoult problems IN Euclid 1T
is supposed he lived hundred years more or
less in the cave, during which time he was new
er seen out of it but once, and then he ventured
lat night as far up in ''GaloWstoWn" as where
Built was hung. This was said to be about
six months before the hanging took place. He
sat down on the very spot where the galloWs
was afterwards erected, and talked and sang
for more than an hour. The only tune that
any one could remember was queer one, some-
thing between Iankee-doodle and Hail Column
bia or perhaps mixture Of these two, with
"Old Rosin the Bow and Dan Tucker" and
the only words that he gave utterance to, that
coEld be at all distinctly heard, were ''Eullit,
rope, hang, secession, fight, run, spoons, Beast
Butler Banks, reconstruc-, and, before he
finished the last word, some one threw a stone
at him which caused him to run as fast as his
legs could carry him down the street, over the
creek, and into the cave, and that is the Last
that was ever seen CT him.
Should any of the readers of the Spectator
be able to give any additional facts In regard to
this wonderful old man, we would be glad to
hear from them. Perhaps .'Oldest lnhabitant, .
fsSenex." or some other Of your correspondents
that have lived long while in Staunton can
tell something about him. The general i'm
preston is that he is dead ; that, however, is
doubtful. 1t is thought. by some that he may
have taken the back track on the underground
railroad to Plymouth Rock, and is now living
with the mermaids off Cape Cod.
SANDY Hollow.
P. s.-Ry the way, Mr.. Editor, I heard,
when in town a few days ago, that the boys had
discovered another end to Abney,s Cave that
opened out few hundred yards from the Au-
onsta Female Seminary. Do you know any
thing about it? Don't you think it quite likely
that Abnev's Cave may be the tail end of the
great Mammoth Gave in Kentucky?
LITTLE kINDNEssEs.-S acts of kind
ness how pleasant and desirable do they make
life. Every dark object is made light by them,
and every tear of sorrow is brushed away. When
tho heart is sad and dependency sits at the
entrance of the soul. a trihing kindness drives
desnair awav. and makes the path cheerful and
nIeasant Who will refuse kind act ? 1t costs
The oivei. nothing. but is invaluable to the sad
and sorrowing. j It raises from misery and de-
oraaation. and throws around the soul those
hallowed joys that were lost IN Paradise.
WoM.N-A woman! Twas a divine breath
that brought forth thy smile, lighted up thy
features and put upon tby ups the balm that
WHITES, and the poison that Kills. es