The Grange advance., 1874-11-24
The Her.nis 81 ReA Coat>s Green.
[London Medical Record.1

'The Hersais 81 ReA Ceat>s Green.
[1.ondon Medical Record.]
DR.. Daniel Hack luke has published
in the Joura1al Of Mental Science for
October, very interesting account of
this eccentric person-whom Dickens
made celebrated as Mr.. Mopes. The
detailed report of his life, history and
character, leaves no doubt of his insan.
ity, while it gives room to regret that
his person and property were not
placed under legal protection. Of
handsome means and good education,
he displayed while young the utmost
eccentricity and violent self.will. At
his mothers death he kept her body in
the house from October, 1840, to Janu.
,ary, 1850, and only allowed it's inter-
ment when his brother, as executor, in
sisted. He began from this time his
life as hermit. Before this his eccen-
tricity had been most marked. He
would occasionally hunt (; ''when he
did so, he rode either with his shirt
outside, or in anankeen suit, barefc oted,
and wearing a small cap. or barehsad-
ed, his long, uncut hair streaming in the
wind, presenting altogether q very re-
markable appearance the more so, as
he rode on q high.peake ed saddle, a
string passing round him being fastened
to the peaks in front and behind, and a
rope for his bride and sstirrups. =
At other times he would ride in a car
riage, his hair done up in curl-papers. -
From the year l849 he began his life of
isolation, living in the san ne house to
his death.
s;'As you approached it told a tale
respecting the occupant. Every win.
dow, and even the doors, were careful.
ly barricaded, and the house was allow.
cd to 50 to rack and ruin so likewise
was the garden 3.
The beds were all untouched by hand or
No footstep marked the damp and messy
-.,. grHve;
Each walk as green as IS the mantled
For want of human travel. '' 81
SIN the beautiful park like meadow
which surrounded the house stood q
blasted oak-tit emblem Of the blighted
life Of its owner. Another tree which
had fallen across the garden walk had
only been cleared away sufficiently to
allow Of . passage along the path lead.
ing to the. house. ~
when says Dr.. Tuke. II paid the
hermit visit some years ago, I went
up to the window of what had been the
kitchen, the glass and easement of
which had leng disappeared, the strong
upright iron bars alone remaining.
Here the possessor Of ample. means, and
man of at least fair education, lived
day and night. He appeared to emerge
{ from q bed of ashes slheshad NOT slept
in bed for many years. and L observ-
ed that, when his room was entered
after his death, Il the floor
was found to be couple Of feet or
more deep with the cinders which had
J accumulated. IA farmer informs me he
removed after his death fourteen cart
loads from the house and around it.
On my Appearing at the window he
came forward. and entered (though with
apparent reluctance) into conversation,
his countenance being marked ~ al
expression Of suspicion. His aspect
was quite in keeping With his abode.
UnHashed for many years, his skin
was not in desirable condition, the
white Of his eyes contrasting strangely
with the rest Of his person. Clothes
he had none, only : dirty blanket
loosely thqewp oysSs him big For long His
hair kad bsen stfaSgef tp the scissors