The Grange advance., 1874-11-24

ness;
A secret OF the sea.
The Hermit Of Red Coats Green.
[London Medical Record.]
DR.. Daniel Hack Tuke has published
in the Journal 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, l849, to Janu.
ary, 1850, and only allowed its 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, barefcoted,
and wearing small cap. or barehsad-
ell, his long, uncut hair streaming in the
wind, presenting altogether very re-
markable appearance the more so, as
he rode on q high-peaked saddle, a
string passing round him being fastened
to the peaks in front and behind, and a
rope for his bride and stirrups. + \
At other times he would ride in car
riase, his hair done up in curl.papcrs. -
From the year l849 he began his life of
isolation, living ia the same house to
his death.
''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
I'd to 80 to rack and ruin; 50 likewise
was the garden
The beds were all untouched by hand OF
No footstep marked the damp and messy
grave;
Each walk as green as is the mantled
pool,
For want OF human travel
Gin the beautiful park.like meadow
which surrounded the house stood a
blasted oak-fit EN- blem 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.. luke. II paid the
hermit visit some years ago, went
up to the window Of what had been the
kitchen, the glass and easement of
which had long 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 bed Of ashes (he had not slept
in bed for many years,) and observ-
ed that, when his room was entered
after his death, the floor
was found to be a couple Of feet or
more deep with the cinders which had
accumulated. A 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 BY an
expression of suspicion. His aspect
was quite in keeping with his abode.
Unwashed for many years, his skin
was not in q desirable condition, the
white of his eyes contrasting strangely
with the rest Of his person. Clothes
he had none, only . dirty blanket
loosely thrown over him. For long his
hair had been stranger to the scissors
or razor, and its profusion might have
been magnificent, but that it was mat
ted with dirt. The photograph of q
sketch which was made of him as he
sometimes appeared at the window will
convey clearer idea of his appearance
than any description I can give. 1Ht
was about five feet six inches in height
rather muscular, his hair and eye.
dark, the latter prominent, and hi,
complexion pale. His forehead up
j speared torbe well Il developed. In th.
room were : fire, IN old table, and nu
smerous bottles. There was also
chair, and, and / understand that ,
1: 1biasket WAS suspended from Che ceilinl
inswhich he kept his food, ,Dp0paDq I
from the rats which akounded s. hi
|l II ,.s &