The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-12-07
ABOUT HERMITS.

IIEhMilo dlS liol 81 pltllJllul lON ttS
they were in former ages, but they are,
nevertheless, to be found occasionally,
and when found are always objects of
common interest. What induces these
people to abandon the haunts of civil
ization is often matter of deep mys-
terry, but the cause is generally to be
found in some abnormal condition of
the mind producing an aversion to So
ciety and corresponding love for soil
tude. Hermits are quite frequently
learned men, and in some instances
have distinguished themselves by bril-
liant public service before retiring to
caves and hidden places. The Duke
of Savoy is the most notable example
of this kind. After a glorious reign,
lasting many years, and signalized by
unusual ability, he withdrew from the
world and finished his life as an an
chorite. The "RoXbury Hermit" an
Englishman of noble blood and an ac-
complished naturalist, was a noted re-
cluse, cast in the most eccentric mold.
His visit to this country, thirty years
ago, will be well remembered
Pc. In America, the peculiar nature of
our Society and country has been favor
able to the production of hermits.
While with us business is fast and
fortunes are rapidly made, reverses
are equally sudden. If misfortunes,
like death, come gradually, their ter
rors are lost, and we meet them with
resignation; but if they befall us sud
denly and without warning we grum-
BILE at fate and feel that we are special
objects of divine wrath. To slch alb
rupt disappointments more than other
causes, is attributable that morbid
condition of the brain which embitters
the mind and prompts the melancholy
man to hide himself in
"Some forlorn and naked hermitage,
Remote from all the pleasures of the world.
The great majority of hermit-lives
are undoubtedly induced by ill success
in business enterprise; some become
morose from bad luck in love and hide
themselves, while others are born with
a desire to be let alone and with ma.
ture. A remarkable case was recently
reported from Western New York OF
q singular individual, only forty years
of age, who had lived for twenty-five
years in hut by himself. There
appears to be no motive for his sin.
gular seclusion beyond desire to be
alone. He never makes his appear.
and then only for the briefest possible
time. 1t is related that even in his
earliest childhood his parents found il
almost impracticable to keep him away
from lone and dismal places, so over.
mastering was his mania for soil.
tude.
This mania is much stronger with
some hermits than with others. Many
content themselves with partial
abandonment of the world, returning
on periodical occasions, and once in a
while communing with their fellow
men. Some seek absolute and unin-
terrupted solitude, and shrink from
their kind with apparent loathing and
fear. A case of this latter kind came
to light a short time ago, on Long
Island, where party of hunters found
German underground hermit. He
had hidden himself so ingeniouslv that
even close neighbors had not discoy-
cred his presence. When discovered he
shrank away, refusing to look at or
speak to his visitors. A Connecticut
hermit retired to a cave-dwelling, with
$4,000. He lives alone, with his
money around him, counting it daily
and returning it to some secret recess
III his place of abode. Whenforced
by necessity he sallies out for food.
but always under cover Of darkness,
and to some place where few can see
him. y Pennsylvania gentleman had
a brother whom he had not heard from
for forty years, and had long since
placed him on the dead list. A few
weeks ago, while on visit to Con-
necticut, he discovered his long-lost
brother, living the life of a hermit.
He had been there during the entire
forty years.
The most peculiar hermit story,
however, which we have heard in a
long time, comes from the State of
Arkansas. While some Pike County
hunters were out on the chase recent
ly, they came to a little stone cabin,
rudely built with cement, and set down
in a deep gorge, almost entirely shut in
by overhanging hills on either side.
Inside they discovered an old man,
who, after much persuasion. was in
duced to come out and talk with his
discoveries. Around his head was
tied an old piece of black cloth, doubt
less the remnant of a WORKOUT gar
ment, that was being made to do serv-
ice for hat. His beard was of pro-
digious length and white as the driven
snow. He was poorly attired, in linsey
shirt and brown jeans pants, Of antique
pattern and badly worn. He stood in
the doorway distrustfully for a long
time, but was finally persuaded to
come out and talk with the hunters.
He walked with rude stick, leaning
upon it for support, and, upon invita-
ton, seated himself on one of the huge
rocks that lay near the entrance to the
cabin. Of course the first inquiry was
as to who he was, and why he was liv-
ing in so peculiar a manner. At first
he refused to reply comprehensively to
such questions, saying: "God knows,
and that is enough" Through his re-
sponses to number of questions, put
in various ways, it was learned, &C
cording to his own account, that he
was past eighty-fve years of age. and
hat he had led the life of a hermit for |
years. He looked fully that old,
,hough apparently hearty and vigorous
or one of such venerable years. The
hunters continued to ply the old man
With questions, and he finally gave his
lame. Having gone thus far, he
grew more communicative, and told a
tory of such romantic interest that it
$ well worth reproduction. His name
lie gave as William Waggoner. He
vas born eighty-fve years ago In the
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