Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-10-18
A VIRGINIA RECLUSE.

A VIRGINIA RECLUSE.
Nearly a century ago there lived in the
town of Charlottesville, a young man who
played a prominent part in society circles
He was an accomplished dancer, dressed in
fashionable style, and was the central figure
at balls and parties. Upon one of these fes.
tive occasions, wag who was present attach.
ed bundle of rags to the coat tail of the
youth, and with this absurd appendage to his
otherwise faultless apparel, we went through
the mazes of the dance with the
BEAUTIFUL BELLIES OF THE DAY.
When he discovered the trick that had been
played upon him, the young man was so deep
ly mortified that he ever atterward eschewed
society and lived the life of hermit. Aban.
doning the gay world, ne betook himself to
small building which stood on the site of
the present residence of Mr.. James Dolin,
and commenced the sale of whisky. The
door of his den was fastened with log chain,
and was never opened wider than necessary
to admit the quart bottle of thirsty GUS
toner. At first he bought the liquor by the
jug and retailed it by the pint, but as busi-
ness grew brisk. he purchased barrel, and
finally, when the price of whisky got down to
twenty cents per gallon, be was enabled, by
his rapid accumulations, to fill his cellar.
He lived thus for many years, never leav-
ing the premises, in daylight, except at the
May term of the County Court, when he
would emerge from bis den, clothed in drab
swallow-tailed coat, reaching nearly to the
ground, and pair of leather breeches, walk
to the court house, procure his license, and
return to his hole. After night he would vis-
it the pump near the court house, and some
people said that on dark nights be would ex-
tend his walks into the country.
About forty years ago, one rainy morning,
when customer knocked at the door of this
singular individal, then an old man, there
was no response. The door was forced open,
and the solitary occupant was found to be
dead. A committee of citizens was appoint
ed to examine the premises. The cellar was
found we'll stored with
LIQUOR, MELLoWED BY AGE,
and beneath the ground, buried In earthen
crooks, $4,000 in specie we're brought to the
surface. Probably, with a prophetic vision of
broken Charlottesville banks, he was hard
money man In the s.rlctest sense Of the word.
A log of wood, upon which the head of
the miser rested, and blanket, covering bis
stifened limbs, constituted the furniture of
the miser's home. His only ledger was a
slate, upon which was found a statement of
the amount of cash ON hand, which Tailed
with the contents of the earthern jars. The
name Of this old man was John Yeargen.
There are many of our citizens who remem-
ber him we'll, and whose mouths water when
they think of the superior liquid refreshments
purchased for 81 gallon through the crack
in the miser's door. There were no Mofet
bells to ring in Johnny Yeargen's time.-
Charlottesville Chronicle.
THE SEMINOLE INDrANs.-From merchant
who resides in Soasn Florida, l gathered, a
day or two since, some interesting informa-
tion relative to the Seminole Indians. They
frequently visit his store in small parties to
exchange their wares for supplies. A square
drink Of fire. water is the indispensable pre-
liminary of every barter. Smoked deerskins
constitute the principal articles brought into
the settlements. They sell these one at a
time, never deviatiug from this practice by
disposing Of them by the dozen or bundle.
The warriors use hunting shirts, and are some
times arrayed in fringed leggings, A gaudy