New-York tribune., 1881-10-02
JOHN MUIR as IN ECCENTRIC STUDENT
From The Oconomo,ooc twis.) Local

From, III, Oconomotcoc (yis.) Local
Twenty years ago there were but few students at
the University of Wisconsin. But among those few
students were many who have since made name IN
their various lines OF work. Among them came q
queer genius, John Muir, the naturalist:
Where he came from do not now Inow. He was or
Scotch parcntagc studous, industrious inclined 10
have bu. few companions, yet social; was loVer OK
quiet fun and long rambles III the country, ad Iiko
many Others who mad their way 10 make, cooked ms
frugal meals i'll his room. In all these things, he
not singular; his remarkable trait was his ioVe
OF practical mechanics and invention. 49,
He seemed to need few tools; an axe saw, jack
knife and gimet were his chief weapons, while al
served as centre about which several of his most
interesting machines clustered. This was In the
form of scythe and snath, hung III an old, gnaricd
burr-oak grub whore Father Time is supposed TO
have left it. The scythe was split lengthwlse, ana
in the opening thus formed was train OF wheels
constituting the wor ks. The motor was heavy
stone, concealed under the roots and moss, from
which tho clock rose on the table, Inc year.
month day. hour, minute and second were indicated
by index arrows on the various paper diais. Inc
pendulum was also an arrow with heaVy copper
point 80 -, -.
door under which moved "A rack in which his books
were set up separately on their backs lie arranged
his study hours for each lesson and connected tho
machinery of his desk to the clock, that at the
anpointed moment. the trap-door opened dropped
the book into its rack. moved this along threw mp
the next book and closed the trap under 1t. his
bed was "a machine, utterly destructive TO the ht-
tie more Sleep of the suggard. lt was hung on d
pivot and supported at such height that wnen
turned up, it stood nearly perpeadculary iootdown.
The foot was held up by lever
Beside the bed was the lamp stand, on which tho
fluid lamp. then in use, was placed at night. 10
this bed the clock connected and then set ZOE
rising In the morning the machine took on tle ex,
tingnisher struck q match lighted the lamp, ana
then withdrew the lever letting the bed down p and
bringing its occupant out on his feet. have known
him to satisfy the curiosity OF visitors py putting
them into the bed wrong end TO- ana 50 Dring mem %
ont head down. In summer time he connected TINS
bed to the east window by linen thread. A sun
glass was so adjusted as 10 burn OF this thread when
the sun came 10 the right position. ,.,.
Judge GIiswold and myself roomed opposite nim
and he arranged signals by which We were often
called in to see bit of fun. in particular with ms
.Ioafer-chair" As soon as the supposed ioafer pus
real victim. leaned back, he pressed a conceaied
spring which fired old pistol directly under tne
seat rhe wonderful leaps of the victims were worth
seeing. Nor did John forget the ladies' who some.
times came TO his machines. Out OF raisih,
huge vicious-loOking black spider was made,
which was suspended as TO drop just before INC
fair visitor when she well seated In his oess
chair II was delicious TO hear them scream: Jonn
Mmr taught school near Madison one winter
where his clock bnilt his fire for him every morn
ing Il only remains 10 say thai ne nov nss .aS
renntation of knowing moro of Yosemite amy ano
the Nevada mountains than any other man hYina