Barbour County index., 1884-01-18

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A queer little old man with struggling
white locks and "a form bent almost
double by age. has been a familiar
spectacle in the public parks OF Wash
ington for several months. He has
studiously avoided announcing his
proper name on any occasion, and is
known only by the slang titles of
''nosey" and ''old man. The former
appellation was given him by the street
gamins, among whom he IS well known.
1t was doubtless suggested by his
prominent and almost beak-like Roman
nose, which is distinguishing feature
ot this otherwise human oddity. During
the summer months his lodging place
was on settees in the city park. The
chilly blasts of winter have denied him
that privilege now, and the ''old man"
is compelled to seek quarters where
Jack Frost cannot force the tempera-
tufe down to point of absolute
frissidity. He was met by reporter in
front of an uptown restaurant. A hand
full of crackers and cheese which he
muached atSrapid intervals, told the
story of his raid on some free lunch
counter.
''Yes, SIR" he said, in answer to the
reporters interrogatoryi you have not
been misinformed. NV name figures
many times in the histories of the United
States Beyond that / will not say.
Your looks tell me that you do not un-
derstand my motives for thus conceal
ing my identity. The answer is simple.
Pride--manhood. Is not that suffi-
cient?" -.
The last words were uttered in an
emotional, almost tragical manner.
They revealed, too, that the speaker
was a man of more than ordinary in
| tilligenee and learning.
''But / am not yet beggar sir; not
lyet," he continued, in q scarcely less
emotional manner, "although lam very,
very poor. The ,bootblacks and news
boys are my friends. They have not
vet forsaken Old Nosey, as have been
goOd-naturedlys ehristeped by them.
: The boys bring me customers, people
who cannot write. L write letters for
! them, Sand ,sorastimes make out bills.
| carry my tools with me- (Here he
produced 4 botue. of ink. pen, envelopes,
and note paper from an inside coat
pocket. J.. My charge for writing a
letter TTeges from ten to TWENTY-FIVE
cents. Business is never very brisk,
though, for illiterate people have very
! little correspondence. ~
The reporter here limited desire TO
know,%nere tAe-s Scribe slept. s
''WheTS dol sleep at. nightp Well. L
hardly know how to answer that ques-
ton: Ny list of lodging. places is long.
T In Railways sometimes, and in the
] .ls.,.- L Il
the summer time l slept in the parks.
- he watchmen al knew the old man
and never interfered with him.. You
don't hsow how pleasant IL was The
cool, signing breeze. glorious sunsets,
showering their baths of golden beauty
and mellow crimson through the leafy
coverlets overhead. Then the pretty
little birds, hopping about with merry
cmrps or singing sweet songs to me
I from swaying bodghs. To awake
amidst such a scene was glorious. Why,
even my morning wash at the fountain
was grand and refreshing. The air
laden with perfume from the. flowers
! ;mpregnated the very water, and made it
appear as delicate cologne emitted from
an enchanted fountain, more mystic and
heavenly than any described in the
ARABIAN Nights" But the play is over
! now. Grim winter, with icy locks and
! freezing blasts, has curtained the scene
! with murky, ashen clouds, and of all
the actors in those scenes l alone am
left, and probably never to enjoy such
beauties of nature again. This old
frame cannot stand much more. Cold
winter is relentless. Death and winter
are conspirators in common cause. To
the poor, winter is an enemy-death a
4 friend" =.
''Why do not seek lodgings at the
station houses? Because TO do that
would be to announce myself vagrant
and to mingle with tramps. I am
neither, sir, but gentleman, poor al
most tc. death door, but proud to the
very parlor of the palace"
Here he was considerably agitated,
and his long. heny forefinger inyolun-
tarily pointed toward the Capitol build
ing, as he said in a husky tone:
why, sir, was once leader in
that-but l forget. 1 must not tell
secrets now. Nv diary will reveal all,
both military and civil, and it will re-
quest that nv body be not inferred in
the Potter's Field, for l am proud even
unto death"
"Come on, Nosey," interrupted q
newsboy. "here' S. cullud man wo,
wants yer to write letter for him, an
he's goin' to pay yer in hard cash. too y
The invitation was accepted with q
pleasant Good day, sir. The old
Congressman, statesman, and General
perhaps, ambled along behind his little
friend, and turned out of sight into 3
neighboring alley.-- Washington Repub
hcart.,-, =
$4,000 Gonsi E.
7SAN-FRANcIsco, ckL.-The Chronicle
publishes in substances the following mar
vel Captain W. =. swassy, the oldest