The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-03-15
A Home without Women.

" NN~-
Five miles south Of Huntingdon,
Penna., on the banks of the Raystown,
branch, a graceful stream which courses
through the most beautiful and pictur-
esque scenery to be found anywhere In
this State, lives family named Hawn,
consisting Of three elderly brothers, one
of whom has been maniac from his
youth. The united ages of these bro
there aggregate 243 years, and by in
dustry and the strictest economy they
have amassed a very large fortune, the
greater portion of which is popularity
believed to be secreted on the premises.
Several well-arranged but unsuccessful
attempts have been made in recent
years TO rob the brothers of their hard.
earned wealth, the latest attempt being
made about two years since by three un-
knownmenw who, after entering the house
ostensibly to procure food, brutally as
saulted the defenceless inmates and in
stituted a vigorous but Intellectual
search for the coveted treasure. Sin
gularly misanthropic, these brothers
have, from their youth up, strenuously
objected to any one of their number
marrying. One Of them, however,
Michael Hawn, regardless of his bro.
theirs restrictions to matrimonial felic-
ity, married wife, and as conse-
quence was disowned and driven away.
He took up his abode a few miles from
his brothers, and while the latter were
rapidly accommodating wealth managed
to gain an Uncertain livelihood for a
time, and finally died in abject poverty.
The Hawn brothers have been favor
ably known for many years as honest,
respectable farmers. And probably no
other men can be found in this country
who have performed as much manual
labor. Asan instance of their frugality
t might be mentioned that in clearing
land or telling heavy timber they would
assume kneeling position and cut the
trees level with the ground. Their
work was always so well arranged that
each one knew just what was required
Of him. Until recent years the culinary
and other domestic household duties
were performed in turn by the brothers
their dislike for the opposite sex being
so great that for fifty years no woman
was ever known to enter the house.
Finally, however, owing to their de-
clining years, they were compelled to
renounce their edict against the en-
ployment of female help, ana reluctant
ly engaged housekeeper. An hours
drive over pleasant, undulating country
roads brings one to the home of these
brothers, situated in charming, fertile
valley, shaded by lofty mountains on
either side. The large, commedious
frame house, sadly in need of repairs
strikingly resembles the inn of fifty
years ago. A knock at the door brings
. to view a neatly dressed, comely woman
Of certain, or to borrow Byron's ex
} preston, uncertain" age, whose kindly
, "come in" betrays her German parent.
age. On entering the visitor is at once
! impressed with the air of impenetrabls
mystery which pervades the premises
and which the occupants but imper,
fectly endeavor to conceal The sur
roundings indicate the very commonest
mode of living, and out of all proper.
tion to the luxuries and even comforts
of life that could well be afforded.
Carpetless, though brightly secured
floors, unadorned walls and the plainest
, furniture greet the eye at every turn
Yet accessible as the house is to the
visitor there is one apartment in II
barred against all comers; and this is .
modern exemplihcation of the mythical
"Blue Boards closet"
The room or cell contains the oldest
maniac living in Pennsylvania to. day
Daniel Hawn, the youngest Of the
Hawn brothers, who is now eighty-foui
years old, has existed in this hovel fol
: sixty-three years. His room contain,
not single piece of furniture, for this
he would destroy. Behind the chimney
place, and in the furthest corner, ht
sits year after year. His face is framed
In flowing silvery beard, and the
play { muscles as he wrenches anG
tugs at the chains that secure his per
son shows his great physical power. Ht
: is securely bound to the floor by linked
chains which encircle his waist, and
at times manifests great violence. Ht
lives in total darkness. There wai
once small window in his apartment
but this was purposely darkened witt
boards some years ago to prevent car
penters, who were at WORK on the build
ing, from peering into his gloomy dun
geon. During the winter months he II
protected against the cold by a stove
encased in the partition so that the
fire can be attended to without entering
his room.
The cause of his incurable mania Is
attributed to his having, when a boy
drank freely of cold water while over
heated in the harvest field, whereupon
he took chill and at once became Q
raving maniac. His condition is ex
tremely touching and pitiful. Secluded
from the sight of man and deprived Of
pure air, sunlight and the necessary at,
tention his case requires, this unfortun.
ate human being Is left to grovel in his
dungeon when, by the expenditure of a
small percentage of the boarded wealth
of his more fortunate brothers, he
could be properly cared for and pro.
tected.
stories OF the Frontier.
The following incidents are given
from the life of the late David d. Col