The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-26
A BeQuest OF Bones,

Eli Adams is one OF the numerous
well-known characters in Louisville,
who have seen better times, socially,
politically and financially. The old
man, now verging upon the seventies,
makes periodical visits to the city from
the alms-house, where he has been q
privileged inmate for two years past, on
a mission for books, phamphlets and
newspapers to be added to the circu-
lating library of that institution; he
having recently been appointed its
librarian.
Eli claims to have been a wealthy
man in ante-belium days and was a
prosperous publisher according to all
accounts. When the war broke out he
was sent to England as commissioner
to plead the cause of the Confederacy
before the people of England, and has
newspaper cuttings in his possession to
show that he made number of adj
dresses in that country in behalf of the
cause in which he had embarked The
close of hostilities beggared him with
thousands Of others, and with his
worldly wealth went his ambition and
courage to grapple with adversely. He
sank lower and lower still in the social
scale, after few futile struggles to re-
trieve his fallen fortunes, and, drifting
to Louisville, he sought a precarious
living by selling newspapers. Finally,
falling sick, he was taken to the aims
house, and there received plying care
from a number of charitable ladies and
prominent physician of the city, who
is now connected with the staff of the
Louisville Medical College, who made
much of the old man, not only for what
he had been, but for the pure character
he had maintained, despite his down
fall in the world.
Recovering under these kind auspices,
he began to peddle stationery and pen
ellis about the streets, always returning
at the close of each day to the hospita-
BILE shelter of the almshouse, where he
was permanently assigned to room.
This room ehas decorated with prints
of all kinds, aud it contains all his re-
naming treasures, consisting of num-
Der of war relics, memoranda, letters,
newspaper references, photographs,
manuscript addresses, essays and poems
for Eli is a fruitful rhymer, a quaint
medley of souvenirs of his long and
checkered life.
TO add to this selection is the only
gentle mania which gives pleasure tC
his last days, and prevents his minC
from literally rusting out through mo
notony
A short time after he began this new
business he was invited by the physician
who had attended him in his former
sickness to visit the dissecting- room o
the Louisville Medical College. He
went out of curiosity, and was SO filled
with admiration at what he saw of The
patient toll and reverent treatment o
cadavers by the students that his sou
was fired with the idea of contributing
his own frame to medical science aftel
death, and expressed determination
to leave it to his medical friend, whose
| skill had restored him to health.
A few days ago he presented the doc
| tor with document written in blue ink
duly signed and attested, purporting t.
be a last will
The paper reads as follows, ana l.
full of pathetic interest:
This is to certify that |. Eli Adams
formerly bookseller, iatterly peddler
having my memory and faculties al
right, but falling gradually in health
and feeling that l am liable to suddel
death, make this my last and only re
quest and wish my mortal remains ant
all that | am possessed of:
u. give and bequeath my body to d.
| -, of the city of Louisville. KY, immed
| ately after death, for him to use as he think
| best; with full permission to take 1t apart b
| dissection preserving my skeleton entlre), 10
| the benefit of himself or of any medical co
lege he may be connected with; preferrln
that ne will retain my skeleton himSeH.
Il do this in the belief that my mortal BOO.
so disposed of, will be of more benefit to tn
| living than to be buried to corrupt III I'll
ground, or TO be burned to ashes. | also Civ
him my two books of poetical essays, printe
| and i'll manuscript; also my private papers {
all kinds, including letters, Journals, memo
randa. manuscript poems essays, memel
toes of the late war, etc, and my photograph
| and any curiOsities may die possessed of.
| request him TO send copy of this, my la
| viii, to my only brother. Charles Adams, {
| No 43l Chestnut street, Philadelphia; also
| insert once short notice of my death in III
| Commercial Sunday issuel, OF Louisville al
| to examine my papers, manuscripts ETC., al
| to dispose of them as he pleaSeS.
49, If die in the city almshOuse (where
am at present. respectfully request the 81
perintendent TO have my body washed, a cea
; Shirt and socks put on and wrapped in III
I blue-gray blanket with red and yellow stripe
at its ends; and cause my body, SO inclOse
to be delivered to the order Of DR. - -,
, accordance with the directions given pr
: viousiy. Also, that all of my private pane,
/ | Including the original manuscript of I'll
Beautiful Snow" and the popular story
cousin Sally Dillard," whose author l an
| all my journals, letters, etc, be put in one
my boxes and sent with my body.
Il also give my clothing to Mrs.
nurse; TO be distributed TO some OF the bin
and crippled inmates of the almshOuse, viii
or colored: and if she should not be a nurse
the time of my death, nor an emplOye of Il
almShOuse, then said clothing to be distribute
n by the matrOn whoever she may be; alwa.
remembering that ! want the most needy
have them. If do not die In the almshOus
DR.. - is to dispose of my clothing, etc. I'll
| books, magazines and newspapers were give
| to me for the use and benefit of the paup
inmates, and should be given to them. III
| pictures on the walls of my room are include
| excepting the colored engravinrs, which Il
| my property, and are to be equally distribute
| by lot to DIR. -, Mrs. -, and Mrs. -.
40 all of which subscribe my hand.
ELI ADAMS"
|