The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-01-25
A Beuuest Of Bones.

Eli Adams is one of the numerous
we1l-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
privileged inmate for two years past, on
mission for books, phamphlets and
newspapers to be added to the eircu-
lating library of that institution; he
having recently been appointed its
librarian.
Eli claims to have been 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 a commissioner
Ito 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-
Itrieve his fallen fortunes, and, drifting
ito Louisville, he sought 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
"a prominent physician of the city, who
lis now connected with the staff of the
louisville Medical College, who made
much of the old man, not only for what
The had been, but for the pure character
Ihe 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 he has decorated with prints
of all kinds, and it contains all his re-
manning treasures, consisting of num-
Der of war relics, memoranda, letters,
newspaper references, photographs,
manuscriptladdress essays and poems
for Eli is fruitful rhymer, quaint
medley of souvenirs of his long and
icheckered life.
To add to this selection is the only
gentle mania which gives pleasure to
his last days, and prevents his mind
from literally rusting out through mo-
lnotony.
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 of
the Louisville Medical College. He
went out of curiosity, and was so filed
with admiration at what he saw of the
patient toll and reverent treatment of
icadavers by the students that his soul
was fired with the idea of contributing
his own frame to medical science after
death, and expressed q determination
ito 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 to
be last will.
The paper reads as follows, and is
full of pathetic interest:
''This is to certify that |, Eli Adams,
formerly bookseller, latterly peddler,
having nsy memory and faculties all
right, but failing gradually in health,
and feeling that am liable to sudden
death, make this my last and only re-
quest and wish my mortal remains and
all that l am possessed of:
Il. give and bequeath my body to DIR.
-, of the city of louisville, KY, immedi-
,ately after death, for him TO use as he thinks
best; with full permission to take it apart by
dissection preserving my skeleton entirel, for
the benefit of himself or of any medical col
lege he may be connected with; preferring
that he win retain my skeleton himself:
81 do this in the belief that my mortal body,
so disposed of, will be of more benefit to the
living than to be buried to corrupt in the
ground, or to be burned to ashes. l also give
him my two books of poetical essays, printed
and in manuscript; also my private papers Of
all kinds, including letters, Journals, memo
randa, manuscript, poems essays, memen-
toes of the late war, ETC., and my photographs
and any curiosties / may die possessed Of l
request him to send copy of this, my last
will, to my only brother, Charles Adams, Of
No. 43l Chestnut street, Philadelphia; also to
insert once short notice of my death in The
Commercial Sunday issue, of Louisville, and
to examine my papers, manuscripts, ETC., and
to dispose of them as he pleases.
''2. If die in the city almshouse (where l
am at presently respectfully request the SUI
perintendent to have my body washed, clean
shirt and socks put on and wrapped in my
blue-gray blanket with red and yellow stripes
at it's ends; and cause my body, so inclosed,
to be delivered to the order of DR.. - -, in
viously. Also, that all of my private papers
Including the original manuscript of 1.-THE
Beautiful Snow" and the popular story of
"Cousin Sally Dillard,' whose author / am)
all my journals, letters, etc, be put in one of
my boxes and sent with my body.
II also give my clothing to Mrs. -,
nurse: to be distributed to some of the blind
and crippled inmates of the almshouse, white
or colored; and if she should not be nurse at
the time of my death, nor an employee of the
almshouse, then said clothing to be distributed
by the matron, whoever she may be; always
remembering that want the most needy to
have them. If do not die in the almshouse,
DR.. - is to dispose of my clothing, etc. The
books, magazines and newspapers were given
to me for the use and benefit of the pauper
inmates and should be given to them. The
pictures on the walls of my room are included,
excepting the colored engravings, which are
my property, and are to be equally distributed
BY lot to DR.. =, Mrs. -, and Mrs. -.
ITO all of which subscribe my hand.
"ELI ADAMS"
Witness: Theo. Davis.
Louisville Commercial