St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-02-09
COVINGTON, ST. TAMMANY PARISH, FEBRUARY 9,
A Bequest Of Bones.

"A OcqueSC u BOneSs
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 q
prosperous publisher according to all
accounts. When the war broke out he
was sent to England as a 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 ad-
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 a few futile struggles to re-
trieve his fallen fortunes. and, drifting
to Louisville. he sought precarious
living by selling newspapers. Finally,
falling sick, he was taken to the aims
house, and there received pitying 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 he has decorated with prints
of all kinds, and it contains all his re-
treasures, consisting of num-
ber of war relics, memoranda, letters,
references, photographs,
manuscript..addresses, essays and poems
for Eli is fruitful rhymer, quaint
medley of souvenirs of his long and
checkered 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-
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 of
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 of
cadavers by the students tha: his soul
was fired with the idea of contributing
his own frame to medical science after
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 a document written in blue ink,
duly signed and attested, purporting to
be a last will.
The paper reads as follows, and is
full of pathetic interest:
..This is to certify that I, Eli Adams,
formerly bookseller. latterly peddler,
having my memory and faculties all
right, but failing gradually in health,
and feeling that l am liable to sudden
death, make this my last and only re-
quest and wish my mortal remains and
all that / am possessed of:
II. ! 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 1t apart by
dissection preserving my skeleton entire), for
he benefit of himself or of any medical col.
ege he may be connected with: preferring
that he will retain my skeleton himself.
~ do this in the belief that my mortal body.
20 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. 1 also give
him my two books of poetical essays, printed
and in manuscript; also my private papers OF
Ill kinds, including letters. Journals. memo
% aes or the i iate war. efc.. d and % my photosraphs
md any curiosities may die possessed OF: !
'equest him to send q copy of this. my last
No. 43l Chestnut street, Philadelphia; also 70
insert once short notice of my death in The
commercial Sunday issuel, Of Louisville, and
o examine my papers, manuscripts, ETC., and
o dispose of them as he pleases.
~. II die in the city almshouse where I
i'm at presently respectfully request the su-
to have my body washed, a clean |
hirt and socks put on and wrapped in my |
,lue-gray blanket. with red and yellow stripes |
It its ends: and cause nv body, SO inclOsed, |
o be delivered to the order of DIR. in |
accordance with the directions given pre- |
-iously. Also, that all Of my private papers |
the original manuscript Of THE |
Snow" and the popular story Of |
Cousin Sally Dillard," whose author j am,) |
II my journals, letters. etc. be put in one Of |
ny boxes and sent with my body. |
II also give my clothing to Mrs. -,
lurse: to be distributed to some of the blind |
nd crippled inmates Of the almshouse, white |
II cOlored: and If she should not be a nurse at |
he time Of my death. nor an employe of the |
lmshouse, then said clothing to be distributed |
y the matron, whoever she may be: always |
that want the most needy to |
ave them. If do not die in the almshouse, |
)r. - is to dispose of my clothing, etc. The |
oOks, magazines and newspapers were given |
D me for the use and benefit of the pauper |
inmates, and should be given to them. The |
ictures on the walls of my room are included, |
xcepting the colored engravings. which are |
ly property, and are to be equally distributed !
y lot to DIR. -, Mrs. -, and Mrs
ITO all Of which subscribe my hand.
ELI ADAMS"
Witness: Theo. Davis |
Louisville Commercial