Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-22
The EyiCfed Hermit.
TALK WITH BIRCH, THE RECLUsg-HE DOES NO
WANT Any MnRR ..HERMIr NnSSENSEr

A TALK WITH BIRCH, The RECLUsg-HE DOES NOT
WANT ANY MORE "HERMIT NONSENSE
As stated in THE STAR OF yesterday writ Of as
sistance granted In the case OF Smith agt Birch to
enable the purchaser MARY Rocco to take posses
sion OF the property on street 10th, adjoin-
Ing Speares undertaking establishment, was
executed yesterday afternoon by Deputy Marshal
Gass- Sergeant Boyle and Officers Jones and
Fisher We're present. and It required vigorous
efforts 10 Keep back the crowd. attracted by curl
osity. in order that the deputy marshal and his
assistants could proceed with their work. The
fence. behind which IN old times neat frame
house stood sixty wears ago, having been pulled
down. there disclosed perfect wreck or a
building, bit no one seemed to know whPn It had
become wreck The small back building was,
however inhahitable. and here was found Johnny
Birch and his sister Susan. the former OF whom mad
not. IL Is said been of the premises for forty years
When the InarShal'S men proceeded to set the ef-
fCctS or both made their appearance the latter
crying Gad sobblng she witnessed the scene.
The former appeared somewhat stoical. At the
suggestion of some nf their friends they retired
to the Kitchen while the work OF removal
proceeded.
RIRCE'S HABITATION.
In this room 2 cot. a stove with fire in It.
and Heterogeneous mass OF old furniture, Including
some musical Instruments. banloes accOrdeons.
&r- When representative Of THE STAR called,
about iorr O'Clock, and made his way TO the kitchen.
Mr.. Birch was found ste nding near a window. For a
man ~ upwards Of sixty wears he looked remark
ably well. and appeared TO be not over thirty or
thirty-ive. His hair was black and his whiskers
dyed.
NO MORE ''HERMrT NONSENSE"
He ut once recognized the reporter as an old ac-
Qraint2ncc. asked about his family, and then re-
marked, ~ don't want any moro of that ID odd
EerIGi; nonsense. I am not n hermit, only attend
10 my business. and because don't NEEDLE With
tie business OF others they call NE hermit"
The sister at this time was crying. and some OF
the negntOrs Were engaged in trying to soOthe her.
and finally succeeded IN getting her to take some
nollrtShmrDt h,r. Birch being asked ''WLat are
yon going 20 doc" answered. 81 don't know. but we
would Ike 10 eat our breakfast iii the Oh room"
"iea, You mean.' suggested the reporter.
''NO.'' said Mr. Birch, ''we have had no break
fast vet. We eat when we feel like it. guess
when we get IN our graves we viii then he al on
level. There must he 4 hereafter for some people,
such as We know. They Will never get their dues
TIL they get 10 he'll"
The reporter asked If there would not be some
money for Them and he answered:
''Don't talk about such a tre; It has to be
divided between seven Of US ! ain not thinking OF
the money. but OF my custom. tiy patrons have
been coming here over forty years and will never
md Lac II | IaOvc.'
MIXING THEFT. WILLS.
Noticing that Miss Bircn was signing a paper,
the reporter asked ''What is she dOing?" Mr..
Birch loosely answered. '.Oh, we are Just making
oar wills again: we have so much TO give away, and
that Is the Way we occupy our time" The reporter
then took his leave. During the day. Mr. Birch
recognized MeSSrS- ". Ii. Clagett, James l.. Bar
bOul. John T. Given. and Aquia X. Allen and
others whom he had not seen for thirty years.
About o'clock, the brother and sister accepted an
invitation TO take lodgings 10th street, between
+ and q.