Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-14

pearance, Her Modest Hens and Cow
of spotIess ToiIet-what Drove Her
to Solitude.
Boston Globe.
Miss Nancy Luce is a resident of Tjs-
bury, on the island Of Martha's VINEYARD
The house in which she was born her
parents occupied, and since their death
Nancy has livedin II alone. tits situated
about three-quarters of a mile from the
village Of West Tisbury, and is fianked
on either side by grove of oak trees.
Nancy Is regarded as a natural curiosity.
and one OF the first trips the visitor to the
Vineyard undertakes is a visit to her
hermitage. In her early youth she was a
peculiar child, it is said, and was looked
upon by the neighbors as a sort of
natural" AS she grew to womanhood.
her only companions were pet mamie
goat and her horse, a wild creature whom
she alone had ridden. Her equestrian
performances were remarkable for the
daring and skill they displayed, and are
even now well remembered
When young woman, Nancy suddenly
shut herself up in her room, and refused
to see even her parents for long time.
Different causes were assigned for this
act. Some say that Nancy had a lover.
whose rame was also Luce. Archie was
sailor, and, owing to some lovers ouar-
rel, he departed suddenly on a long vow
age without bidding Nancy farewell. His
ship was never sighted after she left port
on dark, cloudy morning. Months after
she had gone, narrow slip Of board with
gilt holdings and letters was washed
ashore on the west side of the island
where some one found it, and deciphered
the word 'tArethusa." 1t was the name
Of Archie Luce's shipl They carried 1t to
Nancy.
Then about this time her goat died and
tnis latter bereavement greatly added to
her grief. This attachment in itself was
not curious, but the effect of the goats
death upon her was a great surprise to
the village folk. While her parents lived
she declined TO see any one for a lone
time; but after their death she was Of
necessity forced to have more or less TO
40 with the outside world, and gradually
became accustomed to receiving visits
1t is now thIrty-fiYe or forty wears since
their death, and she has resOlutely refused
TO allow any one to share her home with
her, Its only other inmates being a cow
and few hens. These occupy several
rooms Of the mansion, a porch. and a
quadrangle adjoining. Her princinal
occupation is caring for these hens and
the COW, which supply her chief support.
reports Of her eccentricity drew MANY
visitors, and il is a faYorite rendezvous
islanders as well.
whether she is as crazy as she seems
now IS doubtful, as she certainly exhibits
q general method of procedure, and TO a
degree which sends some of her visitors
away with the idea that she is not a MIC
turesque lunatic at all. OF course Nancy
mas been more or less advertised. One cir
cumstance in particular which has aided
ner In this direction is the fact that Luce
there have been several Nancvs' So
tnat several times the death of Nancy
Luce, "the only and original" etc, has
been reported, with more or less of her
history added. The story, of course.
is denied to some extent, and altogether
adds considerably to her notoriety.
her strong points are hens and religion.
and on these subjects she exhibits a
raIiohaI reasoning and consistent ex-
perlence. Her religious DEVELOPMENT is
something which is marked Character
lstlc OF many others in her peculiar con-
dltlon, but her erudition in the other is
unprecedented in gallinary annals, Her
reverence and attachment for her fowls is
certainly the most remarkable other thou-
sand oddities. At the graves of three of
ghe most priced of her favorites are placed
neadstones. with inscriptions thereon.
OrigihalE Yes. Nancy is an authOress,
ana mas published book containing her
recipes tor the treatment of hens diseases
the epitaphs above mentioned, some re,
hglous poetry" and a clever phara-
phrase Of the golden rule.
ohe occupies two rooms of her house.
ner cow third, and her hens the fourth
and the cellar. These "dumb creatures ;,
as she calls them, are her special nets and
irlends. The apartment allotted to the
mems as a sleeping room is fitted with
Duhks with curtains drawn in front. Still
another room is allotted to the hens for
laying. This is provided with barrels
filled with hay for the purpose. The cows
apartment is provided with a bed of
husks across one side of the room. sepa-
rated from the remainder of the room by
cleat nailed to the floor. Perbaps the
reader may imagine that the house does
not look neat in consequence of this inno-
walton upon the usual customs. Not so.
however. Even the floor of the cows
apartment is as white as if Just scrubbed.
The apartments of the hens, also. are
exceedingly neat, showing great
care. These hens are her friends
and have all been named by their owner
Inc Following are some of the names. as
published in her book of''POems:v EsTeed-
Ola Toonna," "Phebea Peadeo," "Lebottie
Ilcktuzy," "Pheendy Tuttaly," "Jafy
Metreatle," 'ShanggO-reamy Meleany,''
etc. These number eighteen. Several
years ago two of these pets died, after a
lingering illness. These were named
Ada Queetie" and Beauty I.irma."
They were quite aged, and on their de-
cease she wrote quite lengthy obituary.
bewailing their untimely death. This was
written in "poetry'' and published in
pamphlet form, copies Of which she keeps
Tor sale. Here is the opening stanza:
Poor little Ada Queetie has departed this life,
Never to be here no more,
No more to love, no more to sneak.
No more to be my friend:
y! how | long TO see her with me live and
Her heart and mine was united.
Love and feelings deeply rooted for each
other.
She and 1 could never part.
am left broken hearted.
Her enforced isolation has nearly caused
her death on several occasions, FIRE.
quently during the winter months she is
utterly alone for weeks at a time, although
she has neighbOrs within one hundred
yards, and has nearly persisted for want
of fuel or food.
Although at all times of the year she is
liable to receive visitors, there are certain
occasions when they are almost certain
TO come. From July until October she
receives large number of visitors.
The visitor to her little house will be
astonished at first sight of the queer
looking individual who is the subject of
this sketch. Imagine the realization of
Carconte, who glares forth from the pages
OF Dumas "Monte Cristo,' and you have
her. Personity to your sinner sight'' che
uncanny weirdness of the witches who do
duty in ''Macbeth," and behold her. A
well known litterateur said on seeing her:
"She is Walter ScOtt's Meg Merrilles
without her strength You tap at the
door, and she comes to the window. If
some one is with you whom she recognizes
as friend you are admitted before the
first emotion has died away. If entirely
unknown your admittance is more taIdy.
If, after the first feeling of reverent ad-
miratiOn has died away, the visitor de-
sires to laugh, he is met with a sharp re-
buke from Nancy for ''laffin' at one of
Gods pure creeturs."
The small, square room in which he
hnds himself has two or three small Win
dows, but is very dark, and the ceiling is
low. Around the room is a row of chairs,
placed back against the wall, and very
close together. The walls are hung with
pictures, which are for the most part
Illustrations from magazines, and nearly
all represent hOrses-a sign of her early
equestrian tastes-and the others are all
of hens. Two or three of Nancy's works
Lao. .n,1nns Il =