The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-02-21
A Request Of Bones.

Ell 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 a
privileged inmate for two years past, on
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 -belium days and was
prosperous publisher according to all
accounts. When the war broke out he
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 adversity. 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 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. nn a 7o s4a.s
Recovering under these kind auspices,
he began to peddle stationery and pen
ellis about the Streets, salwaysreturning
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-
naming treasures, consistingof NUM-
| ber of war relics, memoranda, letters,
newspaper references, photographs,
manuscript addresses, essays and poems
for Eli is fruitful Ehymer, a aquaint
medley of souvenirs of his long and
checkered life. e ars
r. 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. ~ r. - @7!t ls''35si'i Es.t ssi
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 disseeting- g-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
cadavers by the students that his soul
was fred 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 document written in blue ink,
! duly signed and attested, purporting to
be a last will ssH a4s4 fHi#5ssslst'53 ~
The paper reads as. follows, and j.
full of pathetic interest:
This is to certify that I, Eli Adams,
formerly bookseller. Iatterly peddlers
having aay memory and faculties, all
right, but falling gradually in health.
and feeling that i am liable to sudden
death, make this my last and only re-
quest and wish my mortal remains and
all that / am possessed of; 5B I538tses
Il. give and beaueath ny body 70 DE.
| =, of the city of Louisville. KY, immedi-
/ atelysafter death, for him to use as he thinks
best; with full permission to take it apart by
dissection tpreser wing my skeleton entlre), for
/ the benefit of himself or of any medical col
| lege he may be connected With; preferrlng
/ that he win retain my skeleton Himself.
II do this in the belief that my mortal body
| SO disposed of, will be of more beneht 70 the
i living than to be buried to corrupt in the
| ground, or to be burned to ashes. / also gife
/ him my two books of poetical essays, printed
and in manusoripts also my private papers OF
all kinds, including letters, journals, memo
randa, manuscript poems, essays, momeu-
toes of the late war, etc, and my photographs
and any cnriosities may die possessed Of
request him to send copy or thls, my ias'
will, TO my only brother. Charles Adams, q
No. 431 Chestnut street, Philadelphia; also tt
insert once short notice of my. death in IN
Commercial Sunday issue, ct LOUISVILLE, m ans
to examine my papers, manuscripts etc, ario
to dispose of them as he pleases.
t2. If die in the city almshOuse (where
am at present) respectfully request the su
perintendent to have my body washed, clear
shirt and socks put on and wrapped IN my
bIue-gray blanket. with red and yellow stripes
at its ends; and cause my body, SO 1nelosed
4 to be delivered to the order OF Dr. -, II
accordance with the directions given pre-
viously. Also that all of my private paper
(ineluding the original manuscript of ''Th
Beautiful Snow and the popular story o
t'Cousin. Sally Dillard,' whose author j am,
all my Journals, letters, etc, be put in one o
my boxes and sent with my body. III
1sH''I also give my clothing to Mrs - -
nurse: to be distributed to some of the blin'
and crippled inmates of the alnshouse, whit
or co1ored; and if she should not be nurse a
the time of my death, neF an empl0ye OF Ia
almshouse then said clothing to be Distribute
by the matron, whoever she may be; AWAY
remembering that want the most needy t
have them. If do net die in the almshousk
DIR. - is to dispose Of my clothing, etc IN
books, magazines and newspapers were give
to me for the usesand benefit Of the paupe
| inmates, and should be given to them. Th
pictures on hewalIs of my room areineiaidee
excepting the colored engrayipgs, which ar
Il my property, and are TO be equally distribute
by lot to DIR. -=--7, Mrs. r., ami Mrs ----. Il
IL ITO all of which 1 subscribe my hand.
Bsf IL Ek 'fELI .ADAMs.s'
Witness: Theo. Davis. sn 4ssgT#k III
IT -LouisutlIe. Commercial.
The United States boasts the onl
poisonous lizard, the Hefodernna,
- xwkiah SxYn q rnaautlW esxhIh h