The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-03-07
wiLLFuL.Y DUMB.
Over Twenty Years in an Aimshouse and
Speaking but Twice.


Speaking hut Twice.
In that very unromatic spot, the Port
land poor-house, there is man who
may be of the blood of the pair described
by Scott:
There is man in Dryburg bower
Ne'er looks upon the sun;
There is a monk in Melrose tower,
He speaketh word to none
OF this strange man the Portland
directory for the years 1852 gave the
following name and description: ''John
L. Attchison, no 1S4 Middle Street,
boards at the Elm House." At that
time he was in the dry goods line, in
company with his brother. He was
young man of great promise, "quick
and successful in business" as one de-
scribed him; and was also fine scholar,
passionately fond of reading, and
great book-collector. He never mar
ried or set up an establishment of his
own. but had some rooms at the Elm
House, where he was favorite boarder.
Life seemed to be bright and full of
promise, when, suddenly, there came
great change The keen man of busi-
ness abandoned his store, the student
neglected his books, and the favorite of
the social circle declined all invitations
and refused himself TO all friends.
He retained his rooms at the Elm
house, but made a complete change in
all his habits, remaining in his room all
the time, stunning the sun and fresh air,
and after little time refusing to speak
For time he made his appearance at
the table twice day, taking his .ce,, !.
toned seat. Then he seemed IA ma
even that limited contact. with the
world unpleasant. He could then 90
down 10 tne .ap,e' -aake selection Of
the article OF 100 that struck his fancy,
ana return 18th Il to his room. His
1riends !" ed to reason with him, but in
VAN. tie refused to talk, and at last he
VS. abandoned to his fate. He re-
manned at the Elm house until his prop.
erty was all gone, and then his friends
sent for the overseers of the poor, and
gave him into their charge. 1t was
hoped even at that late hour his pride
might be aroused and he be led to re-
turn to active life, but he did not make
the slightest objection to being removed
to the poor-hOuse. He was told thai
his valuable collection of books would
be sold, but he declined even to talk
about the matter. He was taken TO the
poor-farm, and was told to go up to
work. He had made no objection tc
being taken to the poor-house. He had
exchanged his elegant suite of rooms fol
the one room of pauper, but he felt
compelled to draw the line somewhere
and so made the longest speech he had
been known to make for years:
II swear wont work"
time more than twenty years have
passed and he has remained an inmate
of the poor-housc, but he has never
ilabored in the least, nor, SO far as i:
known, has the sun ever touched him
He is now an old man of sixty-four,
very neat in his appearance, clean
shaved, erect, with fine, intelligent
face, an eye that is still bright, and 8
step quick and vigorous. In twenty
years his only exercise has been his visi
three times day TO the dining-room
where he takes his food and then re
turns to his room, and visit once {
week to the wash-room to obtain clear
garments He looks after his room
allows no one to enter it, has never beer
sick, aud. so far as known. has held M
communication with the rest of thu
world, except on two occasions. One.
he confessed trifling fault, and once
in reply to the request of an officer o
the institution to be allowed to enter hi.
room, he said Il am engaged, sir. '
He never reads and seems to have fo-.
gotten world that has forgotten him
Tho cause that led to this great ant
sudden change in his habits will prob.
ably never be known, and he will carry
the secret with him to his grave. TIL.
world has moved on, while he seems t.
have staid behind. His mind is appar
emily clear, and he is to all appearance.
simply q retired business man. He has
house that he is almost forgotten, and
it would probably be impossible at thi:
late day to discover the reason. disap
pointment in love, or whatever it might
have been, that led him to his present
course of life.
What strange bits of life histories W,
sometimes find in the strangest places
Long years ago there was found at tn,
gate of the same Portland poor-house 9
stricken and helpless man. HE was
little bit of an Irishman, good littl,
soul" said one of his friends: '.for, poo
fellow! he made many friends. He wa
contented and apparently happy, blu
could never be brought to tell where h,
came from. He didn't belong here ant
had seen better days, but Portland CAV,
him home, and, recently, grave. HI
belonged somewhere, and probably lief
his home when. he found himself be
coming helpless, and wandered here {,
die after some years of restful life.-
Portland Me- Cor. Boston Globe.