Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-30
A HERMIT IN A HEROIC.
A Mexican Veteran and His Curious
Habitation.

Habitation.
A HOUSE on wHEELs-How HE CAME TO SELECT
HIS NOVEL ABoDE-THE STRANGE STORY OF
ADDISON N. coPEN-oNE OF THE SIGHTS OF THE
SUBURBS.
The Peggottys in their old boat-home were
never more picturesque than is the old veteran.
Addison NJ. Copen, in his antique and novel
residence. Men have retired to the solitudes
ofthe wilderness and there, lin dens and caves
of the earth, I" hid themselves from the gaze of
their fellows; some have sailed to remote isles
and there built them shelter of leaves and
branches; while here in this city one aspiring
soul fixed its habitat in the branches of a tree.
Mankind is peculiar and its tastes are very
varied, but it is doubtful whether any descend
ant of Adam ever before betook himself to a
herdic and lived in it. The old vehicle, still
mounted on its wheels, stands some thirty or
forty feet from the north side of Lincoln ave-
nue., near the northeastern boundary of Glen
wood cemetery.
DESCRIPTION OF HIS HOUSE.
The rear of the cayriage faces the roadway,
and reveals the remains of what was once
gaudy yellow exterior. The herdic was origi-
nally open at the sides, but in that condition il
was too airy for permanent habitation SO
when 1t came into the old soldiers possession
he boarded up the south side with lumber On
the north side little ''lean-to" addition has
been built The herdic is the sleeping apart
ment and the addition is the kitchen divided,
however, by an imaginary line. Here the old
gentleman receives a large number of visitors
whose curiosity compels them to leave the
roadway to examine his queer little home, and
here he chatted with a STAR reporter YESTERDAY
morning. The interior is heated very salts
factorlly by a small cooking-st and if the
general arrangement of affairs was little more
neat there would be many less desirable places
IN which to reside. few strips of matched
lumber, supported by the backs Of the herdic
seats and covered with a couple Of blankets,
make up the old veterans bed, and on that he
sleeps with a degree Of soundness that mil
honaire might envy.
THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE.
Addison NJ Copen-for that is the old gen.
tleman's name-was born about sixty-five years
ago in Wood county, Va, now a part Of West
Virginia. He comes of a good old Virginia
stock, his ancestors having distinguished them
selves In the war OF independence and in the
revolutionary struggle. "OPENS mother was
one OF the Lewis, of Greenbrier, also known
to fame in the old colonial days. An uncle Of
the old mans build Pohick church, where
Washington used to worship. The career of
the old veteran has been a most interesting
one, and is decided testimony as to the truth
fulness of the proverb, "A rolling stone gathers
NJ iuOss ne was Out little over ten wears OF
age when he ran away from home with a Ken
lucky horse-trader. Then he ran away from
the horse-trader, and before he was twelve
years old was engaged on a Mississippi steam
boat On the western and southern rivers he
was a sailor until the outbreak Of
THE MEXICAN WAR.
In this struggle he participated actively,
and when it was over he was left disabled by
disease contracted in the service. When he
la.n1. Ill. a
means of livelihood, but his effort ended in
failure. One occupation after another was
tried with varying success, but at no time
could he accumulate wealth. When the war
OF the rebellion came on it found Copen willing
to fight, but utterly unable because of the dis
ability contracted in Mexico. Instead of living
in his dismantled vehicle he might now be an
inmate of the Soldiers Home, but the strict
military regulations of that institution are too
severe for his Bohemian spirit. He has been
a temporary inmate OF the Soldiers Home at
Dayton, Ohio; Hampton, Va; and in this CITY,
but he never would consent to permanent adj
mission. The miserable pittance of Sl2 n
month is all he has to subsist upon, and how
he succeeds is marvel. A short time ago his
left hand and arm were paralyzed-a conse-
quence, he says, of the disability contracted in
Mexico-and on this ground he has applied to
the pension Office for an increase in his allow
ance. III the pension Office fails him he viii
appeal to Congress.
CLAIM A BIG ESTATE.
Copen seems to have always been upfortu-
nate. His rowing habits severed him from his
relatives, and to them he was entirely lost for
years at stretch. He said yesterday that there
were two of his sisters whom he had seen but
once in fifty years. His father was a well-to-
do Spectator in wild lands and accumulated
considerable property in oil, iron, coal. and
timber tracts some of which have since proven
to be extremely valuable. The father, how
had haar, 6aoA f,rt 80 n
olson heard of his decease. and when he went
to look for his share of the estate he found
that 1t had been gobbled up by others. He
had no money with which to make his rights
good at law. The old man still believes that if
he only had means now he would be able to
make somebody disgorge several hundred thou
sand dollars for his benefit On more than one
occasion thieves have invaded the herdic dur
ing the owners brief absence, and they sue
ceeded one night in getting away with about
trouble seems to have no effect upon him.
WHY HE LIVES IN A HEROIC.
show did you come to select herdic for Q
homer" asked the reporter.
Sup to year ago last September was living
in the city," replied the old man "Rent was
very high and my s12 was very little. I was
trying to figure out some cheaper way Of living
and happened to think of the travelling
houses that photographers live in. Then
4 BOW tukb oiu ncfuiC, anu ndudktQ. with the
help Of couple Of friends, TO buy il and roll il
out here. It's comfortable and warm, and
manage to get along somehow. Several times
I've been promised place as a watchman in
one. OF the departments, but il never came.
Maybe III get something under the next ad-
ministration. My family fought to establish
this country, to perpetuate its existence and to
increase its territory, and think the govern
ment might give me small place."
At Amesbury, Mass, Mrs. Mary Dareenton.
who was shot in the neck by her husband. Jules
Dargenton, died Wednesday night
The case Of Eva Parker against the Rev. Mr..
of illegitimate parentage was
stricken on the docket in Chicago "Wednesday
afternoon, Judge Jameson refusing 10 grant q
continuance.
President Diaz on Wednesday received the
members Of the Press association of the United
States who are visiting the city of Mexico. The
president made an address Of welcome 10 his
guests.
Mr.. Edward Valentine, the noted Virginia
sculptor, ls now engaged on q model for .
bronze Btatne of heroic size Of Gen. Thomas J.
jackson, TO be erected 1t Lexington over his
grave by the jackson memorial association.
At Wilkesbarre, Pa, two horses were killed
Wednesday by an electric street-car wire drop
ping on them The driver was rendered un-
Two gangs Of Russian and italian minsrs,
between whom there has existed bitter feud
for months, met in the streets Of Mount Oar.
mel Pa, Wednesday, and . bloody riot fs1.
loved Several men were stabbed. thrso