The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-01-07
Written for The ArkdnSdw IrdUeler.
 THE LATE DR. PICPUS.
BY LEON ROBERT.

| hCIC bLC SOAuC obA AhAhS NAA0h on this worlds stage so temptingly interesting that we inevitably make them our especial study. Some are thrust to the public gaze in all the pomp and array of wealth and power; some mingle with the throng, and therein lose their personality; some are of the people, with the people, and yet above the people; others retire to the secluded and obscure paths, and like the glow-worm journeying through the night, are occasionally resplendent or all darkness.
 The eccentric parsonage of the pres- ent sketch possessed such striking pe- culiaritics and mannerisms, his life was such moral, and his sayings, his actions and his deeds taught so many lesson that he cannot be forgotten by those who knew him. Of his charac- teristics we shall soon learn, and prob- ably be able to dissect him so mi nutely as to know him better than he knew himself.
 Rev. Jonathan Picpus was a man of diminutive stature and delicate con- stitution, of a nervous temperament, quiet disposition and steady habits. Though peaceably disposed, yet like most nervous people, he could be easily provoked and be irrascible, and even fiery.
 His limbs had reached the very acme of cancellation. The long, atten- uated arms resembled oscillating pen dulums that swung two immense sun dials, the skeleton fingers of which represented the scintillating rays and the right index of these rays was like the lightning, terrible as it shook. Some one remarked it ever itched to threaten at ones face, to advance an idea or affirm an assertion. His legs were very short, thin and ungainly, and being bow legged, they had as- sumed the shape of an awkward tri- angle, resting on heavy parallel feet, which, though large and ludicrous in all their movements, yet possessed of remarkable degree of suppleness and agility. Even his chest partook of that fragile build, being narrow, fiat and somewhat concave.
 Yet this weak foundation supported d ANttt VI cuSI CtlOL lIlOu5 blLC tIlut, were it to be seen at a window, one would suppose it belonged to giant The very summit was much like de- cayed forest where stood the ravages only of remorseless Time; but the outskirts were rather thickly wooded. The coarse physiognomy was not un- like rough landscape, the abruptness here and there indicating the many hillocks, and the wrinkles the many streams converging to crystal lakes (the eyes) so clear and luminous, so round and large. To complete this "headograph," we must not omit the colorless and hollow cheeks, the large forehead, the pointed chin. the broad mouth, the thick lips, the long ears and the rounded nose.
 Though his features were homely, yet they were marked by honest lines; though delicate, yet he pos sessed the strength of courage, as his pugnacity could we'll testify; though of a sallow complexion, yet he was far from being sickly; though he looked severe, yet he had a touch of kindness; and, though his military strides seemed heavy with pride, yet he was never naughty nor arrogant. He was homely, but he held that @those masculine beauties are all rogues;" he was delicate, but he con- tended that "bravery and agility were more formidable than strength ;" he walked stifly, but he was not proud, except, perhaps, of his manliness.
 IVto v,n3fhnr ,,1x boyish, but rather resembled a wrinkled youth, which caused some to believe that he was only five and twenty, while the knowing ones knew him to be fully forty.
 He usually wore black misfits, and when his long Prince Albert was not buttoned up to the chin, one could discern red bandana kerchief in guise of a scarf His short neck was inva- riably fenced in an enclosure of collar, and his head completely buried in low, inimitable plug hat.
 His whole appearance was verita- ble parody on man, and somewhat suggesting one of those droll mannc- guins seen at puppet show. A cer- tain wag went SO far as to remark that he reminded him of an orchestrion: being hard of hearing, upon the small drum ot the ear, external sounds beat but feebly the little rotund abdomen being the kettle drum, and within which (being. .incurably dyspeptic) was heard the groans of the organs. The tiny legs stood for the melan- choly lHtlGs of . Chinese violin.
 In youth he had been circus