The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-18
CHRISTOPHER GREEYHp JAMES.
An Illinois Crank Who Goes Barefoot and
Talks Religion and 0ld.Time Politics
ypsct.l 70 the 1ndissapoli, Jouru.l.

Special TO the indianapolis Journal
PARIS, Ill. Aug. 1I-Whils nearly every COM
rnunity can point to some one or more persons
as conspicuous for their eccentricities. none can
lay claim TO more strikingly odd character
than can Edgar county. in the person of Christie
pher Grsenup James. familarly known as
Screen Jeems,r and who lays claim to being
of the prominent men OF his section. Be-
sides hia eecentricties, one OF which is that for
eight years he has worn nothing upon his feet,
either In winter or summer, he possesses .
zoposrful memory and . truly remarkable
knowledge of the Scriptures He is fond OF dis
cussion, is q free talker. and his knowledge OF
men and events, despite his peculiartiss. renders
him an agreeable convsrsstionaliss Though he
10 what is popularity known as .
crank. he is not, as people sometimes claim him
to be. insane, and the person who sakes him for
q fool invariably has the laugh at his own ex-
pense. Mr.. James is sixty-two years Of age, q
native Of Georgetown, KY. and has resided in
this county ffty-sight years. He lives in the
midst Of religious community known as "Soul
Sleepers," in whose doctrines he is firm be-
lever. and, while the owner OF good farm.
trusts too much 70 the Lord. who, he says, Twill
provide for His own" Yet. despite the time
given to reading the Bible and to attending his
religious duties, the wolf Is often found uncom-
fortably near bis door He is never too busy
on religious topics OF any man 10 the county.
It is said Of him that he is so religious that his
pigs refuse to fattsn. At any rate,
prosperity gives him q wide berth.
He comes of revolutionary stock, his
grandfather having fought under Washington
and Lafayette. His father was drum major
in an Edgar county battalion ir the early days.
and the son boasts that he aad his father
drummed at twenty two Democratic mass
meetings during the Lincoln Douglas campaign
of 1860 Like many more pretentious men. he
takes great pride in reoountiug his acquaintance
with prominent men. and boasts of having
known Hon. HerschelV. johnson. whom he first
met while, as leader of quintet, singing
campaign song. the firss seven verses OF which
were composed by Douglas delegates to the
Charleston convention, and who afterwards
voted for Douglas at the Baltimore convention
Mr.. James is the possessor Of q stock OF pcliti-
cal chestnuts. dating from the revolution down
to the latest edition of Ben Butler and DR.. Mary
Walker, that would be the envy of any politi-
clan. and which he never tires of dealing out.
without stint. "Old Hickory" is his favorite
President though he is particularly fond of re-
lating the story Of his father going to Washing
ton in 1916 and having q talk with President
James K. Polk about the Mexican war Nine
years ago, becoming tired of life and disguised
generally, he took a large dose of arsenic. but
the doctors pumped him out and restored him
TO life in an aggravated form, as he was subse-
auenty confined to his bed for four years with
paralysis, which left him q cripple for life. He
is his own doctor and takes red clover for ell
ailments. His constant companions yell
Low dog and hickory sapling for cane-the
latter emblemstic of his Democracy Known
by everybody, it is safe to say he talks more
aud answers more impertinept questions
in one day than the mnch-abused
village postmaster does in amonth. He accepts
all invitations to dinners frequently going when
not invited, and host ever complained that
he WAS lacking in appetite or capacity. At
home he reads incessantly; he believes in edu-
cation, is an extremist in religion, about which
he knows apparently everything. and. though
the world calls Green crazy, or a crank, his is a
very harmless type of insanity.