New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-02
A Word ABOUT HERNITS.

This winter seems fatal TO hermits Hermits
arc something which we have-our English friends
saw we have no ruins-but we do have hermits
The reports about hermits appear as regularly In
the newspapers as those Of negro "uprisings' in
Mississippi. Nothing delights the soul of the
Woodworking special correspondent more than the
discovery Of new hermit unless, perhaps, it be
q man who has slept steadily for three years and
whom the doctors can't wake up Usually the
hermit is a good deal Of q wild man, with an
aversion to civilized clothing and with pro-
fusion of long hair. IL is dangerous TO approach
him. The correspondents teeth chatter as he
writes the dispatch and describes the strange
cries, which the hermit uttered when disturbed
But "posse of citizens, strongly armed" Is
after the cratic gentleman and he will be brought
in at any cost. But he never is, and the weary
correspondent turns to the sea-serpent or the
Fiery Meteor which fell with a Kissing Sound
AS we said the winter appears to be hard
one for hermits. They dying of on all
sides. 1t is not necessary to go back to the old
leather man" who used to live up the North River
somewhere-he passed away something like year
ago But there was the New-IIampshire wild
man, who left us only few weeks since. The
New-Hampshire wild man was of the regula~
ton pattern, though he lived In rude house in
stead of cave The true American wild man
who cares anything for the traditions of his pro-
fession always lives in cave. This New-llamp-
shire hermit was thought to be something OF o
miser and the people up there are still digging
around his late residence booking for buried
treasure The oldest inhabitant could not remem-
Der who the hermit was or where he came from.
1t was surmsed that he must have been crossed in
love when he was young. However, as he spoke
no particular language and could seldom be APP
preached nearer than several yards, no one ever
succeeded in drawing him out on the subject.
The only time. we believe, that he ever came near
his fell0w-men was election day, when, If we mis-
take not, he always appeared at the polls and
cast the Democratic ticket. We suspect that he
would have been opposed TO ballot reform If the
matter had been brought TO his attention.
A Pennsylvania hermit has also recently passed
away. He lived up in the mountains, and, in the
words of the correspondent who looked after
him. was o "veritable wild man." He had a
habit OF chasing hunters through the woods on
the run. He lived on berries, and in the winter
dressed in the skins of wild beasts" This
hermit had been n regular Pennsylvania institu-
ton for several years. But he Is gone now. uc
was, we understand, consistent Democrat TO
the last.
Early in January the leading West Virginia
wild man went out from us. He a new
man, only discovered few days before lbs
| death. and lived in cave. The correspondent
who found him formerly had we'll which he
thought a great deal Of, which drew in the air
with q roaring sound for six hours, and then blew
il out for the same length OF time and practically
the same roar. Just before Christmas this well
failed him, but, as luck would have it, he ran
into the wild man few days after Then his
discovery died, which must have been discouraging
10 the correspondent. We look for shower of fish
or a cat which is bringing up thirteen chickens
| from West Virginia now. We cannot learn that
! this hermit was ever known to vote any ticket,