Telegram-herald., 1890-07-22

managed 20 earn a living, such as IL
was, by gathering simples in tho woods
1nd sw amps and ssiliag them to Roch-
ester druggists he was harmless, and
except for his Grabbed ways aud ex-
trems uasoeiabiity. inoiTsnsivs, and
ths people learned 10 leave him alone
with bia own thoughts. lie showed no
lack OF intsllissnee then, and it was
generally believed that he was well edu-
Gated, although nobody ever became
intimate enough with him 10 pass in
tsIhgsntly upon shat point
L. exploring the Dogs and woods old
Doe kimbal worked around into the
town OF Greece. and fourteen years ago
last summer hs ensconced himself
undsr the roots Of the tree where he
now lives. Old Doc Kimball was feeble
and bent with age when he. first ap-
peared In shis region. II was believed
then that he was very old man. In
deed, farmer living on the bluff just
over the swamp where the hermit's re-
treat IL. insists that he is nearer hun
ared that ninety, ave-ring that kimbau
told him be was ninety years old sew
sral years ago. before the dinness Of
age had impaired his reason, and that
the old man has refused to grow older,
bat has called himself ninety ever
aimee.
Old Doc Kimbslrs hut is q curiosity.
It's location is "a sscladsd as nature
could make it. A few acres OF woods
suffice TO conceal a swamp through
which 10 Is very difHcult TO make ones
way both on account of the bosgy
character OF the soil and because it Is
intersected by numerous little streams,
with black, muddy banks, that seem TO
head the explorer of st every
turn In the very center OF this
nors.s is a comparatively dry plot on
which are few tall pias aod other for
est trees. Here, ysars age, large oas
had been uprootod, probably under
mined BY some frsshst. and the roots
hanging over a bAnk four or ave feet
high. form saeh q shelter ss might
shield a man from summer shower.
But the old nan has improved some
what uqon nature by digging burrow-
Tag into the bank, making a hole jpst
big enough fer a nan 90 lie a. full
length In. as might snake. He had
also piled some boards IN front of this
'houss" a. ne calls il. and covered the
ohinks ia ths root roof with sticks and
sods, making IL dogbtless weather.
proof. except ia the worst Of storms
To make the room thus formed more
eonmodioas be hss dug pathway from
tbe entrance Co the hole where ne sleeps
that admits of his bent form passing in
and eut without stopping further. and
% leaving ths rem Al ndsr % his ground
door At grade he his two banks which
hs car use fer tables or benches. as ths
occasion rsqui-es.
An oil cook stove. without legs, lid
or pipe. sn sse. spade. big case
knife. haif a DOZEN eoarss cloths. such
as trackmen use 90 prevent farnitars
from marrinx. sad which serve % ear
Pet the abode. two tin pals, = frying
pan. a broken-bsck chair and a cat
con plsts The furniture of the front
roon. In tbe hole IA the ground. OF
lair. sre spread two blankets IN which
the hermit doubtless rolls himself a.
night These blankets are luxury oi
Iater Years UP to fsw viuters age
ths Ola man slept IN his hols without
any szsrs covering Ons exceptionally
cold niEhs he almost frore 60 death,
anf would f.,r,tIsss have perishet With
tie cold has uot a thoughtful farmer
I-oke5 him up IN the morning. ard by
thr external and Internal sppi cation ct
uhisE-v treegh hfrn r0und Since then
's hss ~ot Eisdained the blankets ths
fr1er's wife iasists3 he saopld receive
fren ksr
To e. a few Years ago Old Dec kim
fsI woni5 accept sid from no one.
rls .an rrcnSht Bin en- occasional
rahbEt. e. reel or hird snd his other
vents vs-s suunlfsd y ths moreT ob-
fsfned fren rst herring ruots and herbs.
latsIr hewersr. hs hss heen tco feeble
q, sa uueh f.r hinssif His case wss
frruEbf the stt-ation ~ the peer
r-rster ~ lba iowa ef .-re-ee. an3 now BE-
hss tha nual feeut susn of attv cents =
wsk iu summer aa3 enc dollar Ia
w~ter fren Gre tevn
Iar fsrs -ee's Ere Oh wsn ncthir7
en- the eu eclas snz when hevisits -ls
etg a hrsueh Of ths Nsw s srk Csa-
trsI runs = slsrtsr sf . mile frcn AIS