The morning call., 1890-12-29
LATENT. GENIUS IN. HIM..
A Connecticut Cripple of Odd Life an
Self-Taught tAccompIishments

A Connecticut Cripple of Odd Life and
self-Taught Accomplishments.
PLAINvIELE Comm, Dec 2O.-"Jimmy'.
Hall. one of the best-known characters of
Plainyille, was buried here last week, SAYS
the New York Sum-. He was born cripple.
his legs being twisted all out Of shape, and
the ends were apologies for feet. When
supported by his crutches and stretched to
his full height. he was overtopped by the
average seven-year-odl boy ,He picked
up enough education to read and
write. and he could work the rule O.
three well enough to suit all bis pur-
poses. He supported himself from child
hood. In little one-story wooden building,
6xS feet, on the old turnpike between Hart
ford and New Haven, he kept a tobacco
store and served temperance drinks, and 1t
has often been suspected that something
stronger could be obtained there. Public
sympathy was with him, and even if itever
came to the ears OF the excise officials that
Jimmy's business property required a
license. they never Investigated him.
Jimmy was an expert with the Knitting
needles Many thousands Of pairs of nit
tens and gloves he has made and sod, and
the teamsters who drove by his place used
to think that Jimmy Halls mittens were
warmer for cold drive than store gloves
or mittens. He was also regular Yankee
with the pocket-knife, and it was most in
tricate design that he could not duplicate
with q piece Of wood and his keen blade.
Give him the right kind Of wood and lie
would make link chain. Then he would
make figures of grotesque uglness, imita-
ton Chinese idols. He would cut them in
sections and put them together inside of
bottles, and so perfectly that one won
dered how they could be got through the
narrow necks.
Deafness afflicted Jimmy early in life, as
II he had not burden enough already. In
order to hear train coming and thus I'M
prove an opportunity for sale, he had q
long ear trumpet made, which extended
across the counter to the window. He had
a gun twice as long as himself. This, with
his deg, protected him from maraudars He
smoked hams and beef for his nejghbors in
small house back of his store. Iii summer
he planted AID cultivated q small garden
and sold some Of the produce.
Jimmy nad nephew who was almost an
exact duriicate OF himself For years they
lived tagether, and as they were almost in
separable, they bought big dog, made
their crutches aside they rode to the village
whenever they wanted to renew the stock
in the store. This nephew finally left him.
and no one knows where he is.
In spite OF his detormity and the logs of
his hearing, PlainvIlle had no more cheer
full or good-natured citizen than Jimmy
Hall. For every caller he had pleasant
word, and his merry jest was uttered with
smile that was attractive In spite Of his
odd appearance. Every one was his friend.
Jimmy grew old and feeble, and when the
cold snap came week before last the weight
OF his slxty-two years was too great, and he
died. He was found in his little store cold
and stiff, and had probably died the night
before. He owned small tract of land
and cottage. but this was mortgaged. II.
anything IS left it will 90 to his nephew II
he can be found. Jhmmy's mother, his last
relative save the nephew, died in the Hart
ford Hospital u few months ago at the age
of o.