Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-09-02
ECCENTRIC FARMER BOOTH.
An Old Yale Graduate who Can Get
Along without Frivolities.

Along without Frivolities.
Back in the hills Of RoXbury in Ldtch-
aaId comfy. two miles from any postOfice
and four miles from a railroad station,
lives one of the brightest members OF the
class of 1913 at Yale, Mr.. Harvey Minor
Booth, the plainest sort Of New England
farmer, and there, in an old weather
beaten house on lane or back ROAD, ne
has lived for fifty years in good financial
condition, vet satisfied perfectly with the
exhausting toll Of cultivating New Eng
land farm. His only recreation Is solving
the most abstruse algebralc problems
/ known to science. His only light IS tai
| low candle, and his fare is Of the most iru-
| gal kind, his constant companion at the
/ table being his algebra.
In all these years his only human com
nanion was a spinster sister, who died a
few years since. He and his sister inner
tied a good farm, and by careful invest
mont had amassed considerable wealth at
the time of her death. He was in the habit
of walking from this farm to New Haven
a distance of thirty miles, during his col
leoe days. and until very recently he has
been in the habit of walking to Water
bury. a distance of eighteen miles, rather
than hitch up one of the horses which he
has in his barn.
For a time after graduation he tried
teaching, but gave it up in disgust, as ne
, could not understand girls. Nor dld ne
ever fathom the peculiarities OF the fan
sex, to all appearances. lie dld marry, ou'
the very next morning he gave the Drlde
handsome sum with which to get divorce
from him, and she complied
Summer and winter he wears brown Jear
trousers with a coarse jumper, and heavy
army brogans on his feet in winter ant
none in summer. He is a familiar objec
to the villagers as he goes to the postotic
: for the large checks that come PERIODICAL,
from his different investments. One ia
he carried home on his hand sled, tw
miles and uphill, $50 pounds of pork
l rather than take out one Of his horses.
Some years since Mr.. Booth lost quite
! sum in an investment on the recommends
ton of a Waterbury Sunday school super
; intendent. Since that time he has had
o bitter aversion to all church people, and
he learns that a man with whom ne
c about to do business is a church membt
7 it is said that he Immediately drops II
transaction.
o The methods of his sister were not {
> strict as his, as the following story WI
e show; After her death he told a friend
% ! inquire at a w waterbury od'lh5o D".iA ~
II deposit his sister had said she had ther
re The friend found no deposit, but fort
ne nately happened to recollect that she hi
is been interested in the settlement of t
estate of Waterbury man, through who
Id the Booths lost considerable money. l.
nd theory proved correct The books had be
m given to Miss Booth, but had never be
in transferred in the bank. As the preside
he of the bank was an old college mate of \
Booths, the matter was set right. 1
sum with interest, which had been acc
muiating was more than 5000.
I'm Mr.. Booth gave to his town $4,000 to
no tablish and maintain select school VIII
i'0 boys and girls could fit for college or
NJ business life As the only expense is in
on salary for teacher, the sum has pro-
re- ample and the school is prospering.-C
lts New York Sun.