St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-27
MODERN ROBINSON oRu soc
San Francisco Chronicle.
NTo,-- Alss-lII

Mason Mitchell, who arrive d on the
steamer Vine, brought strange story
OF hermit OH Nassau island. Back in
the SOS large and wealthy tea firm of
New York city was represented in
Hong Kong by young man, the son
OF the principal partner of the firm. He
had been thoroughly educated in Ger
many. and on the completion of his
studies took an extended tour through
Europe before settling down to bust
ness: The first five years of his residence
III Hong Kong he passed in strict at
tention> to his duties. and the declining
years of his father were made happy by
the prospect of so worthy successor 10
his name aud fortune. AS his interest
In the firm increased the Young mans
expenses grew until they had reached
an expenditure Of over $4,000 year.
Then his associates began to notice
that he was drinking deeply and that he
was neglecting the large interests in his
charge. Very soon he had become so
much slave OF his appetite that he had
dropped from the acquaintance of the
better class of English-speakine resi-.
| dents In Hong Kong. One day the mail
steamer brought MIN a letter cutting
him Oft from all relations With the New
York house.
Work was found and positions were
made for him in Hong Kong, but he
could not redeem himself. At last, after
a prolonged debauch. he sailed for the
South seas with little more than the
clothes he wore. Here. where the mini
mum OF work secures the maximum Of
comfort, anu where the natives are
more than h0spitable. he contr;ved to
exist-virtually ION the beach," as they
say in the South seas-staying at one
| island until his welcome was exhausted
and then moving to another. In this way
he reached Samoa, where hospitality to
strangers, DOOR or rich, is proverbial.
At times he made efforts to stop drink
ing, and was intrus,ed with positions
| by some kindly disposed acquaintances,
but the habit was too strong, and event
ually he found that even in Samoa he
| had reached the end of his tether.
Then II. j. Mours, who owns Nassau
island. ran across the outcast. lie
wanted some one to live on the lonely
speck of land and superintend the
natives kept there to gather copra. The
wanderer accepted. and began his long
exile. The first vessel to arrive and
break the monotony of his life was the
Vine. which touched at Nassau island
en- Jan. s. 1894. two years after he went
there to live.
| AHo oio man Anxiety ieSI the vine
should pass the island" said Mr..
Mitchell, "was intense. When he saw
a boat put Off from the Vine he lay
down on the beach and wept for Joy.
On landing l was the first to reach him,
and | will not soon forget the sight he
presented. His long white hair and
beard made him look far older than his
years. His dress consisted of an old
shirt and pair of trousers. patched
and repatched until they would hold
thread no longer. and then re-enforced
with cocOanut riber. The soles and up-
pers of his shoes had long since parted,
and emily few thongs Kept them from
dropping to pieces. He held torn and
battered straw hat in one hand and a
stick in the other: in fact, his ensemble
was one OF shreds and patches. He
| looked more like corkscreW than
human being.
II put out my hand and, calling him
by name, asked after his health. A
dazed look came over his face, and,
| slowly passing his hand across his fore
head, he SAID: 1t is so long since l
have seen a man that am totally be-
wildered.'
I'VE turned and walked slowly to his
pretty little house under the spreading
branches OF banyan tree. After he
had recovered from his agitation we
] spent the time until far into the night,
/ answering his questions and telling him
the news of the last two years.
ION leaving the island everything
was given him that was possible for his
| comfort. At first he wished to accom-
pany US to Samoa. but on thinking 1t
oyer' decided that he was better off
where he was. There he needed no;
money! for nature gave him all he needed
. to maintain life. III addition to the trop-
ical fruits he had pigs and fowls in
abundance, with an occasional turtle
captured at night GU the beach by the
natives. But best of all was his inability
to procure one drop of what had made
him an exile. AS we sailed away he was
standing ON the rock from which he had
watched us coming"
! The Vine, when she left Nassau, took
away most of the white hermit's native
charges. for their contract time had ex-
pred and they were weary away from
their people. Two natives were left
! with the lonely white man, for the
people Oh the Vine knew that it would
probable be two years more before an
! other vessel would touch at the island,
and they did not quite like the idea of
leaving one of their own race absolutely
without human company IN the wilder.
ness in mid.ocean.