Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-09
A MOUNTAIN HERMIT.
An Educated Man Living n Solitary
Life-knOwIedge of the Bible.


Life-knowIedge of the Bible.
From the Richmond Dispatch.
Can you show me a spot about the
mountains where Lctody Iives?" was a
question asked tbs other day by one of a
party of hunters who got off at Alton, Va,
for a shooting jaunt.
"Wall, kin come mighty nigh it, re-
piled the man, who offered himself as pilot.
you say no one lives hereabouts?" 1
asked. got above the timber line, and
I saw a small clearing on a knoll to the
left.
Nobody but or La'nclot; an he don't
ccunt-hes bin here so long,
lobe said "Or La'nclot' was a kind of
hermit, and in his time had more larnin'
and knew more bout the Bible than airy
parson in ten states"
On the way learned all lobe knew of
the solitary man with the aristocratic
name of Launclot, who lives SO far from
the haunts of men, and especially desires.
as it seems, to live far from the haunts of
women. For the hermit is cynic. and
might belong to the Amelie Rives' monks
Of the Silent House. Sometimes women, in
search of nuts or berries on the mountain,
get over his line fence. but OF La'nclot
burns the rails IL he knows 1t and hews
him new panel from the pines.
When we reached the clearing lobe called
out. "Hello!" yellow dog sprang up
with a savage groWl, but was quoted by
call from within.
He's contrary like sometimes" warned
lobe. IAN you mus speak to him easy"
l judge 1t was one Of the hermit's CON
way and demanded What we wanted"
1t was not until lobe spoke that he let
Us come inside the cabin and motioned us
to a bench near the fireplace.
or La'nclot had been known as the MINI
rod of the mountain side. The walls of the
cabin and over the mantel were lined with
the skins of smaller game. and big black
bearskin covered the bed Long rows of
paws were sticking between the logs and
over the joists, with burches of dried roots
and red peppers were strings of fox tails,
and what looked like wolf scalps. Over
shelf were the antlers Of large deer, and
piled below 1t the rattles of dozen rattle
snakes.
The hermit was very tall man, seventy
five years old, with keen, blue eyes, and
had, apparently, been a well-educated man.
1 asked If he was not often very lonely"
He looked little scornful, thought, as
he answered.: You show your ignorance
What does st. Paul say, young man?-that
we are surrounded by cloud of wit
nesseses-and, again, hear the Psalmist,
Though l go to the uttermost ends of the
earth Thou art with me-"
l was little surprised at the suddenness
with which 'OP Lanclot" dropped into the
Bible, but was glad the contrary spell
was passing
You have books, notice." was the next
remark 1 made to draw him out
YES he answered 4 read my Jose
plus when l want to study the vanity and
| wickedness of this fleeing world, and the
Bible whenever 1 can. You can't read the
Bible too often. young man; remember
| that"
Il am told you have peculiar views of
heaven. Mr.. -. Do you think 1t is
| place."
Does the Bible say hell is a placer" was
| the startling rejoinder.
nh hoo &c
| ity. just much so as that mountain"
with a far-away look at the top of Hump
back, as seen through the open door.
THE fact that heaven is a place; that it
has mansions, inhabited by actual, tangible
| but incorruptible bodies, and that they go
| lack and forth as angels of mercy. ought
| to be taught in the theological institutions
| of Christendom.
Have you studied the theologians, Far
rar and keike and Doellrger?"
I was obliged to confess that had not.
Then go and do it. Don't ask about
things you can read for ycuI self"
By this time lobe had examined the four
or five guns scattered about, and had rat
| tied the snake trophies impatientIy, and
was, I knew, growing restless. The her
init took down a sun and walked with US
| piece through the woods. After we part
ed from him l heard the sharp crack of his
| rifle, and lobe remarked, 'Or La'nclots
got squirrel for his supper"