Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-10-01

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hiU bed on an old |
barn door In the
wild woods near the historic city OF
Lawrence. He lives in the open air,
and when he sleeps has no other roof
than the foliage of the trees, through
which the stars twinkle as II amused
at the eccentriclty Of the man. He has
one pet hobby, which he is urging on
congress. He wants Ascension day to
become national holiday by virtue
Of law of the supreme legislative
body Of the land.
General Cameron would be a pictur-
esque figure even II he were not so
filled with eccentricities as to attract
attention. He is tall, finely formed
and straight as an arrow, In spite Of
his advanced years. His white beard
and white hair hang down from a mas
slve head and face, the former reaching
below the waist, extending forty inches
In length, and the latter descending In
a snowy cloud thirty-six inches. He is
one Of the richest men In the state, but
he refuses to live in house, preferring
the freedom Of the woods to the con-
fnement of civilized dwelling. He is
a marked man, but clear-headed and
well versed In the science and folk lore
Of this and most other countries. He
is not in his dotage, but he clings to
any idea he embraces with all the vigor
of man accustomed to pushing things
| to success.
General Cameron's Ascension day
idea has been advanced by him for
years, He believes that the day on
which Christ returned to heaven after
the cruolhxion should be set apart by
a Christian nation such as America
as day Of rejoicing equally II not more
significant to the people than July 4,
the nations birthday. He has COM
menced agitation in favor OF this idea,
and will work with singleness Of pur-
pose toward it's accomplishment until
he Is called to his fathers, unless sue
cess crowns his efforts before that
time.
General Cameron erected pole on
Easter day Of this year to commence
rate the resurrection. Imposing cere-
monies were conducted under his d.
rectlon. The site chosen was suburb
of Lawrence, and the old man, now 70
years OF age, caused the pole fifty feet
long, to be raised with ceremonies Of
the most impressive nature. On the
top of the pole is cross symbolical Of
the crucihxion, and near by liberty
cap, symbolizlng true liberty to all. He
bent on an American flag to the hal
yards, and ran the silken emblem to
the top with his own hands. Many
Of the residents Of Lawrence were pres
ent for the old man, while queer in
many things, is always interesting
He is called the Kansas hermit be-
cause he himself adopted the title. He
saw hard service in the civil war, and
was severely wounded In spite of this
fact and his advanced age, he works on
his farm early and late. Uncle Sam
helps him out to the extent Of $40 a
month. Fifteen years ago he threw on
the bans Of fashion declaring that ne
would be perfectly independent--and
he has been. Since that time he has
neither trimmed nor cut his hair or
beard. His hair Is three feet long and
sIlken, while his beard has reached
the length OF three and one-half feet.
While working he braids both hair and
beard, and tucks them inside his shirt.
On his head he wears a close-ftting
cap, and over this either thick win
ter cap or straw hat.
For years Hermit Cameron has been
praying for fuller acknowledgment,
by the people, for the divinity Of Jesus
Christ. AS Easter is the commemora-
ton of the ascension Of Christ, he
thinks it should be at fixed date
every year, instead of as now, arranged
according to the ecclesiastical moon.
easter is for the rich folks to wear
fine clothes" says the old man. Two
thirds OF the common people--God's
chosen people~don't know what Easter