The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-10-09

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 eccontrlcity OF the man. He has
one pet hobby. which he IL urging on
congress. He wants Ascension day 10
become a national holiday by virtue
Of a law OF the supreme legislative
body OF the land.
General Cameron would be a plctur-
esQue figure even II he were not 30
filled with eccontrlclticG as to attract
attention. lie Is tail. finely formed
and straight as an arrow. In spite OF
his advanced years His white beard
and white hair hang down from a mas
sive head aud face. the former reaching
below the waist, extending forty inches
in length. and the latter descending In
a snowy cloud thlrty-slx inches. He Is
one Of the richest men In the state. but
he refuses TO live IN house. proicrring
the freedom Of the woods to the con
finement 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 Tie
IL not In his dotage but he cllngs to
any Idea he embraces with all the vlgor
Of a man accustomed TO pushing things
10 success.
General CamenJns Ascension day
idea has been advanced by him for
years. He believes that the day on
which Christ returned 10 heaven after
the crucinxlon should be set apart by
n Christian nation such as America
as a day Of rejoicing equally II not more
significant TO the people than July 4.
the nations birthday. He has CON-
menced agitation In favor Of this idea.
and will work with a slngleness OF pur-
pose toward its accomplishment until
he ls called 10 his fathers. unless sue
cess crowns his efforts before tina,
time.
General Cameron erected a pole on
Easter day Of this year 10 commemo-
rate the resurrection. Imposing cere-
monies were conducted under his d.
rectlon. The site chosen was a suburb
OF Lawrence. and the old man. now 70
years OF age. caused the pole fifty feet
long, 10 be raised with ceremonies OF
the most impressive nature, on the
top Of the pole is cross symbolical Of
the crucihxion. and near by a liberty
cap. symbollzIng true liberty to all. He
bent on an American nag 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 ls called the Kansas hermit be-
cause he himself adopted the title, lie
saw hard service In the civil war. and
was severely wounded. In spite Of this
fact and his advanced age. he works on
hls farm early and late. Uncle Sam
helps him out TO the extent Of $50 a
month. Fifteen years ago he threw OF
the bans OF fashion. declaring that he
would be periectly independent-and
he has been. Since that time he has
neither trimmed nor cut his hair or
beard. Ills hair IL three fee, long and
sllken, while his beard has reached
the length Of three and one-half feet.
While working he bralds both hair and
beard. and tueks them inside his shirt.
On his head he wears a close-Atting
cap. and over this either a thick win
ter cap or straw hat
For years Hermit Cameron has been
praying for a fuller acknowledgment.
By the people for the divinity OF Jesus
Christ. As Easter is the oommemora-
ton OF the ascension OF Christ. he
thinks Il should be at a nxed date
every year. instead Of as now. arranged
according to the ecclesiastical moon.
s'Easter Is for the rich folks to wear
fne clothes" says the old man. Two
thirds Of the common people-0Od's
chosen people-don't know what Easter
Is. Il Is the chureh-going people only
who know iis real significance" lIe
announces that he feels convinced that