Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-02-05

i
of j. A. Aspinwall, now living in
Fort Atkinson, who was one of the
first settlers of the adjoining town of
Pennington.
The road leading to Affection is
fanked by fine farming lands, hand
some houses and substantial barns
and outbuildings. The surface is
rolling. and from a hill at one point
on the road one may look to the left
or right and for miles the same thrifty
aspect is observed. The land is we'll
cultivated, every available rood being
utilized. This denotes thrift, econo-
my and business ability, and why
such community should have as it's
commercial center town composed
entirely of bachelors is a secret that
is securely guarded. One might as
we'll try to learn the secret of Masonry
as to try and find out the reason for
this eXcluSiveneSs.
A deep reverie on the mysteries of
life was ended by an exclamation from
the driver:
There's Aliceton!"
Away to the left and off the main
travelled road, the turret of a mansion
was the only thing visible, but soon a
sharp turn into another road revealed
a snug village, nesting between the
two white oak covered bluffs. On the
right, as one enters the outskirts of
the village, are two of it's most inter-
esting houses, the one nearest Main
street being the property of the Met
calf brothers and the other one fur
ther to the right, on Comfort avenue,
the home of Rudolf Hoef. One of the
houses perhaps it should be called a
''cottage'-belonging to an absent
bachelor, deserves more than a pass
ing notice. Alphabetically it is after
the Dutch style, and the surroundings
enhance it's charm. 1t is built on a
slight rise of ground, a part of the
house being hidden from the road by
a rustic fence, owe grown with grape
vines. Facing the east is built
small balcony, which, III summer, is
nearly overgrown by climbing plants
and grape-vines. The lawn slopes from
a pebble-bottom brook, and is we'll ar
ranged with flower beds and shrubs
with a rose hedge dividing its south
ern border from vegetable garden.
The owner of this place is something
of a mystery. He is interested in lit
erature and has a piano, but this,
outside the toll necessary to keep his
place in order, is about all that occu-
pies the mans time tits known that
at rare, but regular, intervals he re-
ceives by mail letters bearing for
eign postmark, but the contents of the
letters or the identity of the writer
is not known.
The Metcalf brothers, who are the
sole representatives of commercial life
in this future metropolis, were away
at church and their neighbOr Mr.. Hoef
was the only bachelor remaining TO do
the honOrs of the town. He is the
prize bachelor of Affection, and is re-
puted to be the richest man there.
This is probably true, but it does not
necessarily follow that he is the best
looking, although there is consider
able difference of opinion on this point
among the residents. The CORE
spondent found Mr.. Hoef engaged in
household duties. Owing to defect in
hearing he is not accustomed to attend
church SO frequently as do the Met
calf brothers, and like some city peo-
pie he sometimes lies abed to later
hour on Sunday than on other days of
the week. Resting the broom with
which he was sweeping out his living
room against the wall, Mr.. Hoef ex-
tended the right hand OF welcome to
his visitor.
Come right in said he. land
take that easy chair. Don't mind the
dog; he won't bite and is always glad
to see strangers. Keep your hat on,
throw your overcoat off and make
yourself comfortable.
Bachelor Hoef is said to be 20 years
old, but he is livelier than many men
at half the age. 1t is true that his
housekeeping might be improved in
some respects, but it is equally true
that none of the elements of comfort,
save only those connected with wife,
are lacking in his cottage. A good
sized sleeping room opens off the large
iving-room and contains a bed one
chair, and chest of drawers. Open
ing from the east end of the room is
the dining room and kitchen combined
and pantry. On a shelf stood a jar
of baked beans, a pot of butter, card
of honey and a half-consumed loaf of
rye bread with a knife lying conven-
iently close to it. A coffee pot.still
sent forth pleasant aroma from it's
place on the kitchen stove.
Mr.. Hoef was dressed in dark suit
of clothes and wore low. easy slippers
on his feet. His hair is curly and
quite dark for a man OF his age, al
though little gray was noticed around
the edges. In summer his whole at
tention is given to a large apiary and
in winter the bees are kept in the eel
lar
edo you find the bees profitable?n
was asked of Mr.. Hoef.
80, no, it isn't that. L don't need
money. 1t is the pleasure [ get out of