The times., 1898-11-13
KINGS PALACE DEP Stores ss; So % Ssts ss Street -

ed him unapproaehable, or the shock TO
his system when his legs were cut off
dulled his mind so that he could not
learn. Certain it is that although forty
years have passed since he was marooned
in the mysterious manner described, he
has never conveyed to any living being
by speech single thought.
There was not letter or paper OF any
kind nor marks on his clothing to give
the slightest clue TO his name home na-
tionality or history. The people called
him jerome" because they thought
some of the sounds he made with his
voice resembled that. but except for this
he has remained for forty years 4 man
without n name. In time the pOor people
of the village felt they could n. longer
bear the burden OF the waits mainten-
ance. and they applied 10 the authorities
to relieve them of him The poor COM
missioners of Digby County did not e
why they should bear the load He car-
tainly was not a Digby County man.
They accordingly applied TO the leeisla-
ture of Nova Scotia to take care OF hin.
Pending investigation the legislature ap-
propriated the sum of SlO4 for his main
tenance Investigation failed TO discover
any more than was already known, and
the grant was continued year after year
Jerome lives now with a respectable
French Acadian family near place cali
ed Saulnierville. on the Bay Of Fundy
shore, in Digby County. 1t is on the
main post road of the province, and in
bygone years passengers by coach would
sion to see and inquire about the man,
but in time they got SO accustomed 10
seeing and hearing of him that they
would simply wave the hand TO him as
he stood in front of the house summing
himself. He has always been very fond
of warmth as though he had come from
a hot climate. In the summer he oasks
all day in the sun. In chilly weather he
huddles behind the kitchen stove
He is still the silent, gloomy man he
uos when he first landed, keeping TO him.
self. eating at meal hours such 1ooo as
is piaced before him, never attempting 10
read or write, and never haNihs gwen
any indication whether ne can 40 SO oi
not.
various stories of a mutiny on a vessel.
NJ a stolen heir being put out of the way.
of a nobleman whose estates are In the
hands of another. are among the versions
of the mystery which have had crecence
from time to time. but none OF them was
ever more than mere guess Jerome
sariv history remains TO this day myS-
tery and. although he enjoys good health,
age is now coming upon him, ana II Is
doubtful IL any solution Will ever be found
unless this account should reach the eye
of some one who was on the vessel from
which 1t is believed he was landed, and
he should make known the facts conceal
ed now for nearly half a century.
The old coach days have long since
passed: the railway which now runs from
Yarmouth through the land of Evangeline
does not go near the shore. and Jerome
and his weird story are forgotten. ex-
cept to the few in the immediate neigh
rorhood of his quiet home, where the
people still speak the French or the Nor
man and Breton peasant of 200 years ago;
where the men do a little fishing and
farming, the women wear the French ker-
chief and simple sarb of the old Acadians
of Evangeline's day.