The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-09
JIM HITE OF LONG ISLAND.
Knows Nearly Everything for the Village.
but IL Of No Value to Himself.


A city man who seldom goes away from homo
does not realize until he reaches a small town
how it is possible for any one man to be gener-
ally known and to be referred to as the mine
of information. What one New York man
found In his outing any New Yorker may dis
cover in any village or small town into which
he may wander With the exception Of names.
this is the incident that interested one New
Yorker. 1t was in sleepy hamlet on Long
Island. where the people cling to primitive
customs and travel by slow wagons.
The stranger found one OF the natives on a
chair in front of a store. A snap shot OF the at
titude of the figure would have made an in
terestng topic in lecture on anatomy. as
showing the possibilities Of the human form
TO assume angles
How far can travel on my wheel on this
road with comfort ?" asked tho New Yorker.
Il don't know for sure. l amt been down
that road further than you can sec. in four
years. But Jim Hite might know"
Il suppose this road that runs north is all
right
1t was last time l was out that way. Jim
Hitc was the last one that travelled it very far.
so FAIRS | know. Been ridin all day.
Most OF the day How far is it to the first
railroad staton?"
Which way
Anyway. SO get there"
IF you re going up toward Montauk the first
stations bout three mile; that is. il you're
goin by the big road II you could cut cross
it would be about two mile. SO I've hcerG Jim
Illte say. aint never cut cross myself"
Any snakes around here"
81 amt seen snake since was In New York
to the circus Be you huntfn' for snakes"
NO: | want to avoid them"
"Oh. that way. Well. the same rule about
not climbin' a hill till you come to tits good 80
tar as snake 5 concerned The last man
here though. that saw any snakes around here
was Jim Hte."
What do you do In winter. my friend to kill
time"
Il don't change much It's the same to me
in winter as in summer. so rars Twins con-
cerned. But Jim Iite kills Gophers.''
Much money in the business?"
Have to ask Jim Hite about that. You
buyn' EophersT
"Oh. no. BY the way. whore is the nearest
and best nshinR?"
The native turned his face toward the en-
trance of the store and bawled Say. Bob.
where's the highest and best fshin' place
round hero -
The voice within replied. Haint been fshin'
in two years. squire. but Jim Hite knows Just
where they bite all the time"
The native resumed his attitude on,the chair
and said: That's bout what l would a.
guessed But | thought maybe Rob had
found a new hole that Jim Hitc worn't on to-"
At that moment another native appeared.
checked his horse and said Hello. Squire
what's tho chance for a showcrI Everybody
down our ways prayin' for rain"
well, | don't know. Martin. You know
mint botherin' much about the weather. but
Jim IIitr was tellin round about that he saw in
the Brooklyn papers yestyday that it was goin
! to rain
WAS that in brooklyn or up here. Squirrel"
Jim didn't say, and. to tell you the truth.
| didn't ask him A"
You can t helcve everything you see in the
| papers. squire
"" That's what jim Htc was sayn'. and spe-
| cially about the weather.
! With this tn" natives babe each other good
! by, and Martin rode away. About five minutes
| after h" had disappeared the Squire had an
| awakening.
what YOU want to know | declare | never
| though; Of il, he said.
-" DO YOU regard Martin as good authority as
| Mr.. HiteT
| anything. YOU can set down II you're good in
| arithmetic and bigger out about how much to
,hclicvc. But when Jim llite says anything
whY you can go to he'd and not toss around
",,YoNr Mr.. ,Hte il va lued citizen, take it,"
| Yes To- the village he IL. He saves time
| when We want e. know anything. but he's no
| value to hissoif.'
We'll. you wouldn't be II you knowed him.
| II he lived in New York he would be about as
| much consequence as that bicycle Of yours
would be without its wheels. l don't believe
| he ever would be heard Of"
Then the New Yorker headed Sor the big
! road and wheeled on into the night