The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-19

word rubbish may be used to desorlbe every
thing II contains. and on the rubbish Is a
coat Of dust that looks rs II It had not been
disturbed since time began. Perhaps not in 4
lifetime would one sec n hovei that would
so impress the word decay on the mind. It.
Is written on the walls, inside and out. and
covers tho mass OF debris In tho hortnit'a
living room. These details were noted by the
reporter as he looked In at a window from the
front porch for the place was so forbidding
that no one would care to ontor IT,
~
Tho hermitage" 10 situated Oh washing
ton street, block north OF tho Grand Central
depot, and on thu west slde OF the street.
The locality Ia rather thickly populated, there
being four houses on the same block with
Chris Roehls den. The reporter made two
visits to the nelghborhood In quest OF III
formation about tho hermit, Interviewing sew
eral persons who have known him for years
| ON thu hrst trip an interview was sought
with the hermit. but tho success attained
was not very extensive In fact, an interview
with the Sphinx or with M Egyptian mummy
would have been fully az pruduciye OF re-
suits, By way OF reply to two or three
questions asked him the hermit looked at the
reporter steadily Tor several seconds and
great and consuming disgust soemad to aone
over his wTinkled face. Slowly STRENGTHENING
himself up Roehl turned his back on tho
reporter and walked around TO the rear of
reporter with blank notebook In his hand.
a blank expression on his face aud a few ra-
marks In blank verse ON his mind
Second attempt. made few days later
was productive OF slightly better results.
But here may DO told the story OF the her
Inits habits and the little that Is known
live near him.
John Christian Roehl came to Houston with
his mother whom ba vrna 4 ,,aa,. nta
was born in Germany about fifty years ago.
his mother being German. At what age
young Roehl was brought to the United States
concerning his mothers history except the |
Information contained in story that is too !
vague TO be relied on.
When Mrs Roehl came to Houston she |
poushl the lot on which now stands the |
mouse IL winch her son Is passing checsless I
existence. She had some money when she l
came here and with It she built the house
now known as the hermitage, aud opened a
llttle. grocery store, the location OF which
could not be fixed by The Post reporter
Informant She and her son lived In me
NIUE nome, ana the mother, being q thrifty
aud Industrious woman. the son was given
some education. Little can be learned ~ ms
youth, since those who lived near him then
nave all died or moved away. HOY ,rer
those living In the neighborhood now say
hoehi was always peculiar character even
IN his boyhood
MRS. hoehl and her son lived In the old
bouse until 1852, when the mother died, l,aY.
ng the son tho sole occupant and the owner
Of the property. He WA then abous 30 years
u age Previous to his mothers death 10
had worked at various kinds Of empioym 9nt.
ana was for time clerk OF the police court
N this city. his employment in that capacity
being in 1876.
After his mother died change came over
YOUNG Roehl. who had formerly gone about
among his fellowmen as one Of them. He
rev taciturn DlorDse, exclusive, finally es-
chewing all Co .versation or communication
with those about him. except at infrequent