The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-30
"Jake" Reno, Who Is Walking
From Albany to Boston, Stops
in Leicester For a Brief Hour
to Talk to Spy Man
FIFTH TIME HE HAS
MADE LONG JOURNEY
Says It's His Last, However, and
That He Will Settle Down in the
Hub to Pass the Remaining
DAYS of His Life-Rain Doesn't
Phase Him
Phase Him

Special to The Spy.
Leicester, Dec. 29.-"Jake" Reno
travelling from Albany to Boston
passed through Leicester today, and
stopped at the store of Dorney & Dor
sey in Cherry Valley where he partook
of simple lunch which he carried in
a small hand satchel and which looked
altogether out of keeping with the at
tire of the mud bedraggled traveller
The Spy man talked with Reno and
found he has been for many years con-
nected with the stockyards of Armour
& Company of Chicago. Eight years
ago he left the employ of the great
packing company and wendell his way
to New England and took up his abode
in the city of Boston. Five years ago,
being in rather destitute circumstances
he started West. When he left Boston
he did not have a cent in his pocket,
and laughed as he said that if he had
the experience he has today he would
not worry about starting out on an
other such journey under the same
conditions
He reached Albany in about three
months and he says he walked all the
way. Ever since then he has made the
trip from Albany to Boston and back
again once every year, always walking
all the way. When he reached Cherry
Valley today he was making the return
trip to Boston. This is his fifth trip to
Boston and he stated it would be his
last and that when he reached Boston
this time he would buy out a little
business and settle there for the re-
mainder of his life. Some one in the
store Ventured the remark that it
would fol n h11t a
little business.
ooh, | have a little money" he said,
Il have not been idle all these past
five years" He then explained that by
doing odd jobs along the way he had
accumulated quite a sum. He said he
found it more profitable than remain
ing in one place and working day in
and day out as at the end of a week
one is as poor as when he started in
Monday morning.
He proved his statement by exhibit
ing roll of bills that would have paid
his fare many times to Boston and
back. He stayed not quite an hour in
the place and then resumed his jour
ney to Worcester where he said that
he had friends he had made during his
semi annual visits to that city.
When asked to tell something of his
life, he said he did nO1SCare to talk Of
his past career not that 1t was Grim
inal one. but he said he had been Wis
tied by touch of sadness in the past
which he would never forget and that
alone was the reason he had taken to
his queer way of living, Reno is a
man about five feet. four inches in
height. and when he visited this town
he was attired in a suit of coarse black
stuff, and wore a black SLOUGH hat. He
was the picture Of health and when
he said he had never known a sick day
his word was not doubted.
The annual jollification and recep-
ton of the Catholic Total Abstinence
Society to it's lady friends will take
place in the society's rooms, Tuesday
Dec. 81. Last New Years eve, a recep-
ton was held and ii was a success in
every way. This year it is hoped the
endeavors of the young men to enter
tain their lady friends will be still
more successful. An interesting liter
airy and musical program has been ar
ranged The talent is all local except
that an out-of-town reader, Miss Mary
Sullivan of Clinton. has been engaged.
The rooms will be tastefully decorated
with cut flowers and ported plants, and
refreshments will be served at a late
hour. The program for the night is:
Song, Edward O'Donnell; reading
Daniel McKenna; song, Miss Mar
garet Kennedy; reading, Miss Mary
Sullivan; song, Miss Elizabeth Farrell;
song. James Hanley: piano solo. Miss
Grace Williamson; song, Miss RATHER
inc O'Connor; piano duet, Miss Mary
Sweeney and Miss Jennie Farrell;
reading. Jere Mccarthy; banjo solo,
Edward McKenna; song Thomas
Kane