Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-09-03

without seeking the riches that CIV
ilization bangles just out OF reach.
Delton is a beautiful, quiet little
village in the heart of the Wisconsin
and close to the banks Oh a
little lake that reminds one OF
SCOTS description in "The Lady OF
the Lake." it is called Mirror Lake
and it is well named.
Close to the banks Of this lake
George Skinner has lived ever since
he was mustered out after the war OF
the rebellion, tired and worn and Ill.
He had enough money to purchase
an acre of ground in Delton. he Quit
himself a cabin. In his acre OF ground
he planted vegetables and fruit trees.
Close to his house there grows thick
cluster of blackberry bushes and IN
the garden behind it there are long
rows of strawberries. Over the low
fence that separates the yard from
the road are wild roses.
Here the war veteran made his
home.
How did he live? Each day he
took his fishing rod and went down to
Mirror Lake. That is his pork
barrel The fish that he drew out OF
those waters supplied his dinner, like
wise his breakfast.
His vegetables and corn. meal
grown in his own garden, completed
his diet. Don't imagine that George
Skinner lives badly. His tastes are
simple, to be sure, but in the diet
that he draws from natures store
house is an abundance that even mil
lionaire's table does not excel.
For his lake fishing Skinner has
built himself a boat. The craft it.
self is a commonplace row boat, but
his manner of propelling it is as
unique as the old man himself. In
order that he may fish and propel his
boat at the same time George Skinner
has incented an extraordinary con-
trivance At the stern of his boat he
put a paddle like that of a river
steamer This turned by means of a
chain running on cogs and attached to
crank that the old man turns with
one hand as he fishes with the other.
The rudder is attached to wires that
run along the bottom of the boat to
a pivot which Skinner controls with
his feet. In this strange craft, nick
named "the flying machine" by the
people of Delton, Skinner catches his
food.
Cali this very WELL" you say, "as
long as the summer lasts. But in
the winter, what then? How does
George Skinner live when Mirror Lake
is a solid sheet of ice and his garden
is covered by a half dozen feet of
snow"
George Skinner lives during the
winter as well as he does in the sum-
mer. From the over abundance of
one season he saves enough to meet
the necessities of the other
During the summer days he fishes
continuously. He catches on an
average 100 fish day Il found that
the suntbass of Mirror Lake are
eager for the hook Ten of these fish
suffice for his two simple meals The
other ninety are carefully cleaned and
stored away in great barrels of brine
kept in the cellar of the cabin. When
George Skinner has enough barrels OF
fish stored away to last him through
the winter he stops fsh hing except fol-
those he uses each day.
Il think it a sin to kill any creature
even a fish-except for FOOD he
said to me.
During the few days When he is moi
fishing George Skinnerl gathers the
produce from his garden and cans it
Peas, beans, berries, all kinds of fruit
corn-all of these the Old man can.
and stores in his cellar i'm preparation
for the days when the country il
covered by winters icy m antle.
Everything that he needs is supplied
natures pork barrel" The fish from
the river, the produce from p the soil
these furnish food to the Iold pionee
who calls himself "the hapHiest man il
Wisconsin"
HOW does george Skinner spent
his annual dollar? 1 asked him tina
"A great many fish hooks and I
very little tobacco" he said.
And your clothes?' II asked
When they wear out, what then?-
They do not wear out veryi often,
he answered. when they do ex
change some of my vegetables br Der
ries for piece of cloth and make m,
clothes during the long winter.t
And SO George Skinner lives Talon,
in quiet, peaceful Delton. YoA ma.
not fancy his way of living, but III you
had seen him in that summer twilight
before the door of his cabin as y die
you would know that it is the truth h
speaks when he says that he is ridhe,
than Pierpont Morgan.