Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-12
"LOVES NATURE."
The Religion of Greenleaf II. Davis, a
Maine Hermit.

l
the selectmen of Patten came for hin
with a team of horses and took him tt
the town almshouse, leading him to 6
blanketed seat on the sled and placing
him among the piles of soft cushions SC
his ride of 10 miles to his new home
should not tire him.
When l came to Shin pond, more
| than 60 years ago. could climb to the
top of Mt. katahdin and, look as far as
would, could see nothing but rolling
woods and winding streams that had
been there since God built the world
and the morning and evening were the
first day. Now l Lam blind and old. My
fortune is gone, and l am left desolate
in my old age, an object of charity who
waits patiently but hopefully for death.
But If l were back to 30 years of age
again and owned the $40, 900 had when
l came here, l would again seek the
deep woods and again hunt the bears,
deer, and moose and wildcats, the way
have done for more than half a CEN
fury, and no promise of rewards or
wealth or honors could wean me from
my first love-"
Men who are now gray-headed and
who read the country newspapers of
SO years ago, remember seeing the name
Greenleaf H. Davis signed to many
short pieces of verse, which We're pub
lished in those days. The work was
not what the modern critics would call
poetry, but it had a rude and woodsy
flavor about it's composition which
showed a keen insight into ways and
habits of wild life, and was saturated
with the praise of the woods and of
the creatures which run wild in the
deep forests. In those days the poet
was tall and full of youthful vigor
He was the most successful hunter
and the most skilled man in woodcraft
that lived in Maine. No Indian had SO
sharp an eye, no scientis- hai So acute
a knowledge OF plants and animals as
he. Wealthy owners of timberlands
referred to him when they wished to
settle disputed lines and operators who
were about to open new camps offered
him great fees if he would spot easy
grades for the opening of new roads
through the wilds. AS a rule he re-
jected employment with an Indifference
that was akin to scorn, but if he took
a liking to a man he would do scouting
work and labor day and night without
seeking payment for his services. AS
soon as the heavy tasks were performed
and when work grew easy, he packed
up his belongings and wandered away
across the hills and hid himself among
the wilds for months at time sleeping
under camps of boughs and eating of
Wild fruits and such animals and fish
as he could capture.
When Henry d. Thoreau, the sage
of lake Walden" came to northern
Maine in the middle of the last century
and climbed to the top of Katahdin for
the purpose of writing a book about
his adventures, he formed warm
friendship for the hermit and consulted
him often as to the ways of animal and
plant life when removed from contact
with humanity.
"He was a real man." said Mr.. Davis
in speaking of the Concord philosopher.
"He could see more than any other per-
son I have ever met, but he wasn't
fitted for living in the wood. He didn't
eat enough to keep a chickadee alive.
AS soon as he had swallowed a few
he would sit back and begin
to read from a book he carried in his
pocket If Thoreau had eaten more
venison steak and read less about Soc
rates he would have lived longer. I
have kept his book until now. 1t is
called Walden. or Life in the Woods
AS long as I could see 1 used to read
it,
The story of Mr.. Davis life is a
monotonous tale of the struggles of an
innocent dreamer to make the world
over to fit his way of thinking. He
spent &C years and 100000 in trying to
revert to the ancient ways of living
He kent opn camp to every woods
tramp and ne'er-do-wcll who came his
way. He wrote poetry and preached
sermons against steam. electricity,
street lights, sidewalks and every mod
ern invention.
The Indians from Oldtown. from the
Passamaauoddy tribe at PASSPORT and
from the Tobiuue and Micmac tribes in
New Brunswick came and lived upon
hin, for years. He was the best shot
with a rifle in Maine. Up to the time
his eyesight failed. he could catch a
mess of fish from Shin pond within 20
minutes from the time his line was wet.
During his life he has trapped and shot
more than 300 bears.
thousands OF deer ana nundreuS OF
moose and caribou have dropped at the
crack of his rife. He has killed more
wild game than any other two men
alive in Maine.
For dozen years his friends and adj
mirers have been trying to coax him
to quit Wing in Fair View, his camp
on Shin pond. 10 miles away from the
clearings, telling him he was too old to
reside so far from human help. To all
these pleadings the old man returned
scornful replies. He was going to die
whore he had lived. and no earthly
power could pull him away from his
camp. AS hn owned 400 or 500 acres of
land around his hor"e. and as he was
sane, his arguments prevailed.
Soon after reaching 90 years Of age
his eyes began to fail, and all last sum-
mer he could hardly see to cut wood
and cook his meals. When cold wealth.
er approached he became almost blind,
and when he went outdoors he had to
rely upon his dog to lead him back. In
the middle of December word came to
the selectmen that the old man was UNI
able to help himself and was suffering
for food. They drove out to see him.
and with small persuasion they coaxed
hin, IN po to the a1mshoIIse He ia not