The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-04-02
OLDEST /. /. HOBO 4. |. O !BAICK;
WAS A I.OL |. I: l04 YEARS.
'ssOld Simon Piious Wanderer,
Found lernJ Too Slow

Old Simon" Sem Semke Hersh, or, 5
his American citizenship certificate re-
cords his name, Simon Harris. the CEN.
Stenarian tramp and most pious man In
American vii, be back in his old place
in the Norfolk Street Synagogue this
morning. 81 4, S.. II
Until last Saturday night his friends
supposed that old Sim" was IN Jeru-
salem, whltner he Went nearly two
years ago to die. He became tired Eof
waiting to attain-the object Of his pill
sgrimage,H and surprised his friend, L..
Meier, of a No..854 Atlantic Avenue and
his daughter, Mrs. Fred Brock. or No.
70 Columbia Street, Brooklyn. by walk
ting in upon them on Saturday night.
+ He had Just arrived on the Philadelphia
from Cherbourg. t
BY reason Of hts years, his spietys and
Sthe extent or his rambles, Simon Harris,
known to everybody on the east side,
is the most remara bike tramp down on
the books.
+ He himself says he Is nnety-seven.
but the records of the societies which
have ASSISTED hin, and the public records
at Bialystok. Russian Poland, where lie
was born show the patriarch to be one
hundred and four years old. q t.55
4 1T Is ono Of his proudest boasts that
no never did n days work in his life
311e was bout sixty years old when he
walked from Bialystok to Hamburg
and induced The packet company TO give
Il religious tramp, starting penniless
BY way Of Panama he{reached Calffor-
MIA, where he became, forty-four years
ago, al, American citizen. lie came
Lack to New York afoot, and was three
years yonsthe way,
lie returned to russia. where his
wife had died before he first sailed for
New York. lie brought back with him
his only child. Rachel now Mrs. Brock,
He next made little juunts into Central
|S4Amer!ca Brazil Chill and Peru. return
Ing through Central America, Mexico and
Texas. i54 4e FL
After spending about five years on the
east side, passing most of Ills time IN
prayer In the synagogue. he started for.
Ing through Africa Egypt Siberia and
China. Tle came back again by way OF
Russia,
Always wearing his yarnlenke, orEpray-
ing cap, "Old Simon spent many q
night in tho synagogues praying that
tho soul of some departed friend, over
whose body he kept visil, should keep
should be light, Two years ago he de-
cded to 60 again to Jerusalem, this
time 10 die in tho Holy City. Hestarcd
with 500. While the societies have sent
llimlten francs Il month";
"Old simon" says he#found Jerusalem
''slow," with "littlc mueh' businesa do
Ing there. lie spent all his time pray
Ing in the oldest synagogue In the clty,--;,
temple 1900 years old. II
When he tired OF the dead town.
tho American consul, Selah Merrlll,
gave him Il letter, and he came back l,y
way OF Jopnn, Marselles, Paris ana
Gherbonrs1 Early Yesterday morning
he worsl!pped in II private synagogue
AN No, n Columbia Street, Brooklyn.
s"old simons' voice is firm and his;
| mental faculties Keen, He read with
out spectacles a Hebrew newspaper,
II was sick until was forty years
old sad he, and then began to get
strong. Palestine is too little good.
The United States is the best place.
Whlskey i like not too much; IN llttles{I
am particular what ! eat when have
then i am not partcular,''--Newi York
World. 3 @