Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-25

- lucy can give no satisfactory reason
| IagNlglNI why an otherwise sane person should
80 shut himself up and refuse to mingIe
with his fellow-men.
1t was only few days ago that an extraordi-
nary story of self-banishment was revealed at al
inquest held at Chatham, England. The central
| inquire might have stepped out of the pages OF
Dickens, for he was known by the curiously ro-
mantle nickname of ''Walter All-Alone" Twer-
ty years ago Walter Tibball-to give him his
real name-was prosperous Chatham butcher.
Then one morning he disappeared from his usual
haunts, the business was sold, and the streets
of Chatham knew Walter 1ibball more. For
the rest of his life he lived in miserable shanty
on the outskirts of the town-alone and silent
The little food he ate was delivered by man
who seldom Walter All-Alone, and never
conversed with him. During recent years the
cottage fell into very bad state and Tibballs
health broke down.. but he strenuously refused
medical aid, and resoutely declined to enter the
infrmary. At the inquest it was stated that
Waller AIl-Alone had condemned himself to this
wretched existence by way of expatng some
purely imaginary fault.
Henry Cavendish, the famous natural philoso-
pher and chemist, recluse who astonished
England. A son Of Lord Charles Cavendsh and
a nephew of the third Duke of Devonshire, pos
sessed Of enormous wealth. the subject of uni
versal admiration because of his scientific attain
ments, he preferred the solitude of his study and
the company of his books to the many pleasures
For many years he lived at Hampstead, in
large, roomy house, attended by number of fe-
male servants, who. however were strictly en-
Joined to keep out of his sight. If domestic
by the merest chance came into the presence Of
Cavendish she was instantly dismissed The
servants never knew whether he in the
house or not--he might have been dead, far
as they were concerned. Every morning when in
his residence the philosopher would leave note
on the hall-tahle naming what he wanted for
= II. - 4I..A
but accustomed to the strange customs Of the
establishment, the meal would be prepared, and
only the remains of the repast signifed the pres
ence of the master of the house. Another OBJ
servance of his an annual interview with the
person whom he had appointed his principal
heir On a certain day in each year this fortu-
nate gentleman called, and was received by the
recluse. AT the end of an hour he would leave,
with an appointment for meeting twelve
months later.
When Cavendish died, in 1910, he left behind
him nearly million pounds, besides lasting
reputation as a scientist and writer on natural
philosophy. Numerous anecdotes are told of his
eccentricities, but by his will he proved himself
we'll versed in the ways of the world.
The case of Captain Wilson contains every ee-
ment of tragedy and pathos. Educated at a
great public school, he entered crack cavalry
regiment when only twenty years of age. Then
followed decade of popularity in London So
ciety The young officer, as the clever son of a
wealthy man, was welcomed everywhere, made
the acquaintance of Royalty, and his life ap-
peared to be path of roses.
But everything changed with the death of his
supposed father 1t was then revealed that Cap
tam Wilson was not the of the man to
whom he owed his splendid position he
only founding The blow was terrible one,
and had disastrous effect on the young officer.
Though his foster parent had left him his entire
fortune, he resigned at once from the army and
from his clubs, said farewell to all his friends,
and retired to an obscure village in the South
of England. By his will he disposed of $5oo0oo.