New-York tribune., 1908-01-05
RELYING HIS VAR DAYS.
Old Soldier Camps Before His Fire
m Paramount Park.

What is the secret of the magic power of
--.ckIing fire to conjure I'D memories of days
that dead2
The answer 10 this abstruse question may be
left to psychologists. Few will deny that
cr.acklng fire has such power. In the leaping
sharks and the reddening logs one finds the
stimulus to muse and to mediate in moods that
range from melancholy to rnerriment-
This in brief is the line of thought that OBJ
sesses Major James H Workman, Civil War
veteran who recently determined to become
hermit In the winter of life his mind harked
back to the days Of battle and sudden death
BE longed once more for the alluring freedom of
the simple life of q soldier. He determined TO
live once more. as nearly possible the life
Of his soldier days by camping in the open, be-
side rearing fire, to prepare his own meals. TO
bid defiance to cold and wet and. in imagination
al least. to campaign again with Sherman and
Grant.
Had the old soldier heen friendess and alone
he might have buried himself permanently in
some secluded spot and revelled in his campfire
dreamings until taps sounded for the last
time. But the major is blessed with a devoted
wife and a host Of friends, and no one would
Listen 70 his suggestion that he retire to the
woods to end his days with the birds and the
squirrels for companions. So he compromised
by pitching his camp in an out OF the way ravine
in Fairnount Park. Philadelphia, where he is
as completely off the beaten track as he would
be in the wilderness The park authorities
humored the old soldiers whm.
Joyfuliy the major selected his campground,
IN a picturesque spot, where the trees shelter
him to some extent from The wind and here
he can be found. no matter LOw severe the
weather.
The major VIII first offer the visitor q cup OF
halt was made in war time coffee. the great re-
cuperator was in requisition. The coffee he
boils over the blazing logs in true camp style.
II you catch him at meal time he will offer you
d share of the contents of his haversack an
other habit he acquired in the days Of the COS,
He Is not hermit of the kind that shuns So
ciety The campfire was what the old soldier
crayed- The more visitors he has TO his opeE
air home the better pleased he is. But the yet-
eran perfectly contented when alone. He re
Clines for hours on park bench that he has
moved to the spot Behind this he has i'm
proyised wind shield and in the little clear
ing in front he makes his log fire. Lying thus
he cazes steadily into the blaze, dreaming of
ihe old stirring days Of the war. living once
more the haIcyon time when life was like
wine that bubbles and sparkIes in the glass.
The Husing old soldier in the blaze the
figures Of men in blue Ieaping 10 the charge. he
catches the CLINT Of steel the yelling lines
clash and hears the sound Of cannon as the
artillery gets TO work.
Ia the same magic element the major conjure-
gg2 the dark days he spent II Libby Prison. tho
scenes Of carnage in the many battles in which
tis regiment. Rush's Lancers took part. From
tie heart Of the fire sad faces rise to greet him
ouce more Some are 1nar-ed and red with |