The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-12-25
The "KanSaS Hermit"

at Topeka, where he was attending
the funeral Of an cid friend, cuts
another link between the Kansas Of
the present and the past-between
the Kansas Of peace, enlightenment
and prosperity and the Kansas of
that sublime and purposeful turbu
lence and strenuosity and strife
which characterized territorialtlmes
General Cameron, for forty years,
has been known as the "Kansas
hermit" having lived in a seques
tered spot on the banks of the
Kaw-close to nature. His home
was a rude hut of sticks and straw,
and his companions were the birds
and squirrels and some dome sticated
animals.
On account of bis mode of living,
General Cameron was looked upon
as man "who was alittle cracked y
and yet in his every action there was
a noble purpose. Some people
thought he was crazy because he
did not conform to the fashions OF
men, others because he lived in tn,
oLen air, and still others because OF
his rigid adherence to vegetable
diet. He was conscious of the
estimate the public placed upon
him, but he bore it with philosop-
hical satisfaction that would have
done credit to the renowned Hip
4 pocrates. He discussed the matter
once with the editor of this paper,
and defended his position and
practices with a lucidity of logic
tnat was more than ordinary.
Cameron gave up the fascination
# easy life in government Office,
under either Pierce or Fillmore, we
forget which, for the open wilder
ness, and selected Kansas for his
habitation on account of the strug-
| gle then going on here for human
freedom. In his clerical days he
was sort of genius at mathematics,
and at one time, we believe, held
down a college chair in that braRch
of learning.
Like a great many others, he con-
demned Senator Edmund Ross for
having voted against the impeach-
ment of President Andrew Johnson
"a vote that stands as a monument
to his exalted integrity as a repre-
sentative of his state-but when
public prejudice cooled down and
The passions of the age subsidized.
Mr.. Cameron, realizing the injustice
done by Kansas to Edmund Ross
who was forced into exile in New
Mexico-secured from the state
l. glslaturs an "sct of forgiveness"
for the former senator, and travelled
all the way 70 New Mexico, at the
age Of So, and presented 1t to him
with his own hands. Andit reached
there IN time, for Mr.. Ross, short
time afterwards, went before the
"Great Tribunal Above" where his
vote against the impeachment of
Johnson had already been recorded
to his credit.
Cameron belonged of right to an
age farther back-the age of the
Drulds and Prophets. He would
have fitted into the age of Socrates
better than he fitted the age of
Bristow and Stubbs. The world
laughed at him for the strangeness
of his ways more than for the
quality of his wisdom, but maybe
the world was not wise in its humer.
He lived a simple life of great con
tentment and self-satisfaction and
he prolonged it a few milesto les
beyond eighty in the enjoyment of
the most extraordinary good health.
What is better for a man2 Why
chase after the other things that
bring only disappointment and sor-
row and discomfort? To him the
apple of life was all fruit and it was
sweet until the hour of his death,
which cane as peacefully as a sum-
mer nightfall and eOaxed him away ,
IS sleep does youth after day of ,
/.