The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-12-03
'RECIUSE A PROBLEM
ABNORMAL LOVE or SOLITUDE
HARo TO UNDERSTAND.
Al Glasses Of Society included Among
Those Peculiar individuals Who
Have Shut Themselves from
Their Fellow Men.

The recluse II a human problem
which has defied doctors and scient-
SITS alike. They can give no satisfac-
'ory reason why an otherwise sane
person should shut himself up and re-
use to mingle with his fellow men.
Only a few days ago an extraor.
iinary story Of selfbanishment was
revealed at an inquest held at Chat
ham. The central figure might have
stepped out Of the pages Of Dickens,
'or he was known by the curiously ro-
mantle nickname OF Walter All
Alone"
Twenty years ago Walter Tibball-
TO give him his real name-was
prosperous butcher. Then one morn
ing he disappeared from his usual
haunts, the business was sold and the
streets Of Chatham knew Walter Tib-
ball no 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 saw Walter All-Alone
and never conversed with him.
The cottage fell into very bad
state and Tibball's health broke down;
but he strenuously refused medical
lid and resolutely declined to enter
;he infirmary.
At the inquest 1t was stated that
Walter All-Alone had condemned him
self to this wretched existence by way
If expiating some purely imaginary
FAULT.
Henry Cavendish, the famous nat
Iral philosopher and chemist, was q
recluse who astonished England.
A son of Lord Charles Cavendish
and nephew Of the third duke of
Oevonshire. possessed Of enormous
wealth. the subject OF universal ad-
niration because of his scientific at.
tainments. he preferred the solitude
of his study and the company OF his
books to the pleasures society could
affer him.
For many years he lived at Hamp.
stead. in a large. roomy house, attend.
ed by number of female servants,
who, however, were strictly enjoined
to keep out of his sight. II domes-
tic by the merest chance came into
the presence of Cayendish, she was
instantly dismissed.
Every morning the philosopher
would leave a note on the hall table
naming what he wanted for dinner.
No one saw him place the note there.
but, accustomed to the strange GUS
toms of the establishment, the meal
would be prepared. and only the re-
mains Of the repast signified the pres.
ence Of the master of the house.
When Cavendish died. in 1910. he
eft behind him nearly $5,000.000. be-
side lasting reputation as scientist
and writer on natural philosophy.
The case of Capt. Wilson contains
every element of tragedy and pathos.
Educated at great public school, he
entered crack cavalry regiment
when only 90 years of age. Then fol-
lowed a decade of popularity In Lon
don society.
But everything changed with the
death of his supposed father. II was
hen revealed that Capt. Wilson was
not the son of the man to whom he
owed his splendid position: he was
only founding. 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 OBJ
scure village in the south Of England.
BY his will he disposed Of $750. 000.-
4 ap1au TalnUranh