Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1910-02-03
RECLUSE A PROBLEM
ABNORMAL LOVE OF SOLITUDE
HARD TO UNDERSTAND.
All Glasses CT Society Included Among
Those Peculiar individuals Who
Have Shut Themselves from
Their Fellow Men.

The recluse is human problem
which has defied doctors and scient-
lists alike. They can give no satisfac-
tory reason why an otherwise sane
person should shut himself up and re-
fuse to mingle with his fellow men,
Only few days ago an extraor-
binary story of self-banishment was
revealed at an inquest held at Chat
ham. The central figure might have
stepped out of the pages of Dickens,
for 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 a
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 a
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
aid and resolutely declined to enter
the infirmary.
AT the inquest it was stated that
Walter All-Alone had condemned him.
self to this wretcheG existence by way
OF expiating some purely imaginary
fault.
Henry Cavendish, the famous nat
ural philosopher and chemist, was
recluse who astonished England.
A son of Lord Charles Cavendish
and nephew of the third duke of
Devonshire, possessed of enormous
wealth, the subject of universal ad-
miratfon because of his scientific at
tainments, he preferred the solitude
of his study and the company of his
books to the pleasures society could
offer him.
For many years he lived at Hamp-
stead, in large, roomy house, attend
ed by number of female servants,
who, however, were strictly enjoined
to keep out of his sight. If a domes-
tic by the merest chance came into
the presence of Cavendish, she was
instantly dismissed.
Every morning the philosopher
would leave 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 signifed the pres
ence of the master of the house.
When Cavendish died, in 1910, he
left behind him nearly $5,O0O,O0O, be-
side lasting reputation as scientist
aud 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 20 years Of age. Then fol-
lowed decade of popularity in Lon
don society.
But everything changed with the
death of his supposed father. 1t was
then 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 $3.50, OO0.-
London Telegraph.