The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1914-11-17

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: the gray mingled with what remain
ed, he might be man Of fifty. But
to judge by the clear blue Of his
eyes. the healthy bronze Of his cheeks
the erect vigor of his figure, his alert
quick movements, he might easily be
but thirty. Age, as expressed by Its
usual signs, did not seem to belong
to him.
He sat on low stool in a dingy
dusty shop mending shoes. AS the
footwear that had been left to be
fixed was not quite ready, waited
and as he Strengthened a heel, | re-
marked on the discomfort of trying
to walk on high heels, and observed
that the Chinese have nothing on us
in the way Of footwear.
"Nor clothes. either" he agreed
with bright smile. II like the way
the Chinese women dress"
agreed with him and wished their
costumes were ours.
Such things are merely q matter
OF CUSTOM" he went on. Il was in
the Philippine war and when first
landed l thought the dress Of the ma
tives outrageous. But after was
there six months, I never gave a
thought to 1t. We all wear too many
clothes" he concluded.
l ventured to remark that men
were not SO numbered as women.
They wear more than they need"
he said emphatically. Il tried the
back to nature stunt once and I
know. l went out In the woods and
lived a year in a cabin. wore
nothing but shoes, overalls and a
shirt-no socks, no underwear, no
hat, summer or winter. was new
er healthier, in my life."
And then followed a vivid and in
teresting account Of that year.
my living cost me just seventy
two dollars for these twelve months,
and / lived we'll. never relished
food so much in my life and gain
ed forty pounds. I didn't do it for
my health. was perfectly we'll and
supposed I had my normal weight
weighed one seventy something
when I went and over two hundred
when came back. I wanted to try
out vegetarianism for one thing.
cut out all meat. l ate beans, pota-
toes, onions, rice and such things,
bread and butter and stewed fruit
and canned fruit, dropped tea and
coffee and I do not drink or smoke.
Then followed as good a talk as
any housewife could give on the cor
rect way to make salt risen bread,
to cook beans which are the better
kinds. and much other culinary lore.
During the winter it was cold, the
ground and mountains were covered
with snow. But every morning I
made dash through the snow to a
little lake near the cabin and took
a plunge. It was great. Twice week
walked or snow shoed eight miles
for my mail. The folks at the post.
office would say. Here comes the
crazy man. But always told them
that II was crazy. I was a good deal
happier and healthier than they"
I ventured to ask what had been
the object Of his retirement.
He 'hesitated a moment and then
he said. with a slight flush. II want
ed to study-religion I wanted to
thresh the subject out thoroughly and
see what I could get out Of IT,"
"And you did," / asked eagerly.
II did a lot" he said with his
bright smile. "But ! haven't finish
ed yet. was brought up" he went
on, Ito enter the church. Indeed 1t
was supposed by those who knew my
family and the training I received
that I would In time fill high posi-
ton In the church. There is very
little in the Bible have not studied.
know It from cover TO cover. But
I wasn't satisfied. So out there In
woods ! studied the Koran from be-
ginning to end. But I have no use
for Mohammedanism," he said with
a Diminishing wave Of his hand. "Then
/ tackled theosophy and went thru
that. But I haven't found what
want yet. want proofs" he said
earnestly.
He became silent a moment, his
attention fixed on the bit Of leather
he was hammering on the heel In
front Of him.
after came out OF the woods, I |
went to South America to see lot
of ruins that were supposed to tell !,
of a vanished race and vanished
D,,s out ~