The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-07-25
THREE AGED MEN
OF KANSAS HAVE
PLEASANT LIVES

IOpeka July Zo.-lne vacation Pc
riod Of life-years well along towards
the horizon-has brought pleasant
occupations to three aged Kansas
men. Having retired from active
pursuits, each today is following the
bend of his inclinations and declares
he is ENJOYING his pastime immensely
One writing and printing a book,
another collecting insects, and the
third as q sculptor of stone.
DR.. A. y. See. 80, a retired Meth.
odst preacher who with his wife
lives in the Methodist Home for the
Aged in Topeka, has just completed
a history of the Northwest Kansas
conference. He not only gathered
the historical data and wrote the
manuscript for 200 page book, but
also printed the pages on little
hand press and bound the volumes.
DR.. See was a pioneer circuit rider
in the big Northwest Kansas confer
ence and later for many years was
superintendent of the district.
Karl Stecher, 80, of Wichita, artist
and educator. chose to pursue what
he claims always has been his hob
by-collecting insects. An extensive
collection of caterpillars gathered and
mounted by Mr.. Stecher, recently was
displayed in the show window of
obtained by him on his travels
through six ountries-Switzerlan
France. Italy, Turkey, Canada and
the United States. Mr.. Stecher was
born in Oberkich, Germany. He
gained most of his education in Paris
where he resided twenty years,
making art his speciality. His paint.
ings are confined largely to scenes OF
nature in the various countries ne
has visited, including one of Mt.
Blanc, and several of New York. BY
his brush he gained considerable rec
ognition, both in Europe and Amer
lea. He still paints, having several
canvasses under way at present.
Several of his paintings are dated
1920. Mr.. Stecher came to America
AS years ago.
Having made q comfortable fortune
farming since he came to this coun-
try with his father So years ago
from his native Belgium. Charles De-
Leya OF Emmet-long since made IA.
nous as the town that produced
Jess Willard-devotes much of his
time to sculpturing and making
unique stone decorations for his
house and barn. Some of these,
which include large stone gate
arch, a decorative wall, huge ba-
sin surmounting stone base ten feet
in diameter, are of MOSAIC design Of
vari-colored stones set in concrete
and decorated with the sculptor's
chisel. The decorative wall is 127 feet
long and inlaid with more than 200
kinds of rocks.
''In fact the most difficult job OF
all was the gathering OF the many
kinds of stones" said Mr.. DeLeye.
II have been gathering them for
twenty-five years. Most OF them
came from within seventy-five miles
OF my home. but some came from
Colorado numerous other states and
even from Belgium"
In the gate Mr.. DeLeye carried out
.. design common TO Belgium. His
father was stone mason and be-
fore they came TO America they
erected numerous decorative struc.
lures. such as arches. public park
bases, crosses. fish ponds well hous-
es and stone designs on buildings.
The gate consists of two pillars n
foot square surmounted by an arch
OF solid stone. the large keystone
being carved TO resemble grotesquc
skull. In his yard stands q stone
cross seven feet high. the terminals
OF the standard and the cross-arm
being rounded 10 resemble gigantic
fleur-de-lis. He also has construct.
ed stone we'll house OF unique de.
sign, ten feet in height. the top Of
which resembles Chinese temple
with overhanging caves. In each Of
the four well house pillars he has in.
laid q glass beer bottle. "They will,
be considered real relies In a few
years." remarked the farmer-sculp-
tor.