New Britain herald., 1928-11-10
Prayers Offered Daily On Hill
By Man Who Lost Family In War
Mysterious Armenian Re-
garded With Awe by
Neighbors Who Have
Observed Him for Years.

who later was identified to be o
Armenian origin. began to MAX
daily appearances In the early hour
OF dawn on the hill at the uppe
end Of Gold street. The spot il
that vicinity IL not thickly settles
and 10 used al grazing grounds 10
cattle by people in that section, an,
az a playground by the children
who found ample space to give ven
to their athletic instincts whenever
weather conditions permitted. TIL,
man however, could be found thee,
In all seasons Of the year, every day
rain or shine. In snowstorms an6
billiards., during days OF extreme
cold-he could be seen each day a,
the same hour and every Sunday
from noon until the middle OF the
afternoon.
Spends Hours 1t Prayer
People who saw him in crouch.
ed position wondered at the purpose
Of these secluded. singular visits by
a man apparently sound OF body ani
mind. Those who ventured closer.
found him devoutly murmuring
prayers, casting his eyes upward to
the sky. making the sign OF 4 cross.
or turning over the beads OF a ros-
AIRY. totally unconcerned about what
was happening around him. At first
the children and even some of the
elders began 10 mock him and throw
missiles At him. bu the would not
break away from his prayer for one
moment to cast even q glance at his
attackers. or permit his lips to utter
a word In self-defense. No one
seemed to know anything about the
mans past or from whence he came
ON these daily pilgrtmages.
There were those however, who
came to defend the mans right Of
freedom to worship his God In a
manner he thought best. and appeal
ed to other sober thinking persons,
who through their efforts put an end
to the mockery and attacks pro-
pounded through sheer mischief.
The man continued his daily visits
and In the quiet In the fields raised
his voice toward heaven in fervent
prayer to the Creator. But intense
human curiosity was not satisfied
without finding out Ashy this man,
who apparently Stunned everybody,
never uttered 2 word to others.
passed tho early hours of day and
long hours during Sundays and holi-
days tn . manner BETTING a monk
or 4 nun. Guesses turned to specu-
lations and specuiations finally into
reaching some definite conclusions
by endeavors to come In contact
with someone who knew something
about the mans past life.
Family Maseacred BY Turks
1t was some time before conclus-
ion was reached by those bent on
the intent to learn his identity. 1t
appears that during the World War
this mans family was maasacred
q Turkish attack on Armen-
ian villages and towns. when every
home suspected to house Armenians
was ransacked and the occupants
The man was In this
country working every day and saw
ing money with but one purpose.
one dream in his mind. that of
bringing his family here. His
thoughts Of a happy reunion on a
free soil, however. were blasted when
after long period Of eager waiting
for news from his family. he learn
ed that hts dear ones were cruelty
together with thousands
Of others. He did not disparage
this by shouting to his intimate
friends about the cruel injustice. but
began to make his daily pilgrimages
10 the Gold street hill. quietly and
at first unobserved. where to this
day and undoubtedly to the day
when he will be unable to traverse
he distance from his home, he will
raise his voice In prayer.
Whether his prayers to God are
Tor the condemnation of the entire
race. or for the celestial
peace of his dear ones. or mayhap
.or his own sin Of leaving his fam
ly to fall into the hands Of his
enemies, is not known and perhaps
never will be known. One thing.
however, remains certain. that as
ong as he performs his devout
luties upon that hill, no one will
iare TO modest him. as 1t has been
that he suffered and is
and has chosen this means
# continuing his life on this earth.
Iven the dogs now seem to be cog
iizant of the fact that he Ia per-
'orming some great duty. and will
lot come near him to disturb him
Win growls and markings. during his
'"'''oas OF prayer. He has mapped
tut 4 course Of his duty and per.
urms II wit a zeal BETTING a most |
levout member of a secluded order.