The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1955-05-24

pfipN' NtIp i+FF dpnt NOM VIE
main current Of mankind he
Identifies himself as also IA child
Of the sun
The aWarencSs Of his unfortu-
nate birth according to Mrs.
Foafd coupled with "A sense Of
pride made him hold his head up
and rcbukc those who hurt him
with their ridicule and exclusion =
HIS proud demeanor and apparent
imperviousness to the sings and
arrows and suspicious glances Of
the toWnspeople were noted dur
ing his years IN Farmvillc
Piano Lessons
Following his unsuccessful at
t empt at formal education. Gould
TOOK piano lessons IN Portland
Although he did not show much
natural talent he vas quick ex-
preSSive and had an exceptional
memory and soon he was prof.
Gent In music Piano playing be-
came the only form Of employment
that produced consistent none
tary return for him throughout
the rest Of his life
For eighteen years after leaving
Portland he wandered over
Maine from one movie house to
another. says MIS- Foard IN her
honofs paper. drumming out by
ear anything that could be made
appropriate as accompaniment for
vaudeville h rows and silent
movies
Leaves Maine
Forced to leave Maine IN 1920
70 escape his creditors. Gould
stayed for a while in Greenwich
Village. and then finding New
York too hectic, he went to live
with DR. Williams family in New
Jersey for the winter of 1921 30
That Spring with a few borrowed
dollars IN his pocket. he took
train to the South In Washing
ton. he began to walk southwark
finally reaching Farmville with
his money exhausted He took the
Job Of pianist al the local theater
FOR Sl8 a week. and rented small
frame cabin IN Cumberland Coun-
" Just across the Appomattox
River
Gould found the quiet atmoS-
phere Of Farmville TO his liking
SAYS Mrs. Foard He soon con-
verted the tiny clapboard house
into beautiful well kept home
surrounded by flower beds and
traYersed by flagstone paths Here
he lived alone with his dozens Of
eats Which he gathered about him
as a reminder of the happy days
that he had spent with his mother
and their cats IN Maine He kept
IN touch with his friends up North.
and several of them. including the
Williams paid his annual visit.
He must have been AZ added at
traction FOR movie patrons. whom
he amazed with his versatile
ability Go accompany the movie
while he read book on the side.
munchcd peanuts. and occasional
~ Turned 10 laugh at the audi
encc
Marriage
In 1882 Gould married Miss
Mary Jackson a Well-iiked we'll
educated spinSter about his own
age whose family had lived in
Farmville fot generations The
union caused unpleasant repercus-
si0ns even 10 the point Of aliena-
ton b. Ween Miss Mary and some
of her friends and relatives Mrs
FaaFd states II Was well-known
and generally froWned upon that
sle had been helping Gould
financially for years and that they
had become exceedingly close
friends Gould poetic creatlyity
was little appreciated locally. his
health was declining and he APP
peared to toWnspeople only as q
somewhat dirty. poorly dressed &C.
centric who was drain on Miss
NaryS resources During The dc
~ sslon she MAS forced to take
a W T 4 job as a social worker
.o support them while Gould stay
I'd al home dong the cooking and
Nousecleaning writing, and max
ing 1ellies and pastries TO sell
W'hsn her log cndede and there
was no money AZ ali. Miss Mar,
sold her silver and other posses
s.onS.
II is easy 70 believe. rs does Mrs
Foafd after her research. that thi.
q 4.fs 81