Year: 1868

The Chicago Tribune has lengthy
account of a life of remarkable seclu
sion, the result evidently, Of disorder
ed mind, led for twelve years by a
clergyman and his daughter in the
town of Turner, about thirty miles
from Chicago. The name of the cler-
gyman is Ralden A. Watkins. He is
represented as a graduate of Middle
bury College, Vt, and was preacher
of the gospel at Rupert and Coventry
and Windsor county in that State, for
thirty years. In 1855 he removed
with his wife and daughter-the lat
ter sixteen years of age and both re-
fined and accomplished-to the Gown
of Turner, where he bought fine
farm of eighty acres. For a year
they mingled freely with the towns
people, VINO became much attached to
them. Mr.. Watkins often preached
to the people. At the end of the year
the wife and mother died, and from
tnat moment a change came over the
minister and his daughter. He ceased
to preach, and in a few months they
had entirely isolated themselves from
society. Thus year after year pass
ed by, young man who had become
enamored of the young lady being in-
formed very decidedly that he must
keep away, and the old man going
once . month to the village to ex-
change butter and eggs Tor groceries.
On each successive visit he would
look worse finally being covered with
filth, and no matter whether the
weather was warm or cold, his bead


was always covered with large wool.
en- shawl, which as a turban, he has
been known to wear for more than


twelve years. About two years ago


the towns people having become
somewhat excited in regard to this


strange course of life, appointed com


mittee to visit the clergyman and bis
daughter and unravcl the mystery if
they could, and bring them back tC


an observance OF the duties Of socia
! life. The committee met the old gen
/ tIeman at the gate and told him THEN
/ errand, when he said it would kill hi;
! daughter if they were admitted, anC


it would probably kill her cats. They


insisted on entering, however. anC
! found the house !ilthv in the extreme


In one room were about twenty cats


aud in another about as many chick


ems. They appealed to the hermit


to give up their degraded mode of life


when the daughter very pointedly tol'


them the matter was no business OF
theirs, and the committee left, seein
it was no use to argue the question


During the past two years the Ol
man has scarcely been seen, and th
ago the old man called to lad VIII
was passing near, told him they wer
sick and needed help. A physical
and several citizens at once respon,
ed to the call, and a scene that be:
gars description me. their gaze on el


tering the dwelling Of these singula
recluses. The house was filed wit


filth, cats and hens, and the old gentl,
man and his daughter were in a COZ
: dltlon Of uncleanliness and disease III


lit to describe. Two or three day


We're required to render The premise


habitable for civilized beings. Th
girl confessed she had not washed f0
SIX years, as a matter of principle
God had made the dirt, and it shoul
not be removed from the person. n


attention was paid to her theor
however and the clothing of iathe
and daughter was burned. The oil


man was found to be a mass of sore
and cOrruptiou, and the daughter wa
in a bad condition. They said the
had eaten nothing but corn bread fc
: ten years, aud it is the opinion of th
! physician that the corruption Of the
bodies is the result of some specie


of scurvy, superinduced by the cor
diet. Their conversation showed thel
to be at least partially deranged.
is thought that the life of the old ma


can not be saved, but there are hope
: of the recovery of the young woman
Such is the tenor of the story told b
! the Tribune, which may be too highl
colored