Life of Contentment Led
by Recluse in Iowa Hills
Former Hoosier Barrister and Journalist, Once Co
Worker of James Whitcomb Riley, Cummunes
With Nature in Seclusion, Eking Out Living
by Hunting—Is 70 and Still Plods On.
BY KOBT. WORTHINGTON DAVIE.
"Seventy years old! and as spry as
can be," said Marsh. "Rather agrees
with a fellah out here In this neck
o’ the woods.” A neck o' the woods
It was—a veritable forest, literally
speaking, and the hermit plainly ex
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hiblted its effects and Its associa
tions.
Between two hills, dense with the
native shrubbery of Iowa's diminutive
wilderness, a lane winds from a low
but rolling level heavenward Into a
grove and away to the north where
a hermit's home Is built. It is sim
ply If not crudely designed but con
genially arranged, and invisible to the
eye of a casual observer, since It
reclines In the side of a hill, above
which logs are laid, and these are im
bedded beneath several feet of earth.
"Warm and cozy and comfortable."
quoth Marsh. “Close to earth and
close to God.” He—Marsh Willis, a
native of Indiana, former lawyer and
genial philosopher, certainly seems to
thrive in his secluded habitation, and
lives a hundred years behind the
times—but a thousand leagues beyond
deception and Illusion.
“Just huntin' for a squirrel; thought
he disappeared off In this direction,”
replied the recluse In response to a
question. "Heard the dogs barking
and took my gun and started out."
He carried a long barreled shotgun
which suggested much averse to
kindliness and seemed to perturb the
mind with thrilling visions of Ken
tucky pioneer life, and bore distinct
traces of usefulness and wear, while
the stock revealed a number of
notches to elucidate its record, per
haps—gruesome. gallant and chival
rous—and to Aark It as a faithful,
trustworty, less than Inanimate friend
of many, retaining the fiction of nu
merous escapades and mysteries, but
Uni of Omaha’s Musical Bandit Brigade
-- ---—==========^^
Here’s the bandit brigade of the
University of Omaha.
All the girls In the picture, armed
with nickel-plated savings banks and
a disarming smile, ar<t members of
the public school music class at the
university, and have pledged them
selves to raise $300 low aid a fund
for the purpose of buying records
and music.
If you meet ’em on thn street, your
only chance of escape is to dig up all
the pennies out of the family wallet
and deposit them In one or other of
the traveling hanks.
From left to right they are Lorlne
SJeeter, Feme Shoup, Mildred Sln
nett; Johanna Anderson, teacher;
Mrs. Klla Woodward, Mar}’ Gorton
and Kathleen Shaw.
wearing the cold steel-llke appearance
of the weapon It always was.
"A mighty fine gun.” said Marsh,
"and a mighty dependable pair of
dogs. I’m Just breaking this fellah—
a pup that I picked up In the hills
a while back.” The canines came
at his call, seeming to evidence some
displeasure with the presence of a
stranger; however the apparent ani
mosity vanished with a reprimand
from the master and perfect harmony
prevailed.
Through the low-hanging branches
the hermit led the Way, leaving a
trail of smoke which hesitated for a
moment In the calm atmosphere and
circled skyward by degrees to pene
trat the foliage and fade In the other
world of sunshine.
"Here.” remarked Marsh, as the
edge of a clearing was reached upon
which Btumps were prominently
scattered, ”1 eke out my living. Vege
tables grow well since I chopped
down the trees.” Cabbage, tomatoes,
tobacco and watermelon vines were
thriving there. “No melons this year!”
said Marsh with a smile—"Dumed
resky critters Just can't leave an old
man alone. But I’m here to obtain
what's mine and I don't ask favors
from anyone.”
“Me bees do fairly well,” he con
tinued as we approached a buzzing
sound arising from a small barrel
which he lifted from its position while
the atomical being skirted about him
in a friendly manner. "No gentler
creatures ip existence,” he declared,
and pointed out n number of hives in
and beneath the trees. "My honey
and vegetables and tobacco supply
nearly everything that I require. Dur
ing the winter trapping brings in a
trifle, and there's lots of small game
around these parts. I keep a few of
my favorite books—sent the rest back
to Indiana two years ago. When its
cold and blustery I read considerable,
and In this manner the winters pass
rapidly."
“Yes,” he added, replying to an in
terrogation and chuckling softly, "I
was born in Indiana and raised there.
You've heard of Whit Riley—James
Whitcomb Riley? Well. Whit and I
were boyhood friends; we played to
gether, bummed together and worked
together. I recollect an Incident that
happened while Whit and mj’self were
pushing pens for the Oreencastle
Banner. The editor was absent at
the time, business was somewhat
slow, and we got it into our heads
that we could increase the circula
tion. Finally we decided to offer
prizes for the best sketches written
by home folks concerning local
scenes. Our scheme evoked much
comment and several excellent
sketches were produced. Strange as
it might seem, we received more
than two thousand new subscriptions,
and I remember vividly Whit's broad
smilo of satisfaction the morning af
ter the contest closed.”
Marsh Willis, according to his own
words, was In the past connected with
various publications of Indiana and
Ohio. He has met and associated
with celebrities who have come and
gone, leaving marks which will for
ever endure. His recollections are
tinted with zest, and portray the
I
Mine labor is the big factor in the
mine price per ton of coal. The
average being from 70 to 72
per cent.
There Are No Secrets
Coal freight rates to Omaha run
from 33V* to 41 per cent of the
retail selling price per ton of coal.
Talk with your retail coal
dealer—ask him for the
facts about his costs—he
will gladly tell you any
thing you may wish to
know. There are no secrets.
Seventy-two per cent of the price of a ton
of coal at the mines goes to pay mine labor.
There are but few exceptions in all the
coal sold in Omaha where the freight per ton is
not greater than the mine price of a ton of coal.
Anthracite Coal from Pennsylvania costs
$8.60 loaded in the freight cars at the mine. The
freight on this car per ton is $8.95. In this case
Pennsylvania Anthracite Coal laid down in
Omaha costs more than 81 per cent of its
Omaha selling price.
Other coals are sold on similar margins by
Omaha retailers, yet the retailer has to pay for
handling of distribution, credits, selling expense
and absorb the loss by shrinkage. Consider the
narrowness of this margin, and consider, too,
that the coal industry is not a twelve-month-per
year business.
THE ASSOCIATED RETAILERS
of OMAHA
spirit and enthusiasm of one who has
lived for something higher than ma
terialism.
‘'Opportunity has crossed and re
crosscd my path," he said, and In the
ensuing silence he seemed to intimate
that he had not failed to appre
ciate a single endowment or chance,
but with the attitude that he pre
ferred seclusion and an understand
ing of life from the viewpoint of an
Individualist.
Marsh appears to be an Intellectual
person, strange as the truth Is, and a
direct contrast to the realm of his
choosing. "I was admitted to the
bar when 19 years of age," he added,
"commenced my career as a lawyer,
pleaded one case—a murder case as It
happened. My plea consumed hut 5
minutes time, and the opposing at
torney argued for more than a day. I
have had many reasons to be grateful
for that acquittal, and the man con
cerned Is one of the finest citizens
of our state. He has shown his grati
tude by proving himself worthy of
his freedom. Law did not appeal to
me, and I sort of drifted away until
I found myself here and went to work
building my humble abode."
Thus has he resided in tranquillity
at times, although he has been dis
turbed occasionally by the presence
of mysterious strangers wlio^ come
and disappear In the night, leaving
trace* of their Intrusion*. But he
aver* that solitude afford* content
ment. The variable weirdness and In
describable voices coining from out
the Intense darkness are greeted with
the placid unconcernment of natlvlsm.
Close to the primeval he dwells; arti
ficiality Is unknown to him; strong
and straight he stands, his features
hidden behind a heard of several sea
sons. Unkempt hut natural. Marsh
Willi* plods on, eking out his living
from the hills, eking out his religion
earth and sky. is mind is rich with
the wealth of glorious reminiscences,
exuberant with variegated memor.es,
and he exists, he declares, without
regret and In the midst of all his de
sires.
Housewives Can Less
Fruit Each Year, Claim
^peelal J>f*patc-h to The Omaha Bee.
Columbus, Neb,, Sept. 22.—Grocers
here announce that the average
housewife cans less fruit from year
to year, saying that It Is especially
true of preserves. There has been
probably 50 per cent less fruit canned
in Columbus than previous year*, if
sales on fruits are any indication.
Dealers declare that women no
longer like to stand over hot stove*
in the summertime and that the
greatest amount of canning is now
being done in the fall instead of sum
mer. The price of sugar during the
Hummer months is also blamed for
the reduction In canning.
Railroad faro In Germany are to
bo Increased by JOO per cent for first
1 and second class passengers and by
250 per cent for third and fourth class
accommodations. t
ADVERTISEMENT.
PFOR
1^1
Humphreys’ “Seventy-seven’1
is for Grip, Influenza and for
all kinds of Colds.
To get best results take a dose at
the first Sneeze or Shiver.
If you wait till your bones begin
to ache, it may take longer.
Medical Book mailed free.
Price, 30c and fl.00, at Dru* Store*, or .
«nt on remittance #r C. O. D. Parcel •
Post Humphr y*’ Homeo. Medicine Com
pany. 156 Wr am Street, New York.
Monday’s Sales of Silks and Velvets
Featuring the Wanted Colorings and W eaves in the Textures in Demand for
the Fall Season
Canton
Crepes
Value* to $4.00
All color*, eitra beairy
•Ilk quality, 40 Inches
wide, specially priced,
Silk
Duvetyne
$050
Values to $4-50
For suits, dresses,
wraps In black, navy
brown, specially
priced, $3.50.
Silk
Crepes
$3 65
Values to $5.00
Extra quality In black
and all colors, special
ly priced, $3.65.
Chiffon
Velvets
$4Mand$7=
Two remarkable
grades In black and
colors, soft finish, rich
and lustrous.
Replenish Your Bedding Needs in Monday’s Sale
Cotton Batts
Cheese Cloth
Covered
Comfort ilia
cotton (72x90)
weight 4 lbs.
each. Biggest
value* seen In
rears, this sale,
each—
$1.98
Whit* Wool
Filled
Blanket*
Large double
bed Blankets,
edges bound
with fine pon
gee. blue or
pink borders,
the best *7.50
values for this
sale only, pair,
$5.00
bed
Spreads ;
The large size r
(84x96), this la
the best grade
Crochet weave
($4.00 value).
Seldom seen at
this low sale
price—
$3.19 *
Furniture Savings for Monday
$185
Genuine Walnut
Dining Room
Suite
8 Pieces $138.50
Queen Anne period
designs. The Buf
fet measures 60
inches and has
drawer lined for
silver. Table is 45
inches wide and ex
tends 72 inches.
Chairs are uphol
stered in high
grade tapestry;
priced—
$138.50
fc i iwiiinnii
$200 3-Piece Tapestry an^
Velour Living Room Suite
$112.50
Consist of Davenport, Rocker and
Chair; all the three pieces have
loose, spring-filled cush- Cl 10 Cf|
ion seats, priced. «Pll£.iJU
$195
Cane Davenport
Suite
$137.50
The D a v e n port
opens into a double
width bed when
open; gives you an
extra bedroom. Up
holstered in high
grade velours; only
a few left at, the
suite—
$137.50
Saleb of
Floor
Coverings
And Shades for
Monday
Window Shades
Perfect quality
Window Shades on
warranted spriug
rollers, green and
tans, ape- |>A
clal. each eJxJi*
Axminster Rugs
High grade seamed
and seamless Ax
minster Rugs, 9x12
site In wide range
of patterns, values
to $57.50,
Door Mats
14x24 Cocoa Door
Mats, heavy qual
ity, special »7Q
at. each.. I U
Stair Carpets
Heavy velvet Stair
Carpets In blue*
and tans nnd green
and tans. $2 25 val
ue at, <t> i »WQ
yard.. «*) 1 • 4
Linoleum
ir foot wide heavy
Linoleum In large
selection of put
terns In blue,
brown and mixed
colors, ape qo
clal. yard, JOC
Monday Shoe Sales
Grover
Shoes
Soft Shoes for Tender Feet
Ladles' Grover,
black kid. band
turn Oxford, rub i
ber heel, $7.50 I
I?!” $5.95
Grot ft'i woK
Dr<*?» Oxford,
bro»:i kid $0.90
Black kid $8.90
Black ktd Gnncr
2-strap hand turn
Tump, mill! ary
r.1: $5.45
Stetson Shoes for Men or Women, S9.90
Hayden’s Old-Tyme Comfort
Oxfords
1-Strap and 2-Strap
Pumps
These shoes are nude especially
for llayden Ilros. under our
own construction. We positive!)
guarantee more wear out of
these Comfort Shoes than any
other shoe made for d*0 OCJ
the prlee. Monday .
Sites complete It to KE, 2 to 9
v ^ v
Not these
——
) this lor
COMFORT
__
Hardw’re
and
House
Furnish
ings
SI 00 varne Nal!
Hammer, adie
eye, bell face, sre
aqc
Monday. v/«Jv
$1 50 Value Hatch
et, black forge
steel, ei>eclal for
90c
$1.7* Value Herd
Saw, 261ucfc, high
grade, erecl.il for
jst. si-19
$7 75 Value Family
Scale, weight 14
lbs. areclal for
Mon <fcO OC
day.. Oal •
$1.75 Value “Fit*,
an" Eiectr.o Iron,
cords 6 fu nlsh all
attachments, »ery
»l>e, ial for Mon
iil'.. $1.19
Basement.