Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1888 — AN ECCENTRIC RECLUSE. [ARTICLE]

AN ECCENTRIC RECLUSE.

A Klch did Woman Wlio Lives Alone V. ith Dogi and Poultry. 31 aid; n, .>lass., lias an eccentric recluse in iffb-.s Harriet Pierpont. She lives outsiile the ciiy in a picturesque old house, 51’i i u'imled by her hens ami dogs. She is about 70 yesi-rt old and lists much properly. Complaint, has been made of her dogs and this liJhy condition of her house, and a reporter called upon her to ascertain the facts, lie was met at the door with a chorus of yelps and howls, mingled with ilie clucking and cackling of. hens. The woman was wrapped in a bundl? of rags. Her biinvn iiasr, glighlly tinged with gray, fell in graceful braids over her shoulders, yet her face was wrinkled aud not partic tilarly qle ;.n. About the upper part of her body were the remains of a man’s flannel undershirt, while her skirt would defy description. Despite her unpleasant appearance, she was courteous in her manners, and spoke in a sweet, well-modulated-.voice. “This outrageous,'" said she, when told of the’ = complaint. “The complaint comes from sonteoi those people who have stoned my dogs and bro ;cn my windows. Of course you will bejiittcn if you twist a dog's tail. But why didn't they complain to me? Was it not a principle of the Roman law that the accused should have the privilege offacing his accusers They have no right to interfere with me. There is no law which prescrilJes the clothes a woman shall wear, or how often she shall bathe, or when she shall sweep her kitchen.” Her house inside was in keeping with her dress and person. She formerly had twenty-seven cats, but they interfered with Ijcr dogs, so she disposed of them. Hens and dogs are het only companions, sharing her house and food alike with her. SLb has been living in this manner for tes years.