Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1901 — Stick Man Appears Again. [ARTICLE]

Stick Man Appears Again.

Nicholas Washington Wyckoff, of Switzerland county, commonly known as “the stick man,” made his annual visit on the Governor at Indianapolis, a few days ago. He won his nickname by always carrying a bundle of gnarlard and twisted sticks, about whioh, out of his simple imagination, he weaves a fanciful and pathetic story about his wife and children, which goes on and on as long as he has listeners. “The stick man” was somewhat? earlier than usual in his visit this year. He always comes in April, but usually not until towards the middle of the month. He also was more moderate in his demands of the State, this year asking for only $5,000. Last year he declared he would take no less than $14,000, and the year before no less than $7,000. The money is owing to him, he says, because he was drafted at the time of the civil war.

He tells an interesting story of his calls on the various Governors, beginning with Governor Hovey, on whom he made his first demand in writing, but the paper was flirted out of his hands by some unseen power, and he left without his $5,000. f Governor Chase, who followed, received him cordially, he says, and accepted from him a bundle of walking sticks, but gave him no money. Governor Matthews, he says, was at first inclined to make fuh of him, but finally treated him kindly. Governor Mount, he says, shook hands with him, and told him he was sorry he could not pay him the money he demanded. How Gov. Durbin reoeived him has not been made public. Beaches The Seat of the Conscience. Judge Daly, of the Indianapolis City Court has reverted to the Jtime-hqpored method of reaching the consciences of the bad boys brought before his tribunal. He has adopted the Sojomonic method for punishing boys who come before him charged with grave misdemeanors, and the patter of the shingle is heard daily in the ante-room of his oourt> He says a good whipping does a boy more good than to send him to jail or have his parents pay his fine, and he shall continue the punish* ment until there are fewer bad boys in Indianapolis.