Doheny Memorial Library, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189 Public Domain. Release under the CC BY Attribution license--http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/--Credit both “University of Southern California. Libraries” and “California Historical Society” as the source. Digitally reproduced by the USC Digital Library; From the California Historical Society Collection at the University of Southern California Send requests to address or e-mail given USC Libraries Special Collections specol@usc.edu
Description
Photograph of Barker (Baker?), the Black Hills Hermit standing in the opening to his cave -- a man who left the world behind after the death of the woman he loved to live in a cave. The cave opening is in a rocky outcropping on a scrub-brush covered hill. An animal pelt hangs from the barrel of a rifle leaning against the cave wall behind him. A metal[?] barrel sits to the left of the cave opening. The bearded hermit is wearing rough clothing and leaning on a rifle. "'Barker,' the Black Hills hermit. -- This extraordinary individual, a man of 'great vigor,' despite his many years, is a character one seldom sees in this busy world. He has lived in this cave, completely isolated from all human companionship, for many years. The only evidence of civilization in that rude habitation was an old faded picture of a young girl with a singularly beautiful face. Feeling instinctively that she was in some way connected with his former life, to my repeated questions, he finally disclosed to me the following narrative: 'You are right. I loved that girl I love her yet. A few days before we were to be united she died. The world lost its charm for me the old pleasant scenes I once thought so charming became intolerable. So vividly did everything remind me of her that I resolved to go away and live entirely alone. But who can tell,' he added with a mournful smile, 'when the inscrutable mists that veil the future are lifted, that I may once more see her again.' He would speak no more, and so I left him, pondering over by-gone memories that all these long years had not served to obliterate."
Type
image
Format
2 photographs : glass photonegative, photoprint, b&w 21 x 26 cm. glass plate negatives photographic prints photographs
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