Queer Religions.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 144, 13 August 1872, Page 7

Queer Religions.

Some of the forms religion take 3 in America are only adapted for a peculiar people in a land of perfect liberty. At Imlav, Michigan, there is, says the New York Tribune, an unfortunate old gentleman who thinks it is religious to sleep out of doors all through the winter with nothing to cover him but a thin blanket. As his penance is entirely voluntary, no one pities him, but the old saint has a faithful dog whose case excites the utmost commiseration. This animal conceives it to be his duty to share his master's discipline, and has, consequently, during the last season been upon several occasions nearly frozen to to death. Another religious character "in a mild state," is also mentioned by the Culum Sun, whose proceedings must, to say the least, render him a disagreeable neighbour. He goes by the name of Chapparel Joe, and is by profession, a recluse. Joseph resides in a dense thicket dividing Colusa and Yolo counties, and has been serious from his boyhood. He speaks with an Irish accent, and carries for his personal protection one doublebarrelled shot-gun, one breech-loading carbine, two six-shooter 3, and an assortment of knives. When hungry, often the case, he goes to some farm-house and demands food. Joseph is not altogether an ascetic—he is passionately fond of tobacco ; and so far from concealing his weakness, he always prefers a request that this article may be supplied to him when he pays a visit to a farmhouse. He is not sociable—indeed rather the reverse. Nor is he entirely faultless. There are temptations to which the strongest succumb, and Joseph is no exception to this rule. His particular weakness is the appropriation of the pi-operty of others—in fact he takes whatever he needs; and not even the high character he bears for general piety saves him from criticism in this respect. A sacriligious party lately started to capture him, but although they discharged eight guns at him, he escaped apparently unharmed, and remained master of the position. It will hardly be credited that even this good man has enemies.