Death of an Eccentric.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 213, 30 July 1887, Page 2

Death of an Eccentric.

Dr. Geoiwe W. Fkost, the noted hotel hermit of Brooklyn, N. V., died Tuesday morning, May 17th. Ten or twelve years ago he hud a large circle of friends. For twenty years he was the physician in charge of the Sailors' Retreat on Stafeen Island, Eight yearn ago, after lie had bought rest from his la boms in several localities, he went to liiooklj'n and began his retired life in the hotel. Flo was then 73 years old. His fiiond^ at first came frequently to see him, but he soon showed the^e and those about) the hotel who sought to know him that he did not eaie for socioty any more. He fell, into a methodical way of living, which did not vary a moment a day in its regular routine. His place at the solitary table; leserved for him was always filled at exactly 930 o'clock. He spent ju.st one hour in eating and smoking, and then was seen no more until 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when he went out for his daily walk, and remained out until exactly 6 o'clock. It was this piogiamme, rain or shine, year in anct year out, until last January, when his health began to fail. He giew to have & f-tiango appichen.sion that people would speak to him, and he was careful to give no one an opportunity. It was his regular custom to stop for a glass of beer at a wellknown saloon, and one day a man saw him standing at the unfrequented end of the room, and going up to him, slapped him on the back and icniaiked : " Why, Dr. Frost, I haven't seen you for ten years !'' The aged doctor, scowling, said gruflly : " Keep } our hancK off my shoulder. I have been coming bore every day for three years, and no one has recognised me, and now you come in and expose me befoie all these people !" Then, turning quickly, he left the saloon, never to re-enter it. It is said that Dr. Frost was worth 3l)0,000dols. at the time of his death, the larger part of which ho lea\es to charitable institutions. Dr. Frost was never maided, and his nearest li\ ing i datives aie a nephew and two nieces