The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LOCAL LEGEND

IN THE QUITE EARLY 1900'S, KATE FREEMAN CLARK, A YOUNG LADY
FROM HOLLY SPRINGS, WENT TO NEW YORK CHAPERONED BY HER MOTHER TO
STUDY WITH THE ARTIST CHASE (PRESUMABLY WILLIAM MERRITT CHASE).
WHEN HER MOTHER DIED A GOOD MANY YEARS LATER, SHE RETURNED TO LIVE
OUT HER LIFE IN THE FAMILY HOME.
BECAUSE SHE DID NOT BELIEVE IN KILLING ANY LIVING THING, SHE
WOULD NOT HAVE THE GRASS AND WEEDS CUT OUT OF HER YARD. IT GREW UP
INTO SUCH A JUNGLE OF UNDERBRUSH THAT YOU COULD BARELY SEE THE
HOUSE. SHE ONCE ADMITTED TO HAVING 47 CATS SO IT IS NO TELLING
HOW MANY SHE ACTUALLY HAD.
SHE SELDOM LEFT HER HOUSE AND WOULD NOT COME TO THE DOOR UNLESS
YOU TELEPHONED AHEAD TO TELL HER YOU WERE COMING. BUT IF SHE WAS
LISTENING TO HER FAVORITE RADIO PROGRAM, SHE WOULDN'T COME TO THE
TELEPHONE, EITHER!
BACAUSE SHE LEFT HER PAINTINGS STORED IN NEW YORK, NO ONE HAD
EVER SEEN THEM IN MISSISSIPPI. THE PAINTINGS PROVED TO BE QUITE
GOOD AND ARE NOW HOUSED IN A MUSEUM IN HOLLY SPRINGS.

James Callow comment: SPELLING OF NO ONE CORRECTED.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 08-06-1968