Lou’s View

By Lou Bernard

To Henry Wharton Shoemaker, I’d like to say happy birthday. And to my regular readers, I’d like to say that, yes, I am aware I do this practically every year.

The thing is, I’ve always respected Henry Shoemaker. In spite of the fact that he was a controversial character, he wrote down a lot of old legends and stories, documenting them for the future. And he left me a whole lot to work with—I’ve been studying his stories for over a decade, and I’m still discovering new things. His birthday is February 24th, and I always like to remember it with a column.

When I write these things, it generally takes the same outline. First, I mention Shoemaker and the reason I’m writing about him; second, I give a quick version of one of his stories, and finally I finish up with a complimentary mention. I’ve been doing things this way for years, but when I find something that works, I stick with it.

This story is from Shoemaker’s book “Allegheny Episodes.” It involves the Fountain of Youth, and begins with an old Native American chief named Wisamek.

Wisamek was old. By the standards of those times, he was very, very old and wise. (Probably sixty, which is like a hundred and seventy by today’s standards.) Though he was very wise, he fell in love with a much younger woman, which is generally not considered a very smart move.

Wisamek talked to the tribe’s wise man, Mbison, who told him of a fountain of youth, right here in present-day Pennsylvania. It was in a cave somewhere, and it had waters that were said to make people younger. So he gathered up his men and went on a quest to find it. He travelled all over the state, which took less time than you’d think, because I-80 hadn’t been invented yet.

He found the cave, which was protected by a guardian named Gamunk. He presented Gamunk with a token, the tooth from a red bear, and then entered the cave and jumped into the water. He soaked in it for a day, and then emerged, visibly much younger.

He went back home and married the young woman. But as time passed, he discovered that there was a problem—Though he was physically younger, mentally he was still old and wise. You’d think this would be a pretty good combination—I don’t know that I’d complain much, myself—-But while his wife wanted to party all night, Wisamek wanted to sit at home and order kids off his lawn. (Clearly I am taking a few liberties with the telling of this story, here.)

So Wisamek returned to the cave. Gamunk warned him that another dunk in the water could cause problems (“Ask your doctor about the Fountain of Youth!”) but Wisamek was willing to take the risk. He jumped in the water, soaked overnight, and came out of the cave the next morning. Except this time, it was too much, and he died on the spot.

His men buried him, and presumably everyone else in the story had a long life and a happy ending.
Shoemaker wrote down a lot of these legends, and left me a lot to work with. I’ve actually been out questing to find this Fountain of Youth, and you’ll notice I haven’t matured excessively.

The thing is, I’ve always liked this story. Like many of the old legends, it has a pretty important message if you look for it. There’s a time for age and wisdom, just like there’s a time for youth and excitement. And the trick is knowing which time is which. Happy birthday, Henry.