European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 4, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Daily Magazine . Salinger reclusive author of the Catcher in Tho Pya liven alone in jew wooded Hills of new Hampshire. Salinger s shield he s sort of discreet United press International to . Saunders live among the Grassy Hills and dense Woods of Cornish . One is known by few. He is a tall Pale Wriler with White hair and round shoulders who lives alone off a dirt Road in a Hilltop House. He hangs his shins to dry on a clothesline on his deck. To discreetly picks up his mail Al the nearby Windsor Post office. He pushes a shopping cart Down a supermarket aisle picking out dog food for his two Young Doberman Pinchers. The More prominent . Salinger is a ghost whose presence is fell by the entire farming Community but is seen by few of its  residents the reclusive 66-Yoar-okd author of the Catcher in the Rye nonetheless has a hold on the town so Strong an unspoken conspiracy of silence about the details of mis file is passed on through families. Whether they know him or not Cornish residents protect Salinger s privacy like a domineering Mother warding off bullies. Tim Salinger meld has proved impenetrable in the 34 years he has lived in Cornish. Salinger has not granted an interview since 1953. When a High school girl interviewed him Lor her school newspaper. Standing As a solitary protester in the age of publicity Salinger has vigorously fended Olf hordes of journalists who think an interview with him could catapult their Edfors usually Sand Prelly Young reporters up to try to talk with him says Christine Filbin who works Al an artisans Crall store across from the Windsor Post office. "1 guess that does t work  Bui alter a generation of Solitude in Cornish it has reached a Point for Salinger where a cannot win. If he talks he betrays his principles if he remains silent he fans the lire of Public curiosity. One theory Lor the Public s lasting infatuation with Salinger slams from an inability by most to understand Why someone would shun Fame. Salinger could talk and no matter what he said he would be instantly accepted. His silence apparently makes the curious uneasy but not the people of Cornish. Outsiders do not understand and can Only speculate that the town s motivations lie in preserving a legend that makes the town unique. Residents say it is nothing More than a simple respect or privacy. Whatever the reason there Aro no  Salinger Alpine slides in Cornish no Salinger style Traple syrup tins and no hucksters Selling authentic Sod irom Salinger s land ironically. Salinger is Only willing to step outside his privacy to guard it. Most recently Salinger made at teas his name visible by trying to thwart an unauthorized biography. . Salinger a writing ule. Salinger contends the Book s publisher. Random House would violate his privacy and copyright by publishing portions of letters he wrote to editors publishers and friends. Random House on july 31 appealed a lower court ruling 1o the supreme court which blocked publication of the Book. The suit has already drawn Salinger from his Cornish Bunker to new York to Light the invasion of his privacy. Cornish fall is the closest the town has to a Center. Off the winding roads where Home satellite dishes outnumber covered Bridges Ells a Small Lown Green the Liny Brick George h. Stowell free Library and Powers country store. Country music twang in the background of the store which Sells everything irom Vermont Cheddar cheese and Beach balls to Wool sweaters and Needle nose Pera. A come Mutton with the store s clerk about Salinger draws a typical response 0 does he come in Here Al All a i Haven t seen him in Ages. He has t come in Here in a Long time. I hear he s writing. No maybe i read thai. 0 do you know where to lives a i could t say. O you mean you Don t know a i know but we re not supposed to say. Me likes his privacy and he s asked us nol to say where he lives. Sorry. Across the Street at the Library librarian Nancy Newbold is weary of Salinger questions. No no she says throwing up her hands and turning away to Shelve a Book. I m not going to say anything he likes his  Newbold deflects the conversation by talking about other historic features of Cornish besides Salinger. A 102-year old third generation Farmer and a neighbor of Salinger s died that morning she says even though it was a pretty famous artist Colony Al one Lime it s a arming Community and gelling Hay is important High  she said. People have of her things on their minds than Salinger the checkout Rale of Salinger s tattered yellowed books in the Library is testimony to thai raise High the roof beam 1959 has been checked out once since july 1986. Franny and Zooey 1961 has been checked out rive tires in nine years and the Catcher in the Rye 1951 just nine times in 13 years. Though teen agers touched by Salinger s vivid portrayals of alienation once comprised a Loyal following for the author younger Cornish residents seem More interested in the mystery perpetuated by his secrecy than his works. The town s youngsters not yet briefed on the adult code of silence Are More willing to discuss the Salinger legend. He s sort of a Lireet said Gwyn a Cornish Leen Ager. He lives up in the Woods a Little Bill. Most everybody Here knows about him. But he does t go out much. He s us1  Short of boasting Gwyn says he once knocked on Salinger s door. I asked him permission to use his Field once to go Servo boarding across he Road from his House and a said sure to was t thrilled about it but he did t say  Chris 13, has never read any of Salinger s writing but offers what he knows of the author. We used to live around where he lives he says. He s sort of like a Hermit. I be seen him before. He s an o -1 Man he s Skinny. He s got while hair and i guess he does t like reporters still Chris readily gives directions to Salinger s House. The dark Brown wooden ranch chalet Salinger lives in sits on a Hill Well hidden by Birch and Maple Trees. His gravel driveway a marked with no trespassing and private property signs. Two guard purple stationed Al the lop of the driveway Yip at the slightest unusual sound another layer of Salinger s insulation and another element of his two Way Mirror on he world. The dogs look to a Comer window for a word irom Salinger. Salinger Sils leaning toward a crowded desk facing a Wall As he laps the keys of a typewriter. The dogs step up their Barking. Salinger stands and moves toward the window. His lace is drawn and his while hair is deeply receded. His eyebrows Are As overgrown As his vegetable Garden bul his dark cos Are piercing. He pushes open a window and listens to an intruder who slipped through the town s Buffer tone. With the Rusty voice of an older Man Salinger utters words familiar to the constant wave of outsiders i have nothing to  Salinger flashes a is Gail smile. He pulls his window shut Sils Al his desk and turns 10 his typewriter. The stars and stripes Page 13