During 1903, the following article appeared in ‘The Teesdale Mercury':

"In this country of four-square civilisation, silk hats, water arbitrations, and fiscal problems it is quite refreshing to hear of a man who lives in a tent in Hainault Forest and has no money.  Dr. Bell, otherwise known as "the hermit of Hainault Forest," appears to be doing no harm to anyone. On the contrary, he keeps the hedges and ditches in order, and performs for the Forest the function that St. Patrick is said to have performed for Ireland: he exterminates snakes.  But our civilisation finds no room for such an innocent savage, who asks nothing from it and can pay nothing for its support. Civilisation notices that the Hermit has a couple of dogs. Hermits are not on the schedule of recognised traders; they are not even shepherds or blind men. Therefore they must pay the license. Yet hermits who have stepped out of civilisation do not earn money. It is a horrid “impasse." It is the Hermit contranundum"; Dr. Bell against civilisation with its dog tax. And our sympathy leaks out towards the man who lives in a tent and asks for nothing but permission to live in a tent without being worried."