The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-04-28
Dan. Rice Before the RecOnstruc-
ton Committee.

slIl pclsiStS III SuppicoolhS tiS iho't
important testimony elected before it.
Dan. Rice has recently been circus
tour through the lately rebellious
States, and has had opportunities such
as are afforded to few for observing the
condition of the Southern people as to
loyalty. His testimony will be found
to show the true feeling that exists in
the South when the thin crust of pre-
tended loyalty is melted away, and
true character is revealed us under the
exhilarating influence of menagerie,
when man stands in the presence of the
untamed forces Of nature, separated
therefrom only by the thin partition of
an iron cage. Mr.. Rice, being duly
sworn, testified thus:
G. You have an unruly animal,
known as n pet mule, with your circus,
have You not
a. have.
O. What are the idiosyncrasics OF
that beast.
A. lie is much giving to kicking.
Q. 1t is almost impossible to ride
him, is it not.
A. 1t is. | generally offer S25 to
any man who will ride him round the
ring
q. On your late visit to the South,
did you receive any offers to ride that
mule
| A. did
q. State what occurred on these oc-
caslonS.
A. In Richmond, q discharged Con
fcdcrate soldier attempted to lldc him,
but was immediately thrown flat on his
back.
@. What did the Confederate soldier
say to this.
A. He said the mule was u ID
Yankee cuss.
Q. Did any others make the at
tempt.
A. Another of Lees veterans tried
to ride him, and succeeded
Q. What did he say.
A. He said, after he had dismountcd,
that if he'd had regiment o them ere
cavalry he'd have whipped Fitzpatrick
all to smash and that, in the next war
against the Yankees, he intended to
raise brigade of 'em.
Cross s-cxamincd by Mr.. Stevens
Q. Is that he mule or she mule.
A. It's a he mule.
q, You have monkeys your show,
have you not.
A. have.
@. Have you ever heard any disloyal
remarks in relation to those monkeys.
A. | can't say that have
Q. Have you ever heard anything
said in their presence.
a. A couple of young ladies were
one day standing in front of the cage,
and heard one of them say it looked
like Frccdmen's Bureau.
q. How was this remark received.
A. 1t created much laughter
Q. Were there any personal allu
sions made on that occasion.
A. Some one in the crowd said
pointing to the ourang outsng, That's
Sumner
G. Did it please the bystanders.
A. Very much.
@. Did you ever hear any observa-
ton about the bears.
A. ] heard it said once, about u one
eyed bear, that he looked like Ben.
Butler, and about q grizzly, that it
ought to he called Ben. Wade.
9. Were the points Of resemblance
stated.
A. They were not. The observation
was made on the toM ensemble, with
special reference, perhaps, to the occ'l-
; lar dcformity in the case OF the one
eyed animal.
q. You have lions, have you not.
A. | have.
Q. Have you ever showed them in
circus.
: A. I have.
| @. State if You have ever heard dis
loyal remarks in relation to them.
A. | believe ! heard something o
the kind once about Daniel in the lions
den.
Q. State what it was.
A. A young lady asked me which
was Daniel and which was the lion.
O. What was your reply.
A. | told her it was easy to distln
, cuish Daniel from the lion, rs the for
| mer wore Il swallow tail coat, and ha'
cotton umbrella under his arm.
f q. What did she say.
. A. After looking into the cage sh
| said, very spitelully, that Daniel lookc'
j, like a mean Yankee, and she wishe
e the lion would chaw him up.
4 MACK