Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-25

Six Dominicans, formerly occupying high
official positions, now eXiles in Porto Rico have
addressed a protest to the senate against annex
alton. They make numerous criticisms upon
the work and report of the late commission.
Among other things, they say; at did not have
one in the company who understood the ma
tional language, so that they were obliged to
use an interpreter, whose fidelity was not be-
yond doubt"
They must have heard of the adventures of
the professor of Spanish from Cornell univer-
sity, who after visit to the shore at Samana
the day after the Tennessee arrived there, re-
turned on board in despair. Said he upon
reaching the cabin: "Would you believe it?
went into that town and spoke pure Castlian
to those creatures for an hour, and not one of
them understood word said"
Or these protestants may have learned of a
piece of prize translation by one of the official
inguistS Of the party. during an examination,
at Santo Domingo city, of witness from the
Cibao. The witness himself knew a little En-
glsh, but the examination took place in Span
ish.
Said the interpreter: "The witness says there
are number of small mines in the district, but
that they return very rich yield"
The witness broke in with, "No! Mol" and
then went slowly over his statement again.
"Oh! said the interpreter, at the close, II
was slightly in error. The witness says there is
a small minority in his district opposed to an
neXation."
The initiated will remember this when the evil
dence appears in printed form, and often wonder
how many such ridiculous blunders Turk under
the sober pages.
One object of the expedition has been defeat
ed since its return by sad accident to the col
lections of bugs. For purposes of compact Ship
ment from New York nearly the whole stock Of
centpedes, tarantulas, scorpions, lizards, toads,
spiders, crabs and other pets were put into one
great jar OF whiskey, That Jar has not arrived,
and nothing can be heard of it. Revenue officers
may have captured it for unstamped whiskey,
or train hands may have appropriated it with
out regard to its relation to taxes; or, what is
feared most by the owners and collectors, the
numerous agents of Cornell university, who
went out ostensibly for purposes of science, but
really to make collections for that institution,
may have appropriated the jar, bugs, whiskey
and all. If this is 50, as the animals were not
branded U. s., the loss is permanent.
1t is the more severe from the fact that the her,
Daceous collection diverted from Cornell by a
formal vote of the commissioners, and turned
over to the Smithsonian reached that institu-
ton in deplorable condition. Palms. ferns, del
lcate creepers, moses, and curious parasites, in
endless variety, have dried, and faded, and rot
ted, I'LL, to the unscientifc eye, the moss looks
now like the rakings of kitchen garden which
some wag has gathered and labelled, "Flora of
San Domingo, U. S. exploring commission,
1871"
Now catching those bugs, and gathering those
plants, was serious work, with a red hot sun
SHINING through the umbrella in one hand, with
pockets full OF boxes, and bottles for bugs:
portfolios for delicate plants under each arm,
and bug hunters net in the other hand. And
there was no insurance, and the loss cannot be
restored. Will Dr. Newcomb, the head natural
ISL OF cornell, please wear Grape on his left arm
for thirty days ?-COr. Cincinnati Gazette.