Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-08-17
'as over and we were alone, to explain


The popularity I had noticed in tho
coats, lie said, was the result of frequent
turning; for, being furnished by the gov
ernment tailor, they had often been re-
modelled and re-cut to suit the exigcncics
of governmental fashious-yct were inva-
riably, so far as he knew, the same old
garments in which the wearcrs begun pub
lie life.
This explanation seemed so strange to
me-and yet, somehow, not entirely new
that l was about to ask the Don further
questions regarding the government of his
wonderful land, when he signed to me to
be silent, and, taking me by the arm, led
mo up Rail street named from the Rialto,
perhaps,), the great gold thoroughfare of
No-Man's Land, to tall tower at its head,
whence view could bo had of the whole
of his country.
Hero he placed in my hands singular
optical instrument, known in their dialect
as fungiscope, which enables the observer
to look beyond the veil of partisanship; to
mark the line which separates usurping
power and plundcrcd people to disguise
the body polite; in short, to supply the
Invisible link connecting cause and result
Through this marvellous instrument
saw brought out, in startling distinctncss,
all that was hitherto hidden and unseen in
the peculiar government of No-Man's
Land. The magic power of the fungi
scope stripped off the flimsey coverings,
and the glaze and glitter of social and po-
litical shams became dull aud dark in the
light Of truth.
Far beneath and around me, stretching
as far as the eye could sec, saw by this
light the workings of gigantic machine.
Its ramiGcations extended over the whole
country. Belts, spindles, pulley's, shaft
ing, cogs, levers, rachets, dlills, and all the
paraphernalia which constitutes strong if
not delicate machinery, were in full opera
tion, and to their continued working all
else seemed subservient At first l was
so astonishcd that failed to see the mighty
power which moved this vas. aud wonder
fully complicated machine.
by silent gesture Don Hcnriqucs di.
rcctcd my attention to the scene had SO
recently left, and looking through the fun
giscope 1 was enabled to see what had be.
fore escaped me.
The huge dome under which the officials
and the committees gathered had an at
traction of gold, and resembled somewhat
an inverted funnel, and from this flows a
strong current oe gas generated by indi-
vidual magnetism, set in motion by the Of
ficials beneath; and this supplies the mo-
tive power Of the great machine.
l now observed, also, that the members
Of the several committees had each one
eye covered by golden scarf with a green
back that was necessity of government
service, Don Henriqucs Informed, me, to
enable the individual to see with an eye
single to succession.
Some of the other officials, I also no.
ticed, carried one hand behind their back
with the palm upward. This very extra
ordinary habit, the Don said, was not the
habit Of official education, as l might sup
pose, but originated solely in the unwil-
linguess of the honorable gentlemen to let
the right hand know what q think he said
what, though it may have been who,) was
being done by the left.
No.Man's Land justly boasts of some of
the finest walks, drives and boulevards in
the world; but, as turned the fungiscope
on these, ] made strange discovery.
1t was, that many of them were built
over the heads of tho poorer or laboriug
classes, tho houses, cottages and shanties
being distinctly visible, like incongruous
arches, in the foundations of these grand
roadways.
Before I could express the astonishmcnt
I felt, the Don remarked that this was only
an extension of the Capitalization plan,
illustrating the practical workings Of the
great machine, of which, indeed. it formed
part.
While looking at the nearest boulevard
and admiriug the gay colors and costly
dresses that swept carelessly along behind
the richly caparisoued horses, my attention
was attracted by a policeman dragging
away an individual clad in rags, who had
dared to climb up tho parapet below, aud
who had the tomerity to ask aims.
Further on I noticed an immense fac
tory, from which issued a long procession
of young women and children hardly yet