American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-12-11
A Prehistoric Joke.

STEPHENSON, OF the mayhem deOlOg1cal
Survey, and Elliot, of the Smithsonian In
They called on a Washington newspaper
man the other day-we will call him
Jones-and said, in very solemn way:
Jones, we called to see if you would
be willing to help some poor fellows q
little"
"Why, certainlyr' said Jones. 81
can't do much, but if can aid anyone
in trouble will: of course. be glad to. -
You can aid them; aid them con-
siderably," said Stephenson.
How ?" asked Jones.
"By publishing a paragraph about
their condition, and appealing to the
sympathies of the public"
will, certainly" said Jones. "Who
are theyr'
"They are a party of fellows whs have
lost everything they ever had in the
world. You might as we'll say that they
had lost everything but their heads"
How?" inquired Jones, getting his
sympathies aroused.
By misfortune. They have come here
at our expense and must be taken care of. )"
Where are they stOpping?'
They are over at the Smithsonian to-
night for the want of better place to
"How can they sleep over there:"
az don't think said Stephenson,
"they have had as good a place to stay as
that for ages.''
"Poer fellows!'' said Jones. "Where
did they come from, and what in the
world did you bring them here for?"
1--WE thought Washington was the best
place for them. People here take q great
interest in unfortunates.'
but there are beggars enough in the
town. You can't walk three blocks with
out meeting one. Where did you say
these fellows came from!''
Colorado"
"Colorado!'' exclaimed Jones. What
the deuce did they come ON here from Col
orado for?"
"To get relief from the Government"
Are they Indians?'
yes"
Then why don't you send them to the
Indian Bureau?"
because the Commissioner says they
don't belong there. He says we have got
to take care of them at the Smithsonian"
Smithsonian" cried Jones, getting
Smithsonian got to do with pack of beg
carly Indians?'
"True," said Elliot; 1.-THE fact is we
have got them on our hands, and / sup
pose we must take care of them.'
81 should Think said Jones, very
much excited, THAT you would have more
sense than to get lot of dirty Indians on
your hands. What did you say was the
matter with them?
have lost everything everything
but their heads"
"Their heads 2"
"Yes, their heads" said Stephenson
"There hasn't mothers son of them gol
anything left but his head.''
g His head?''
"Yes, his head, and all the hair and
meat off from that"
Hair and meat off Of that?"
eyes, the poor fellows are reduced tc
bare bones. Nothing but their skulls
| left; and we want you to publish a para
| graph that will attract the sympathies Of
the people to their condition"
Jones got very red in the face. Said he
You told me there were some poor PEG
pie at the Smithsonian that wanted help
and now you say they are nothing bu
skulls
"We told you there were lot of fellow.
over there who had met with serious mis-
fortunes, and l can't think of any more
serious misfortune than for person t.
lose his body and all the hair and meat of
| his head
Jones began to laugh very heartily. 9"
knew you were fooling," said he, with
great deal of gusto; :" but thought
would see how far you would carry it on. >
When Stephenson and Elliot left tn
Office Jones followed them into the hall
and as he babe them good night his las
words were: "Don't say anything abou
this to the boys" and paragraph ap
peared in the paper the next mornin,
stating that number of Indian skulls
suppose to be of the race of mound build
ers, had been found in Colorado last sum
mer by DR.. Hayden's exploring party, AM
were on exhibition at the Smithsonian
Washington Cor. Chicago InterOcedn.