Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-04
Scenes at the Patent Office.

The WILD MAN IN THE BASEMENT.
The Patent once, which Is always an at
frsetive place for residents az well as visitors,
has had more visitors this week than any OF
the other public buildings, with the exception
OF the Capitol. From the time the doors opened
yesterday morning the museum was thronged.
The visitors were. rs rule, city folks, and In
this regard were different from the throngS OF
pilgrims who took IL in during the summer OF
the centennial year. The rush began on Non.
day. Tuesday 500, at least, called, ana
passed through. Yesterday the number was
much greater, though the figures on a clear
estimate could lot De secured ey THE STAR re-
porter when he called there yesterday about
loon. Meeting Captain Zach Mckltre5n:
who keeps kind Oh general ,,o iooSoo u,
Interest &c. THE STAR man asked,
when did the rush begin TO day, and how has
II kept up?7 Begin" he answered, 1.-The pOr-
iico Was fun OF people when We opened up this
morning and it has kept up as you see Il now
ever since. BY the time we close up this after
neon the books Will show two thousand, II not
more names. | never saw such a constant
crowd here before Anything unusual occur
today THE STAR scribe inquired. "Well. no.
the Captain answered, unless 1t IS some OF
TIE FUNNY QUESTIONS
that have been asked me. Visitors here, espe-
cialy strangers, set mixed up while going
through the museum. Let me give you al IL
lusfratlOn: | had party OF three or four this
morning, int liSert people, whom took
through As they ~ere nearing the door, one
Chamber TAKE Us into that next Now
the UOIb'e with that party was
that they Thought they were IN the Capitol.
Another Eatty AID 20 me, i don't see any OF
the nlpulters; where are they p He was labor
ing under The SANE impression. / never
laugbed so much In nag life as did yesterday
tail good looking man had made the rounds
with ne ne belonged In Cincinnati, think
Afrsr We finished the inspection he asked me
IN q 5eTtguo kiad OF way When are YOU going
10 feed the Wild animals? Where are taeE?'
At nrSt | supposed be Was Joking; that ne kaew
better, bur soon discovered that he was ia real
earnest. Keeping up the joke, told him they
were kept In the cages IN Inc basement during
Tie winter season. he started on a run down
tu the basement, but guess he didn't see the
Wild animals. There was wild man down
there. however,
WHO WGs the
WILD NAN OF TIE EASEMENT
tbs STAR reporter queried, hoping to g3t the
conclusion Of the story.
"You saw the lunch stand at the foot OF the
stairs as you came up, did you not?" tbs STAR
mar said, he han nOtlceG IL.
Eve >" said Zach. 'sOme one told visitor
who had asked one Of the employees IL the gov
eminent furnished a lunch IN visitors. that the
lunch was furnished Tree. He went down there
ana ate a gOOG-SiZ6d elmer. AS he vas going
away he was reminded by the ifty In charge OF
n. that be had forgotten to pay the dam lye.
lie turned three cOl0rS in as many seconds.
paw fer this reckon nos he observed. Il
an from the country. but am lot green enough
70 pay for Thing the Patent once furnishes
nee lie was told that he had been Inl5.n.
frTred. and si0ce he bad wealth OulY TO the
extent OF 50 cents, ne fairly howled. He was to
all !nten-S and purposes Wild, and went away
swearing vengeance towards the man who
fooled him INTO believing that he could get his
lunch free. But Jon VIII have TO excuse me.
Here IS another batch or new arrivals, aud I'll
have TO look after them.
The STAB man excused him and dnDaTtpi