Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-30

A Curious Chapter i'm the History q
the s'AsSassinasi0n', Year.
INDICATIONS OF PUBLIC ExcITEMENT-THE INFLUx
OF ECCENTRIC PEOPLE.

writer In describing the scenes In Paris during.
the Reign OF Terror, marks a special feature OF
| that Saturnalia OF passion the appearance In the
| streets and among the mob OF strange faces hid
eous In their uginesS The evil spirit OF the time
seemed TO transform the features OF men into the
! semblance OF beasts. This change was so great
that neighborS and friends could hardly recognize
In the passon-marred faces OF their associates the
| lfneaments once so familiar. A somewhat similar
effect was observed In this country when on the
| ID of July last, an adventurer and tramp sprang
upon the stage and posed before the nation as an
inspired assassin. That act seemed to influence a
| certain class OF minds with Irresistible power.
From all parts OF the country came indications Of
| the contagion OF this example. Minds that were
not well at once exhibited the eccentrici-
ties which, perhaps, had lain dormant or had not
| been asserted sufficiently TO attract attention
Washington was the focal point, and these charac-
tiers began to arrive here in great numbers Their
grotes1ueness OF IDEAS and dress In the excited
condltl0n OF the public mind gave rise TO the feel.
Ing that
AN ERA OF INSANITY
| had set In. So numerous and self-assertve was
his new social phenomenon, that a word was
coined, or at least then received currency and the
term "cranks' became almost in an Instant a pare
| OF the vocabulary OF the country. There was q
feeling OF dread prevalent I'm the expression OF
| public opinion that the act OF the master crank
might lead to the preparation OF similar acts and
the authorities were called upon to treat with the
|
malady. The authorities were not content with
halfway measures, and at once began TO send
| away from the city number OF persons whose
about the city for years The long-haired Greek
doctor was the first TO go, and others his fk fol-
lowed. The feeling OF dread OF this class OF peO-
pie was SO general that any strange remark heard
| In crowd was sure to attract suspicion towards
spIoW1v nce leeRS Sc %e , ~
Of the White House, where the crowd had gathered
to hear the latest from the sick room: A man was
U IN m N frfap cr.Hf I'm
happened to say, II had a dream" AT once
| there was stir In the crowd, and bystander ex-
get right away from here. We have no use for q
dream ten years ago."
This reply Quieted the suspicious Of the crowd.
THE INFLUX OF CRANES.
1t seemed for the 1rst few weeks that every
train brought to the city one OF these strange pass
engers and as they at once made their way to tho
White House. their character was soon discovered.
A few days after the assassination a shabbily
dressed man, about II years OF age, arrived In
the city and stated that he had come from Phila-
delphia to Investigate the shooting OF the Pres-
prompted the act and who Guiteaus accompiices
were. He said that he was q medium ana could
he aso % any one IN the
but refrained on account OF having served under
Guiteau was inspired to do what he aid and Wa
under spiritual influence when he fired the shot
He said his name was ID. Charles MCNAMARA. He
was at once sent to the Insane Asylum.
AYeTERIoUe VISITOR
Late one night about the 5th OF July, coiored
man walked into the White house How ho
eluded the guards could not be accounted for.
except In the superstition that he had climbed ths
fence He walked up to one Of the doorkeepeu
ana said: II want to be shown TO the Presidents
room Is onoa.n The Gfartaod attendant ssacoh hin
what he wanted - 50 there for, and he replleds
"Because he has sent FOR me RE wa q course tod
that be must leave, and he quickly took In g.
pArtufe. Il was asceftalned that The man Was .
mesDongee IA one q the departmeut2 He at h11
poet the next mOrning a n nothing had hap
pened, and those best acquainted W1h him were
surprised when told q this strange freak Tno
.--~.----.