The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-27
But He Manages to Crib Tassels and Steal
Pieces of Curtains-Bogus Gniteau Knives
and Washington Monument Relics.
Large Reductions of Salaries of Old and
Competent Department Clerks.
JEANNE Winston's Female Admirers and Her
Male Antagonists-Li Bugs for 0rna-
Notwithstanding Capital News.
RELIC-HUNTERs.
Their Depredations at the White House
People Who Live OF Their Credulity.

Their Depredations at the White House
People Who Live OFF Their Credulity.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON June 26.-"Why is it that the
East Room of the White House is kept so bare Of
furniture2" asked visitor to this city of White
House official.
Because, if it was filled with small pieces of
furniture, bric-a-brac or knick -knacks. it would
soon present a most dilapidated condition" was
the answer. ''As it is, the relic-hunters cut off
tassels from the fringe of the furniture, or tear
off pieces of the curtains. If there was anything
portable handy, off it would go as a memento Of
the visit"
Washington is perhaps the greatest place for
relic.hunters in the country. Here they have
full swing at all sorts Of historical places, and
each visitor thinks he. or she, must carry
something home to show the old
folks. Just at present, pieces Of the
Washington monument are the most salable.
Everywhere you go you see piece Of white
marble, some with rude sketches of the monu-
ment on them, others plain. but there is enough
still on sale to raise the monument fifty feet
higher, and the greatest part of the joke is that
all of the stone for sale is said to have been
Clipped from the cap-stone!
One would hardly believe that relics of Guiteau
still exist, but they do, or, at least some people
are made to suppose they do, and they find
ready market Talking to well-known relic
fakir" to-day he spoke of some interesting things
in regard to his trade. He managed soon after
Guiteau tried to commit suicide to have men
toned in a paper that the improvised knife
"a r. G..:k~ 49, h.
deed was in his possession. He was
soon overrun with requests from relic hunters
for the knife, but he had an eye to business. He
remembered friend who was hard up in New
York and wrote to him II send you the knife
which Guiteau used in his attempted suicide
Use it to your best advantage and return it to
me within month" The friend sought we'll
known dime museum manager, made bargain
with him to exhibit it for a few weeks cleared
lot of money, and got lot of advertisement for
the relic dealer here Soon after, a man came
from England especially to SEQ the dealer in this
city. He was delegated by one Of the
government museums to purchase relics
Among other things he wanted the Guiteau
knife. The dealer told him he could have it,
and thereupon went into his workshop. took
piece of steel, sharpened it, bound one end with
cord, and had a duplicate made exactly as he had
made the so-called original knife exhibited in
New York. "That's nothing" said the dealer
''When Guitear was hung, I bought lot of
common rope, cut it up in small pieces. and sold
it all over the country. came very near max
ing fortune in it, only one thing happened-my
rope gave out and, besides, had worked all the
suckers5 This same man has done a thriving
trade in Cleveland wedding cake He has some
relics in shape of unused boxes and plate pieces
of cake yet at his house.