The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-08

cuses and the best in America is seen in
the way the programme is handled after
the opening hour. We begin with spec
tacular and lively promenade around the
ring And after r.r; this specific per
ances follow quickly. The English way,
however, is to open slowly, the ringmaster
coming in with a long whip in his hand
and with perhaps one or two performers
only following him minute or two later.
as the English do it-would be slow and
tedious to US.
Our three rings are a revelation and
wonder to English and European eyes. No
circus managers in England or abroad ever
Thought or heard Of more than one ring.
But they are probably teachable and know
at least their own interest. Having seen
the egg set on end, they will undoubtedly
follow good example and reap from it
greater patronage hereafter with greater
profit. p. I. BARMuM.
Copyright.
The Strange Tribe of Ishmael.
Baltimore Sun: One of the most curious
features of the conference of Charities and
Corrections was developed at the evening
| session. A large chart was tackled to the
wall behind the speakers desk and labeled
of Mr.. ]. f. Wright, of Indianapolis. an ex-
| journalist, ex-lawyer, and ex-postmaster,
who is at present employed in the township
trustees Office to investigate the condition
those s who apply there eSert for aid Mr.
Al families in indianapolis, ali con
ishmaels for the center. These families
form stratum of society, of which very
little is known. They are all paupers, and
every, crime of any consequence that has
Wright says, ''can be traced to some one in
the family connection. The first murder
ever committed in Indianapolis since it has
been incorporated was done fifty years age
by Mike Van Barican. one of this family
named Mcpherson. The Tribe of Ishmael
as it is called originated somewhere il
Pennsylvania, but the first knowledge Mr.
Wright has of it was in Old Ben Ishmael
who went to Bourbon county, Kentucky
in $780, r %ss his sso wife M fnne w ish
Cooper in his "The Praire." the man as Ish
mael Bush. or "Skirting Ishmael," and tn,
woman as Esther Bush. They are outcasts
and outlaws, and towards the close of The
book it is said they went out toward thu
Platte region and we're never heard from
afterward. The date is given as 1902. A
few years ago Mr.. Wright was told by Rob-
ert Wishered, a man who had married int,
the Ishmael family. that old Ben settled il
Bourbon county between 1890 and 1910
Wishered is man over 80 years old, ant
he knew Ben Ishmael, who was then owe
80 years of age. The mental, mora
and physical characteristics of the Ish
maels of to-day, Ben Ishmael's gran
sons. correspond exactly with the de
scriptions given by Cooper. OF the ole
mans sons and daughters, Sallic marie,
Louis Meyer, a son of Ben Meyer. the com
panion and friend of Daniel Boone the In
/ dian fighter Rose married John Irwin,
murderer. and John married Betsy Harboi
! a half breed Indian. OF the tribe in In
diana this last couple is the center. Th
. lines of marriage radiate in every direction
binding together in a network nearly ever
family of paupers and criminals in Indians
Moral considerations never enter into thei
3 calculations. The divorce courts are mt
nopolized by this class. In one family "
1 have a record of five marriages for each G
a three children, and seven marriages for til
fourth daughter. In the next generatio
l We find one of this family who has bee
married nine times. She is about 81 year
old. These frequent marriages are closel
allied to crime.