The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-15
SUNDAY MORNING GRAB BAG
Notes, Comments and Short Stories
Picked Up About Indianapolis.
Baneful Influence of the Ishmael Family Tree
Senator lngalls's- PastidiOusness - DR..
EdeDharter and the City Government

While it is conceded that Rev. Oscar O.
McCulloch conferred great benefits, spirit
ual and practical, upon this community, 1t
must be also conceded that like most
earnest persons he had hobby. aud that
hobby was somewhat overworked. Fhe
chiefest of these benefits was the system
atizing and setting forward of certain lines
OF charity work. which before his coming
were OF haphazard character, almost
wholly without form or char
acter. Under his management these
were systematized, and though
he has gone this work survives. and in
other hands will remain TO give perma-
nent and effective benefits to this city. He
has given the poor and dependent an up
lift that is recognized and appreciated.
But the hobby to which reference is made
as having been overworked is the Ishmael
family genealogical chart which yet hangs
upon the walls of the Charity Organization {.
room in Ply mouth building. The first per-
son to call attention to the Ishmaels as a fam
lily of dependents. paupers and criminals
was the late George e.. Harding. In his paper,
the Saturday Herald. About this time the
newspapers of the land noticed book pub
hshed in the East. which gave history of
paupers in New York, which had as its
source an outcast named Margaret, born In
D poor-house, over a hundred years ago.
Mr.. Harding's suggestion was taken mp
by an ex-newsDaper reporter who, having
access to the township poor records pro-
ceeded to connect all the poverty and ''or-
ariness" of this community with the Ish-
mael family. With one old man lshmael
who came here from Kentucky half
century or more ago as trunk. be proceed
Ell to grow q great family tree. connecting
Herewith by collateral branches all tn o
Smiths. Browns. Joneses and Robinsons,
trunk which had its root in squalor.
pauperism and evil doing Under
Mr.. McCulloch's encouragement this
tree grew amazingly. Day after day new
twigs were added to the greater branches
until to-day 1t casts Its baneful shade over
this entire community. Persons who have
lived In this city dozen years or more. or
who have intermarried with older resident
families are afraid to think of this tree.
much less to look at IL. for fear they will
ind some of their lineage intermlngled
with its branehes
The story of the Ishmaels has been ex-
plotted abroad, and all the professional
truth Is. it was largely fake. The
newspaper man had started In TO make
startling exposition and he did his work
thoroughly, much more thoroughly than
the facts in the case warranted. During
Dir. McCulloch's lifetime this genealogical
fable was not attacked. But it Is now
high time TO apply the ak to Its roots.
As a matter of fact most of the criminality
and pauperism in this community has not
grown here. They are imported articles.
and have come from oil parts of the world,
mostly from beyond the seas. The records
of our prisons and poor-houses. as well as
the books OF the Overseer of the poor will
show this TO be true. The IshmaeI pauper
tree need not be exploited any more.
+
Ex-senator Ingalls,. of Kansas is a very
fsstIdIous man about his eating. He may
even be set down as an epIcurean of the
worst sort He is q lover of fish of all
kinds, from the little four nch club W hich
fills the streams of the Sunfiower State In
the summer months TO the savory sea blue
fish which he was accustomed to have,
seven breakfasts week, IN his Washing
ton home. This fondness for the finny
tribe may account for the Senator massive
intellect. as fish are generally accredited
with being brain-makers. Mr.. ingalls, does
not care for game or poultry of
any kind. The most deliciously- served
pheasant or mallard duck, done up in
Wormley's beat STYLE could never be made
to tempt him, and it Is said that on Thanks
giving day, when the head of the table is
from Atehison. Mrs. Ingalls, will have a ut
tie side dish of roast beef or veal for the
Senator. He loves vegetables. cooked In
PLAIN Kansas fashion, and Is particularly
no charm for him. and. while the rest of the
family are enjoying some rich, dyspepsia
giving pastry with long French name. the
iridescent man IS topping his meal
cranberry pie. As for the drinks. Mr.. In
gale is very fond of coffee and tea, and has
Q little pot of either at his side at every
meal. He drinks them straight. without
cream or sugar. and the stronger the bet
ter. One time the Senator was dining at
the Coates House. in Kansas City, with
Webb Wilder. Marsh Murdoch and ID. K.
Anthony. three other Kansas celebrities of
. lesser glare. Wilder sat at the end of the
table. and as he happened to have a menu
II his hand. Ingalls,. who was next TO him.
said: You order for me. Wild
Err and turned to talk to
The order was given. and IN due time the
waiter returned with as beautiful tray
foil IS any gambler ever held. He put
lngallss dinner down hrst, and among other
things he brought were turkey. venison
for dessert three kinds of fancy puddlngs
made ont OF wintergreen and pink sugar.
and Favored with a very rank-smelling
brandy sauce. Ingalls, gave the waiter one
of those looks which have been known to
wither many an intellectual tower, and.
pointing bis stub of finger az the layout,
he said: young man. where did you think
you were bringing this to, the slOp barrel
or the tablet" He ordered another dinner.
=
The news of the death of William III.
Leake in far-off Australia was received In
this city on last Tuesday. He was the last
manager of stock company IN this city,
and of considerable merit as an actor. be-
ing far above the average in both comedy
and tragedy. He was scarcely of medium
height. which put q Limitation upon his
efforts in the higher roles. and he could
not successfully essay such characters a.
Macbeth and Othello. though he made IA
very creditable Richard Ill. Old theater-
goers will recall with pleasure bis
appearance as DArtagnan in THE
Three Guardsmen," role in which
be could scarcely have been
sxcelled. Mr.. Leake was an Englishman,
and from his familiarity with the York
shire dialect ii is probable ne was from
that county. He was inmitable as n ra-