The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-08
PASSING OF A WIZARD.
a GOVERNMENT EMPLOYE WHOSE
PLACE CANNOT BE FILLED.
Resignation of Prof Hendley-His Deg

OF Magic in washington Re-
markabIe limitations of Neture-The
Dummy Assistant - A Wonderful
Man and His Works.
From the Washington Post
He was veritable modern wizard and
figured, unofficially, of course, as "The
Wizard of the National Museum" On the
rolls of that Institution his name appeared,
modestly and simply, as J. W. Hendley.
and his salary was never princelY, although
his work was most marvellous. Many Of
his visitors, appreciating his wonderful
! work, gave him the prefix of professor, al
though it was not of his own seeking. The
wizaru preferred TO astound those who
called upon him by the magician-like work
Of simple j. W. Hendley.
The position of Wizard of the National
| Museum is now vacant by reason of
Hendleys enforced resignation, and his en-
chanted chamber, or "den," as he choosed to
call it, is closed. The ''den" is situated In
the southwest corner of the fish commission
building on Sixth street and Maine avenue
southwest, third floor, and has counted
among its visitors senators. cabinet officers,
congressnsp, noted SCIENTISTS, and others OF
mark, all oftwpdm have expressed wonder
ment at the SSrk of the wizard.
Mr.. Heud+ey -fs an active little man, up
| ward OF 60 years Of age, whose mustache
and imperial, whitened with the frost of adj
vancing years, give him the appearance of
| a Frenchman. His little blue eyes twinkle
and sparkle like sapphire stones when he is
engaged in earnest conversation, especially
IN relation to his wonder work. The wizard
has only meager school education, but far
in the recesses Of his mind is stored a secret
| knowledge far greater than can be gained
from books-a knowledge which enables
him without apparent effort to reproduce
| any product of art or nature.
Many articles have been written about
this wonderful little man and his work in
the great magazines and illustrated papers
| In fact. it was an astonished newspaper
caller who first gave him the title of wis
ard. he was constantly producing some-
thing new and astonishing scientists who
| worked from known formulas, while he
had none but his active brain and reflective
mind. Every one of his products was
original, and he never knew a moment be-
fore he set down 10 work out a problem or
reproduce an object how he was going to do
it.
He had been connected with the National
Museum about ten years, during which
time he reproduced the most remarkable
limitations of stones, plants, leaves, fruit,
antique relics and figures, representing both
human and animal life, both from pictures
and living models One of his latest pro-
auctions was a life-size representation of the
Indian chief Geronimo. One of his first
was that of half-grown colored boy, also
life-size, Sitting languidly on log, his
trousers rolled up, fishing pole in one
hand and corn-cob pipe in the other,
while before him were several catfish which
he had apparently just hauled from their
watery abode This piece was 80 realistic
that 1t caused many senators, members, and
others to visit the wizard, and the PROPOSE
tion was made by moro than one statesman
to have it placed on exhibition in the stat
uary hall at the capitol IL can now be seen
In the museum, and never fails to attract
the general attention of visitors.
One OF the wizards greatest feats, how
| ever, was to make artificial noses and ears
for humans who were unfortunate enough
TO lose those useful and ofttimes ornamental
members. He was tempted to experiment
in this direction by reading in Chicago
newspaper that certain merchant in the
WINDY City" would give any one $500
who would supply him with satisfactory
nasal appendage. he having lost the original
in fight with his brother. The wizard I'M
dertook the task, and after a few days of
experiment., produced nose which, when
attached TO the face, assumed the same
elasticity, temperature, ETC., of the face, the
color being matched to the patients COM
plexion. After this remarkable feat Hend-
ley received orders from all sections of the
country for ears and noses, and his "denn at
one time looked something like q shop of
anatomy.
The ''den" itself was a study. AS you
entered, the wizard would always introduce
you to his assistant, "Mr. Jones :" demure
and industrioC klooking young man, who
sat upon chair near the door, appeared to
be engaged in stuffing quail. In response
TO the Introduction the visitor would of
course extend his hand to shake that of Mr.,
| a laffaF
would remain as immovable as a sphynx
and as stolid as an Indian brave, when the
| visitor, to his chagrin, would discover upon
closer examination that "Mr. Jones" was
only dummy, but one as ife-like as ma
ture.
visitor, but he would have to be shrewd
one not TO be again caught mapping by the
wonderful little wizard.
"Have banana" he would sometimes
say, picking up one from among six or
more, aud handing it to the stranger. The
| ley would himself take one OF the fruit,
and peeling it, begin to bite off hearty
chunks and devour them.
This usually had the effect of causing the
stranger to make an attempt 10 peel the one
he had. The effort always proved a dismal
failure. as the banana he held was wiz
ard banana, but so real in color, touch
/
fruit vender. He made grapes of the same
sort. and ripe, rosy apples that could be
handled without detection by even farmers
in the New York apple belt.
| On table in his dem was a spread in
viting enough for the most scrupulous con-
noisseur. Beefsteak that he would allow a
butcher to handle and compare with the
real article; a loaf of.bread; cantalueps and
red-ripe watermelons, split wide open, ex-
posing the rosy interior and black seed
grapes, and many other things which would
cause the aching void of a hungry man to
cry Murder"
On the wall were reproductions of fishes,
flowers, leaves and q half of mutton which
would make an elegant sign for a meat
store and pass for the real. He has also imi-
tated precious stones with a marvellous ex-
actness and febFoduced tree leaves, veins,
tlexibility and all, that could not be told
from the original, besides many other re-
markable things which could not be de-
scribed in volume.
The little den of mystery and magic is
now closed and the little wizard is gone.
A New Gambling Game.
Creede (Col) Correspondence Globe. Democrat.