The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-07-17
PLEAsAxTRIEs AT THE BIG FAIR.

WASHING ToN BUILDING. Wortd's Fair,
July lO.-Two old Indiana farmers stood
looking 1T Washingson's tall hagpole the
other day and arguing about whether it
was really one tree or two. An enthusi-
astic Washingtonian started out to con-
vince them that the mountain curves on
the railroads had compelled the tree being
cut in two. when one old fellow put his
hands behind him and. taking q long
breath, exclaimed: "But say. John, 1t
WAS . whopper Of . high tree even up to
the splice. waren't it7" The Washing
tonian turned back, convinced that the
great hagpols was able to tell its own story.
John Hudson, the taxidermist Of the
commission. is one Of the most indefatigabie
workers ever saw in my life- From early
morning until dark every day he is at il
continuously and faithfully. But this
constancy toward his work does not pre-
vent his enjoying . joke occasionally.
Early in the fair he was changing the
liquids on the alcoholic specimens Of fish,
and took the jars out to the lagoon at the
rear Of the Washington build ing
where ne could moro easily wash
of the fish and clean the jars.
While at work lazy old pike swan
up close to his WORK. and John caught him
in his hands. He put the live fish Iii . jar
Of lagoon water aud sat it dow alongside
Of the alcoholic specimens. The gasping,
wrigging fish soon attracted the attention
of . group Of Columbian guards and
chair boys. Question after question poured
in on the busy taxidermist and he finally
answered them that he had been expert
menting for years and had just found
recipe that would revive alcoholic speci-
mems Of fish even though they had been
dead for years. The joke ran the rounds
for some time before 1t WAS exposed. An
other OF Johns jokes was perpesrated on
the fiends with canes. umbrellas and fans
who persist in ruifiing the plumage Of the
birds and hair Of the elks. bears and lions.
He took an old ruined specimen and sat it
down near a cougar and labeled it in this
fashion: "Poke this with your hands. ruff
tie it with your hands. and do what you
please with il, but do not touch the lion."
The next time ne got around 10 this stand
he found the iioa in = diIapidated condi-
ton. The visitors had taken revenge on
the joker.
When Hon. Mike s. Drew was here some
time ago they say that he became very
much bewildered at the number Of street
cars running in SO many different direc-
tions. and SO, to get to the Worlds fair
grounds, he hired horse and buggy and
drove ont. having to stop frequently and
ask the policemen where he Was at, what
direction should he steer that rig Of his
and 20 on, bat when he did arrive he pro-
ceeded to take in the big show in much the
same vigorous and regardless sort OF way
that he once presided over the deiiberA-
tions Of the first state legislature 1t will
be remembered that 1t that memorable
time he ruled everything and everybody
ont Of order except what he favored. aud
those special measures he raiiroaded
through like West street electric Car On
ITS last trip.
Frederick Duglass paid the Washington
building . visi, recently. and when &C
cossed by . friend who said, II met you
last winter in Washington. T" the white
haired and famous old negro took Oh his
hat and. waving Il around him. exclaimed:
And We meet again in Washington"
IL has become the rule nov among par
ties visiting the Numerous side shows in
Midway Piaisance for eAen one Of the
pariy 10 pay his own way, and this ap-
plies also 60 the ladies Of the parties Su-
Fersns<ndent r. j. barnard. Of the Seattle
schools. Vas quickly initiated into tais
custom aud now he 10 rsioicinx. He