The evening times., 1896-06-22
GENIUS BEHIND THE BARS
John Hendley's Friends Trying
Save Him From Jail.
WAS CALLED A WIZARD
Can Reproduce Fruit True to Nature
Numbered Among His Friends such
Men As Blaine, Garfield and Sher-
man-Artificia Parts of the Human
Body Made-victim of Drink.

release from the Washington Worknouse
of the aged John Hendey, whois serving a
fifteen days sentence for habitual drunk
enness under the vagrancy act. After his
release efforts will be made TO secure for
him employment. at his profession
Hendley, who is seventy years old, was
sent TO prison last Friday on complaint OF
his son, Henry Hendley, who is twenty-five
years of age. The son stated on the wit
ness stand that he believed his father had
become a hopeless drunkard.
The friends of the old man do rot think
So They feel that he still has VIII power
and may yet he saved. Even Judge Kim
ball has hopes for this reiict of better
days, for in committing him he ordered that
he be treated at tie workhouse Tor al
coholsm.
John Henlleyis one ofthe most remarka
BILE meu ever employed by the government
and had IL not been for bis thirst for liquor
he would today be occupying high and
honorable position, instead OF quarters al
the city prison. ns earned by tbs rare
genius the sobriquer %: The Wizard of the
National Museum and has proudly worI
that title for sixteen years.
GENUINE CURIOSITY SHOP.
When himself and free from the taint Of
drink HeDdley had "den" first in the
museum building and later on the second
floor of the Fish Commission building, at
Sixth and b streets southwest. His apart
ment was genuine curiosity shop. IL was
said of him that he could make anything,
from diamond TO II stuffed elephant, and
his reproductions OF fishes, fruit, minerals,
and even mankind were marvels of human
skill and ingenuity. There is scarcely a
case in the great NatioDaf Museum or
Smithsonian Institute tina does not contain
specimens of the wizards" haDdiwork.
His fruit pieces would deceive grower.
Shortly before lie lost his position as
wizard of the Museum" Hendley made II
bunch OF bananas. They were so true to
nature that they could be placed beside a
cluster of the genuine fruit and an Italian
banana handler could not tell "'tother from
which, as the Old darkey would express
1t. Their color, shape and size Were per-
feet, and to have them still more natural
he made them of the same softness TO the
touch as the genuine article. The WIZ
ard was wont to say, as he surveyed the
bunch proudly:
They will fool the eye and the touch
all right, but not the TASTE
He has made artificial pears, apples,
peaches, lemons. watermelons and can
teloupes for some of the leading men in
the country.
PRAISED BY BLAINE
He made for the late James G. Blaine
a watermelon, split open, exposing its rosy
interior, and would not let Mr. Blaine
take it from his den until a real melon
had been brought in and opened for com
parison. After gazing at the natural and
the artificial fruit admiringly for few
moments the Maine statesman turned. u
Hendley and remarked:
"You have been rightly termed the
Wizard This work is remarkable almost
incredulous."
Hendley's imitation of Malaga grapes, sci
on dainty china dishes, grace the parlors oi
some of the wealthiest and most distin
guished people in this city, and their own
ers take pleasure in foolng their guests
by placing bunch of genuine grapes along
side those whitfield out by Hendley, and
defying them to tell which are the inita
ton and which the real.
one OF the wizards" greatest triumph:
was the reproduction of an oyster on the
half shell. 1t was so like a bivalve in color
general appearance and touch that if PLACED
in the midst of others, trained cook o.
| epicure could not pick it out. He alst
made loaf of well-browned bread, which
would cause a Weary Willie" or Hun
CRY Harry to reach for it.
Senator Sherman was one of HendIey'
greatest admirers. and he never tired o
visiting the Wizards" workshop in tn
Museum and watching him while at hi
mysterious labor. Hendley's work wa,
mysterious. indeed, for he would allow NJ
living soul in his den while he was nixini
the compounds from which he made his re
| productions.
FOLLOWS no RULES.
He could copy anything true to nature