The times., 1897-04-11
JOSEPH KNOWS THE WORLD
A Sixteen-Year-Old Boy With a
Taste for Travel.
THE STORY OF HIS LIFE
Comes From a Family of Travellers.
His Father Donkey Boy in
Paraguay and His Mother a
Water Carrier in AngOra-HF,
Wants to Fight the Turks.

Joseph PrOvidor, sixteen years old, who
says he is native Of Austria, but whe
has Travelled over all OF the civilized
world, came to Washington yesterday to see
the sights Of the capital and incidentally
TO ask the officials of the Austrian embassy
to send him home. If Joseph can be be
lieved, and he tells his story in a most
convincing manner, he is a traveller Of
high degree and rare merit He has seen
more of the world and experienced more
OF It's hardships than most people who have
reached three times his age IL is far
easier for him TO enumeraJe the places
ne has not been than those he has visited
Joseph comes from family Of travellers.
At present his father is a donkey boy
in AsunCiUn, Paraguay. and his mother
is water carrier in AngoTa The remain
der OF the faHiiy is scattered about over
the four quarters Of the earth and its
members are about as widely separated
Just now Joseph is in the winter Of his
discomfort He would muCh rather tell
you about the time ne went from London
90 Rio Janeiro first cabin in the Royal
mail express steamer, than about how ne
walked all the way from New York 20
Washington on the railroad ties and an
empty stomach.
Joseph walked into police headquarters
yesterday and they sent him to Chief Clerk
Richard Sylvester, and Joseph told his
troubles. He was very much IN need OF
new clothes and shoes with buttons on
them and d hat, not TO mention bath and
hair cut, and other luxuries He said he
had left Philadelphia two days ago, and
started for Baltimore. The Quaker City
was his last stop for refreshments. Since
then he had eaten nothing. He stopped in
Baltimore, but they did not treat him
kindly, he said. Someone told him that
the representative OF the Austrian gov
ernment lived in Washington, so he tight
ened his belt and tramped the additional
forty miles. Mr.. Sylvester sent Joseph
to Agent Wilson, Of the Humane Society,
who provided him with clothing and some
thing to eat. Then lie procured him quart
ers at the Central Union Mission until his
case can be investigated, and tits decided
what shall be done with him.
Last night Joseph told his story. He ia
a little fellow, even for his age, with q
very dark skin and great black eyes, which
shine and glistcn in the light when he
talks. He told about what he had seen
and done and the exciting adventures be
had been through, much as other people
tell about the little happenings which go
to make up the days dOings. He spoEs
slowly and diSpassiOnately and without
gestures and told about the things he had
done as though they were Of but little in
terest or importance.
Il want to 90 home he said, because
they are going to fight over there pretty
soon like wars. They are lots of fun, ard
post exciting I've been in two One was
a revolution down in Colombia l was
there with father before We went TO
, Paraguay The side we Were on lost, Gnd
we had to go across to Ecuador in hurry.
The other was in India, but 1 was so
little then that i don't remember much
| about it I was born in Athens, and my
mother is q Greek. That's the reason
/ want to go home now. ] want TO help
/ fight the Turks. I don't like Turks. L
saw some when we were in COnStau.inOple-
| They didn't treat us very well, aid
wouldlike TO fight them / lived in AsuncIon
| for D wear and q half. After that L
helped herd cattle in Argentina, on the
! paupas 1t was awfully lonely there. and
I didn't like it, / thought once after 1
| came to the States that would go TO
I Cuba They are fighting there now, you
| know But a man told me the soldiers
were diving Of fever down there, ard so
J changed ms mind. After that 1 heard
| about how the Greeks Were going TO fight,
aud now I want TO go there.
| When Joseph finished his story, he Un-
curled himself from the chair and said it
was time he was in bed
His father, he said, was an Austrian, and
that w as the reason he eclaimed that country
as his home. The hoy will probably rem ain
| at the mission for some days longer. until
! the Austrian officials make up their minds
| what they will do with him