Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-14

This is the story of my friend Jenkins
and his hoodoO and that suggests super
stftiOn and progress. Jenkins is a man or
more than ordinary attachments. an author,
an authority diplomatic usage and inter
national law and ethnologist. For the
last four years he has experienced the most
phenomenal run of I'll luck. and has lately
failed physically. He came into my studio
a few nights since. 1t was disagreeable
without; noisy, too, with the roaring
of the rain upon the roof and the
rushing of the water i'll the pipes. He sat
down during a fit of coughing and wiped
the moisture from his forehead. 1 noticed
with a shock that his hand was painfully
thin. After resting for a few moments he
said he had a favor to ask, but first craved
my attention to his statement of few
facts.
He placed upon my desk a bundle
wrapped in newspapers that he had been
holding upon his knees. and said 1t con-
tanned an article he had purchased Of an
Old Chinamar at the worlds fair in 93
1t was not object of beauty. but it pos
sessed singular attraction for him, which
he could not resist. on his way back to
his hotel on the day of the purchase he
lost his wallet and all the money he had
with him. about $50. and was forced to
pawn his watch to get home. On his re-
turn from Chicago he lost his position
through some antagOnistic influences which
had heretofore been unsuccessful IN In6lr
efforts, and within few days occurred
the death of a very dear relative, with
whom he was living. Next, appoint
ment in one of the scientific departments of
the government passed him by at the last
moment and was given to another, man
totally unqualified for the work. Then fol-
lowed his appointment as resident secre-
tary of a big foreign trading company,
which he held for a few months The
president of the firm, who had secured my
friends appointment. died suddenly and
his successor made a quick change in Jen-
kius' case. 1t was about the time that
prominent man died. one who was notable
for his connection with judicial matters
during the restless days of Lincoln's adj
ministration. and the succeeding will con-
test was one of the most famous In the
later years of the cOuntry'S history. Jen-
kins Indirectly would have inherited about
10000 had things turned out properly,
but they didn't. Then followed several
months of knocking and being knocked
about. during which he turned his hand to
special newspaper work, with discouraging
results, although in former years he had
been q, successful contributor TO a number
OF publications.
Nothing but Reverses.
He finally secured a good position with
satisfactory salary attachment with one of
the foreign embassies and held it down for
several weeks. but was finally knocked out
by an electric fan that played on him until
he contracted cold of the grip variety
and he went home suddenly with hemor-
rhage Of the lungs. When he recovered suf-
fciently to 60 around he received. through
a friend. the promise of a position on the
staff of a scientific expedition about to
start for the southwest. but the friend had
a personal encounter with a rival for the
position of director of the enterprise and
came out second best. although he not
responsible for the circumstance. So Jen-
kinS lost again.
His last Encouragement happened a few
I
grnce that a distant relative, who owned
large ranch in New Mexica and whom he
knew would at least give him a place to
sleep and something to eat. had sold out
his establishment a few days before, and
was going TO Europe for his health.
still Another.
Just one more. A few months ago Jen-
kins had been commissioned by a we'll
known publisher to secure some Informal
ton in regard to certain work that was be-
ing carried on under the superintendent
Of the government and which he indirectly
was in position to secure. 1t was a mat
ter of Importance and was very closely
guarded He prepared full account of the
proceedings with drawings and data, and
sent it To the publishers, who for some rea-
son refused to accept it. jenkins laid ii
aside in dlSpatr. few weeks ago it ap-
pvared in a number of the largest papers of
the country and coined quite little sum
for another than Jenkins There were 9TH
CT miSfortuneS and mishapDeningS but I
think that IS enough
When he had finished his recital he said
that last anchor he had decided TO
throw over his hoOdoo and he pointed to
the newspaper bundle on my desk | IN
wrapped il with some hesitation and dis
closed the ugly. mummy-lilIe image of a
Notwithstanding old man reclining on a
rock The upper part of the body was I'M
draped and the ribs and vertebrate We're
distinctly and easily COuntable. There was
a sCrubby beard on his chin and the two
white. Ash-like eyes were particu' ar.ly uTr-
pleasant. The whole thing had the drv.
mummifed look Of specimen in museum,
II was unwholesome.
Tried to Give 1t Away.
Knowing my weakness for the curious
Jenkins offered the image to me- but said
he thought IT only fair that I should Know
hf.tnr,- and hnrr- h. fnIt trr,..rl L