The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-06-23

earie that their superstition had been
correct. When a guard who received
the telegram from Canton conveying
the sad news had ushered the mcssen-
ger M the stairway. he leaned III the
emhrasurc of the hall window. Inc
story goes that he observed a strange
shadow outlined clearly on white col
umn. Plainly silhoucttcd was the form
of an elderly woman the strangely
marked features suggesting President
Mckinley. but Of n feminine cast The
guard watched it for - minutes. at
the end Of which time 1t had slowly
faded away.
Later came the shadow of an old
woman at spinning wheel ana to
this day those who arc striving to In
vest the shades with Il dread meaning
are unable to interpret this phenome-
non. But there was To their minds no
doubt about the Interpretation of the
next shadow. which appeared rs the
head Of John ShcrHan. Even after
Sherman's death the shadow remained
until people began to think II would u"
permanent. But one day it vanished
as suddenly as it had come and now Is
but a memory
Just before the last campaign came
tracery showing the profile of the pr'H-
idcnt himself Then the superstitious
resumed their theorizing with energy.
But Mckinley was reelected. and the
prestige of the shadows as Omens OF
evil portent for those they represented
received a sad blow. Not all, evident
". indicated a fatality But the next
shadow was unmistakahlc. the face on
the pillar being that Of the widely re-
vered sovereign of England, Victoria
And Queen Victoria died.
Many shadows have come and gone
since then, but the latest arrival has
caused a vast deal of speculation. On
the central pillar of the east side of the
portlco is TO be traced the outline of
Marcus A. Hanna. rotund and jolly
looking. But the senator takes no
'stock" in the appearance as presaging
evil to himself. When the subject is
brOached. he laughs and says he is too
much of materialist to dread the
fiashings on the white column. The
superstitious nevertheless are as busy
as ever theOrizing.
The white pillars of the presidents
home are not the only affairs Of stone"
to which the attention of the citizens
is directed just now. The contemplated
equestrian statue of General Mcclellan
1T II hnr
timely topic The commission having
I'm charge the erection Of this statue,
which Is to he another addition to- the
many beautiful works of the sculptor's
art which this city now boasts, met
some time ago and prepared a pro-
gramme of competition for artists who
are citizens of the United States.
The effigips Of what will probably
prove n valuable addition to our stat
uary are to be modelled on scale Of
two inches to the foot for pedestal and
statue The cost of both statue and
pedestal is limited to $500. including
all expenses incidental to setting the
monument I'm position. Sculptors. art
lists and architects connected in bust
ness way with any bronze foundries or
monument making firms are excluded
from the competition.
When the models prepared have all
been submitted. the Mcclellan commits
sion will select the four which they
deem best. and to the lucky modelers
will be paid the sum of $500 each.
Then the final selection will be made
from these four models. The gentle
men having the matter in charge are
the secretary of war. Senator WetmOre,
chairman Of the joint library commit
tee. and General X. ID. Rugglcs, who
represents the Society of the Army of
the Potomac.
Apart from the decisions of the SUI
preme court in the insular cases. de-
cision which has aroused a good deal
of talk was rendered on the last day
of the session. II is especially inter
esting to merchants and attorneys all
through the country. MS It affects the
preference clause Of the bankruptcy
act. which makes a preferred creditor
of the merchant who has received any
cash payment on his account within
four months prior to the filing of his