The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-15
DIGGING N SIND
FOR HIDDEN GOLD
Queer Things Discovered in
Reporters Wanderings.
TALENT IN TENEMENTS
Little Girl Who Dramatizad a
Chinese Song.
STORY OF DAN GEHRlNG
Begged for Permission to Play
the Piano.
STORY OF DAN GEHRlNG

day. Mr. Payne has negotiated for the
wooded land south of the west end Of
the Douglas avenue bridge and extending
almost as far south as the Lewis street
bridge He has secured the land for a
park. or. perhaps, more properly speaking,
a geological garden. There are tai trees
en- the land and it bids fair to become
valuable
Yesterday Mr. Payne was down among
ms trees. acting as a man does whose
brain is making plans for the future He
saw two men digging as if they were
working by the job. He approached them
and they almost fed. They became agi-
tated and excited
what are you fellows doing here?''
demanded BIr. Payne.
Digging"
Digging for what?"
Digging for goId-I guess we are dig
ging for gold"
who told YOU to dig hereg'
'Mr. Widdoes
who is Mr.. Wlddoes?"
'The man who told us to dig here"
Don't you know that this is my place?'
NO"
well it is. and I shan arrest you
both
The men grinned and leaned on their
shovels
Everywhere Mr.. Payne looked there
were holes in the sand. At one place was
a big galvanized iron tank-like tube bur
led IN the sand.
What is this for?" he asked
ITO keen the sand ont
Air. Payne hitched up his sorreI and
went in search Of Harry Widdoes. He
couldn't find him.
Last night reporter for the Eagle
found Mr.. HYiddoes at Mr. Sam Glenn's
apartment house on East Douglas avenue.
lie is an ola soldier and a nice man. lie
IS We'll known in Wichita
20 can't tell you why / am digging"
said cir ETiddoes, mot now. In a few
DAVIS 4 will telI you the story"
AIR. Widdocs was not pressed for
statoIrent. he is a sincere, honest fellow
ami when he said he had reasons for not
talSins last nisht. they were respected.
IN the search for Harry Widdocs an
Eagle reporter knocked at the wrong
door and found himself IN the apartments
or Mrs. j. A. Gileland.
Are you a real estate MANI" she
asked
NO. a reporter.
II never saw the like Of g." she said.
'roal estate men knocking here all day
Wanting to see Harry Widdoes. 1 sup
pose2"
Il suppose so"
Mrs. Gineland showed disposition to
talk, or at least her manner invited con
versauon. Her three daughters were
with her.
Dance for the gentleman she said
TO a girl if 70, Rosa Anna Icy name
Little Rosa looked out fhor classical
eyes at the reporter and disappeared
nimbly into an adjoining room.
In about three minutes she re-appeared
clad in the garb OF a Chinese boy. with
an open japanese umbrella in her left
hand and fan in her right
~Babe. so to the piano and play for
her" said Mrs. GiDeland. 10 little girl
OF nine. "Her name is Mildred quoth
Mrs GWeland. But we call her Babe "
Rosa Anna gave an extraordinary Chi
nese dance for the reporters edihcation.
accompanied with Chinese song. She is
corn actress-a regular little genius.
Her facial expressions were perfectly ar
tiztc 1t is seldom that such exuaordi-
nary talent is seen in one SO young
-She heard man singing "a Chinese
song one night" said AIRS. Gmcland,
"And what 10 you think she did? She
dramatized it. made those Chinese clothes
you see her wearing. composed "a little
Chinese dance and 1 think it is quite
pretty. don't you2'
Rosa danced again. this time with more
lie ana as she swung about with her
yellow little trousers and large japanese
umbrella she looked like galy colored
spinning top.
The man who trained Fannie Davenport
for the stage saw Rosa dance recently
and he pronounced her a second julia
Mar,owe
Vow comes mildred, the 9-year-old sill,
who imuroVises music and never looks at
thc Eey board. When She was three years
of age she PLAYED for Eucn Beach Yaw.
Miss Yaw took her uttle hand and turn
ing so Airs. Gnlelaud. sai5- There are
hundreds Of thousands OF dollars in these
little fingers Tor the man who exploits
their genius
When Mildred was five years Of age
she played i'm the music store at Ponca
CITY. improvising music ard the farmers /
threw quarters ana half-doilars 70 her in /
their enthusiasm
Another daughter who married recently
Al IS WAS also genius. She lives 1T
Arkansas CITY. when She was baby
Of three She used ta stand on tiptce and
ulsy. She never learned q note from
books but is q nne piano player
Sometimes. while washing The dishes
said aIrs. Gucland. ~she would sto5v
out beautiful piece. throw down The dish /
rae. 80 To The piano ana play 1t ana then
forget it,.
A boy Of IS groned into the room and
asked a question. IIe was a queer Took
ing fellow. he wasn't drunk. No. poor
Dan Gehring was only blind. Dan has
history.
THAT poor bow hasn't q penny" said
Mrs. Gneland II am very poor toe.
she continued. ~Bnt I wouid turn ms Own
ltuo .Habe' ort 81 the house before
would t11u him away.
Dan Is genius tee.
His father and grandfather Vere hlia',
siv-..r.......u wears 80 he was sent % abe
hind asylum ~ Kansas Clty a-1 SIS