Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-04-10
jAckass PUT ON A $40 BILL.
Joke Perpetrated by Malicious Engllshman
Employed as Artist.

GWPiVyeu as ATuSI
The "jackass bill" is the name
applied to the 1880 series treasury
note of the $40 denomination. The
Government was made the victim of
a practical joker in the bureau of
engraving, apd the staid, serious
money of TIE country has become
the vehicle ofa puzzle picture. The
facts were given out by the local
sub-treasury officials yesterday.
The treasury officials have omitted
to place an Inscription on the bill,
"Find the jackass." The absence of
this has kept the matter Govern
ment secret for some time. Although
the ''jackass bill" has been in exist
ence for several years, it was first
discovered the other day by bank
clerk in Chicago, who thought it
was counterfeit and reported it's
discovery to the sub-treasury officials.
They had been ignorant of tho
puzzle picture and sought informa-
tion from Washington. The answer
received was not made public except
in 30 far as the bill was acknowledged
as genuine. The full text of the
message from Washington, it is said,
was to keep the "jackass" quiet and
not let this public hear its braying.
PLAIN PORTRAIT OF A JAcKAss.
The jackass shows as plain as
life-like portrait when the bill is
turned upside down. On the face
of the bill is an American eagle in
little engraving to the left of the
seal, and between the names of j.
w. Lyons, registrar of the treasury,
and Ellis II. Roberts, Treasurer of
the United States. There is nothing
peculiar in the eagle until the bill is
turned upside down and the eagle
becomes jackass, perfect in outline.
The jackass' picture is on one of
the most common of the $40 notes
in circulation. The surprising thing
is that the puzzle or joke on the
eagle was not discovered long ago.
None of the serious men who handle
the money at Washington ever
thought of turning bill upside
down. The men who examine de-
signs before they are committed to
the engraving machine and the en-
graver passed the double tender, as
it was facetiously termed.
ARTIST SCOFFS AT TREASURER.
The bills had gone all over the
country when the artist who perpe-
trated the joke in a spirit of malici-
business and revenge sent word to
the Treasurer of the United States
to scan the portraits on The treasury
$40 bill when held upside down.
The jackass was found and there
was CONSERVATION in the depart
ment. For the best interests of the
service and for the sake of the repu-
tation of the department it was
decided to let the combination of
eagle and jackass alone in the hope
that the public would never notice
the picture.
AS the persons who work out
puzzles, rarely have "buck" long
enough to see what is on it, let alone
search for surprises, while those
with plenty of "tens" have no time
to scan them carefully, the jackass
has remained undisturbed and his
vis-a-vis, the eagle, has monopolized
whatever of attention has been given
to the centre of the bill.
ENGLIsuMAN is THE CULpRIT.
The story that comes from Wash
ington is to the effect that an
Englishman working in the bureau
of engraving was discharged for
having opinions counter to those of
the Republican party. Having been
given the usual months notice, he
decided upon cold -blooded revenge
upon the imperial eagle of Nc
Kinlcy.
He was working on the new plates
for the $40 bill and by deft hand
ling of the lights and shadows of the
eagle he produced the iackass.
From an artistic point of view his
work is excellent. 1t is the pcrfeo-
ton of puzzle creation. The head
and neck Of the eagle. which has a
peculiar left twist, furnished the
head of the jack. The light shading
at the base of the wing becomes a
perfect eye from the other view
point. The thighs of the eagle form
the cars of the jack Chicago
| Chronicle.
Hanging Over Wifes Grave.