Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-09
Watching the Caucasian.


Ihese picturesque visitors to the Pike do
not deign to give the showmen their GOOD
money In exchange for the pleasure of
gaping at other strange people doing their
naive antics within the Enthusiastically got-up
measures behind the barkers' backs. They
ieaVe that pleasure to be enjoyed by the
whites, and this circumstance among
others, mas led not a few close observers to
nav the conclusion that Indian and Ainu,
tinooo and Soudanese, find their evenings
recreation in watching the Caucasian And
why not? Isn't the white after all an eth
noiogical exhibit to them Just as much as
they are to the white?
80 That was the view evidently taken by
StalWart SlX-foot-six Patagonian as he stood
on the edge of crowd rapt In listening to
the paean sung by barker in behalf of his
particular attraction.
We have here, ladies and gentlemen.
he shouted in a voice that drowned the
noise of the drum being industriously
beaten on the other side Of the thorough
fare by an Egyptian all the way from the
New York Syrian quarter. I'VE have here
the grandest most glorious"
HUH! grunted the Patagonian.
FL Illusion tss hrt that ever sprans full hedged
conception, it's cost would"
"Huh!' grunted the Patagonian.
Bankrupt many a famous millionaire you
read about in the papers. 1t IS. in fact
HUH" grunted the Patagonan.
THE costliest amusement enterprise that
man ever dreamed of and millions of gold
made possible" with comprehensive
sweep Of the arms which seemed to take
in all the wealth of the world from the
Klondike to the South African gold fields.
Now. ladies and gentlemen-'
"Huh!' grunted the Patagonian.
production. this greatest Of all great enter
prises. this mammoth, this colossal record
breaker
"Huh!" grunted the Patagonian.
Tg oil re or no iptin jtQctr
recess sum of twenty-five cents-twenty-
five! All yours. ladies'"
HUH" grunted the Patagonian.
"And gentlemen, for twenty-five cents
twenty-fve!'
Spoke Volumes.
AS the barker finished and crawled from
his box the Patagonian gave a final grunt
and stalked off as stolidly as the savage
hero Of the dime novel. Half an hour later,
when the barker was getting into his full
swing of words and arms, the Patagonian
appeared on the crowds edge. But this time
he was not alone. Every Patagonian in st.
Louis was with him. and every now and
then. as the barker arose to the heights.
the savage's elbow found Its way into his
companions ribs, and there was twink
ling light in his eyes that spoke volumes.
You do not have to make a point of look
Ing for queer peoples I'm the crowds sur
rounding the bankers. Neither do you have
10 possess peTSplCdClty 10 kIOW lndC tQey
are studying Caucasian human nature In
much the same fashion that they are made
the objects of mental dissection by daylight.
If you are sharp-eyed enough you will
be able to see bronzed, brown and yellow
barbarians taking you and your kind In out
of the corners of their eyes as they pass
you by. If you turn around quickly 1t Is
likely that you will discover an Ainu or Co.
ing you from rear point OF vantage.
Still Secret.
All this nightly observance undoubtedly
leads to a mighty interesting lot Of conclu-
sions. but that white man is not in St.
Louis today who can induce the savages to
tell them to him. More than one has tried,
particularly the men in charge OF the vari-
Gus chronological groups, with some such
result as this:
Well, how do you like the exposition.
GechicoT
Gechico: "Um! big-fne."
And the Pike?'
Gechico: .Fine-heap fine"
And what do you like best in the Pikef'
Gechico: "All fine"
Don't you like"-mentioning some lead
ing attraction-''best Of all?'
Gechico: "AI fine
If the inquisitor is not discouraged by this
time he puts this question:
well, then what do you think about the
people you see?"
Gechico: Heap people-fne."
And there you are; and as 1t Is with the
willy old Patagonian chief: so 1t is with the
queer little primitive Japs from Yeddo and
the stalwart bandits from the mountains Of
Morocco.
Call Forth Comment.
1t is far easier-indeed. not at all difficult
to learn the Caucasian's opinions Of the
barbarian. They are shouted along the
Pike a thousand time a night; all you have
to do is to keep your ears open. and II your
sense OF hearing is particularly acute It is
more than likely that you will catch the
sound Of your own voice expressing even
under the subjects nose your Views of him.
The papoose seems to call forth the most
comment; the woman who passes one by