Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-28
By Carolyn w ellis

please make no definite comment upon al one
of the curioS."
One and all, the children declared th,v
were not nervous, and would obey Uncle Bob's
orders to the letter.
Nov you know that there is considerable
doubt to what became of the remains of
Christopher Columbus. Some people are I'M
certain as to whether his body ever really
buried, and if so where. Now, the truth of the
matter is, that when his remains were taken
from Spain to Havana, or Havana to Spain,
forget which, an enterprising curio dealer cut
off his right hand-I mean Christopher's right
hand-and subject to the conditions of which
| told you, | succeeded in obtaining possession
of it. Of course, mean to restore it to its
place eventually; but while have it, it will do
portunity, which you will probably never have
again, of shaking hands with Columbus"
While Uncle Bob was talking, he had taken
from his box an object which he covered with
a silk handkerchief, as he passed it under the
shawl to Fred. This object in reality a
mans kid glove, which had been stuffed with
oat meal sewed up and laid en- the ice for
eral hours. In Uncle Bob's box it had been
buried in dish of cracked ice, and when he
took the damp, cold object from its place and
passed it to Fred beneath the shawl, it did in
deed feel though it might be hand of
Christopher Columbus or anybody else. As the
hand went round the circle various expressions
of fun, horror, and fear were heard but, true
side of the shawl, nor made any definite remark
about it.
AS it was returned Uncle Bob said that he
would show them of the most wonderful
curiosities the world had vet produced.
This he said, is a piece of the Weeping
Rock. The Weeping Rock is huge crag in the
far distant country of Kanoodledum. From
this rock pair of unhappy lovers once threw
themselves off, and dashed to pieces.
Immediately the great rock began to weep
copiously, and has never ceased to do so. l
was fortunate enough to secure a small piece
of this rock, and shall pass it round among you,
that you may feel of it. You will notice, after
you have passed it on, that your fingers are
wet from the tears it Sheds
Then under the cover of the silk handkerchief
Uncle Bob passed to Fred the bit of Weeping
Rock. 1t felt like jagged bit of stone, and
sure enough, as it passed from one hand to
another beneath the shawl each hand was
left damp from the sad tears of the strange
mineral.
The next curiosity was a sea urchin This.
Uncle Bob declared, was alive; but at the pres
ent moment asleep, and he trusted there
fore that the children would pass it round
quickly, and not awaken it from its nap.
Beginning with Fred, the urchin was
passed along, and as each one grasped the
spiny creature he was glad enough to pass it
on to his neighbor. 1t seemed to have as
many quilts as porcupine, and though much
smaller, it was really double handful of sharp
singing points.
1t will not harm you," said Uncle Bob,
smiling. I" 1t is tame sea urchin, and if it
awake would be glad to eat out of your
hand"
The next curiosity was live seal. This
dear little creature" said Uncle Bob, ais ac-
customed to live on an iceberg, and does not
feel at home in this climate. You will
therefore pass him around quickly, that l may
return him to his ice water tank"
Fred took the seal first, and he felt the
warm moving body with its soft fur, he was
greatly tempted to look at it; for he had never
seen live seal, and this judging from its size,
was evidently baby one. But of course he
would not look at it SO he passed it on, and
many EXPLANATIONS of admiration were heard
from the children, as they petted the dear little
creature.
This completed the exhibition, if anything
not seen can be called exhibition, and.
shutting up his treasure box, Uncle Bob went
away, pursued by the children, who begged to
know the meaning of these strange things.
But Uncle Bob only laughed, and declined to
answer their questions.
The next day, however, he yielded to the
importantly of his niece and nephew, and ex-
planned to them his trickery.
The hand of Columbus has already been
described. The Weeping Rock was merely
irregularly shaped piece of ice. The sea
urchin orange, stuck full of wooden
toothpicks. The live seal was a rubber hot
water bag which had been filled with warm