West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-03-31

1hOH u 40 AuF A y
ent Off =. last Monday, and thus
graphically des rlbes what be saw:
In the mode ball o! the Patent
Othcs Dsuart there ~ DIVISION
known az the blue corridor, where
may be seen a collection OF curlosl-
tee, Az Interesting, perhaps, TO pa
trlotlc AIn -ricsns, ~ can be found
elsewhere lu our country. During
the hours that the Department il
open To vlstors scarcely minute
pssses that q crowd OF sightseers from
some part OF the United State ~ not
lingering around the large glass
cases IN wblcn these mementoes of
past events and famous personages
have bpen deposited. 1t Isa mIscel-
idneous collection, gathered origin
ally from varIous par'e OF the globe,
but each article has An interesting
history, told In many instances on a
card Of explanation attached. Con-
spicuous among. them 10 the suit
worn by GEORGE WASHINGTON when
he iesiguec his commission At An
ntPol,8 ia 1888 Tue coat ia of u ne
cloth. with Outside feelings Of a soft,
buff, wooden texture, held in place
By immenss gilt buttons. TIE
Panb, which extend TO the knee. and
the vest, are OF the same buff mate
rial. The suit is perfectly preserv
ed, but IN contrast to il haug the
tattered remnants of his elk window
curtains, go dlsfgured and moth
-aten that they are scarcely recok-
niz'ble as window drapery. About
two dozen pieces of blue china are
disp'avei on stand Of shelv with
bis chrystal candelabra, little brown
teapot, blue glass finger bow 8, and
few pieces OF lowered china pre-
sented TO MARTHA WASHINGTON bv
LAFAYETTE. A wastetsrd of curl
Gus des'gu aud tall mahogany bu.
reau, with It's snowy brass handles
aud 36 by 81 inch mirror, wo u!d be-
invaluable treasures TO lovers of AN.
uqne furniture, apart from the in
terest they possess az relics of our
hrst President. There is his haod-
some china pur CHI bowl With a large
piece broken out OF its side;two vases
that wers presented TO him; and the
bulky old-tme compass which he
used as surveyor. HIS travelling
secretary is a musty, leather encased
box with leather pockets for papers
The hall lantern from Mount Vernon
is here, with some chars. tables,and.
irons, bellows, ard a wooden tea
board imported from France lust
after the Revolutionary War. SOM
coarse WOODEN blankets, and bed cur
tains embroidered by MARTHA
WASHINGTON are curious objects.
Here is the heavy iron treaeure oheet
OF The continental army. and WASH
INGToN's camp chest with its outfit
OF pewter plates, steei knives, and
two-rronged forks, that followed
HIM n his many retreats aud marohes
One can look into the identical oval
gilt framed mirror that has so often
reflected the features OF the fsther Of
his country, and onener stiIl, no
doubt, those OF Mrs WAsHINaroN.
The tent-poles. tent pine, aud sleep.
ing tent, the latter now only 2 tat
tered bundle Of linen canvas. but
ever venerable as the canopy that
Sheltered Gen. GEORGE WAsHINsTou
are all displayed 10 this case.
But by no means can AL these Gu
r'osities be claimed by WAsHINaToN.
For here are the only known relics
OF THOMAS PAINE. a clumsy pair Of
non-rimmed spectsces and set of
large ornameDted steel shoe buckles
The rife Of SAM HoUsroN is shown.
With two guns presented 10 THOMAS
JEFFERSON by the Emperor Of Mo-
rocco. winch are rich and expensive
weapons, but would be ,onsidersJ
but poor FIRE arms now. Here may
be seen the coat worn by Cen. JAcK-
SON At the battle Of New Orleans.
with his vicious looking old fashion
ei fint-Iock pistols. A coat, richly
embroidered 10 gold, worn by Gen.
SANTA ANNA in the Mexican War.
near which lies the reddish lea,Ler
war saddle OF Baron DEKALB.
Among the msuy handsom- swords
placed here is the one presented TO
u S GRANT by the Spanish Repub-
&c Others toat were presented 10
Capt. PERFY and officers Of the y s.
Snip Concord, when At h exandr.
m 1882 by the Pssha Of Egypt. But
by lar The hsndsomest one r. IN a,