San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-05-03
washington Letter.

In the model hall of the Patent Office De
partment there is a division known as the
blue corridor. where mUy be seen coliec-
ton of curiosities, as interesting, perhaps
TO patriotic Americans, rs can be found else
where in our country. During the hours
that the Department is open to visitors
scarcely q minute passes that crowd OF
sightseers from some part of the United
States is not lingering around the large glass
cases in which these momentoes OF past
events and famous personages have been de-
posted. II is a miscellaneous collection,
gathered originally from various quarters OF
the globe, but each article has an interest
ing history, told in many instances ON
card of explanation attached. Conspicuous
among them is the suit worn by George
Washington when he resigned his commits
sion at Annapolis in 1883. The coat Is OF
blue cloth. with outside facings OF SOFT,
buff, wooden texture, held in place by I'M
mense Gilt buttons. The pants, which ex-
tend to the knee, and the vest are OF the
same buff material. The suit ls perfectly
preserved, but in contrast to 1t hang the tat
tered remnants of his silk window curtains,
so disfgured and moth eaten that they are
scarcely recognizable rs window drapery.
About two dozen pieces OF blue emma are
displayed on o stand of shelves, with his
crystal candelabra, little brown teapot, blue
glass tinger-bowls, and few pieces Ut
lowered china presented to Martha wash
ington by Lafayette. washstand OF Gu
rious design and tall mahogany bureau,
with it's snowy brass handles and SO by n
inch mirror would be invaluable treasures to
lovers of antique furniture, apart from the
interest they possess as relics OF our hrst
President. There is his handsome china
punch bowl with large piece broken out OF
it's side; two vases that were presented to
him; and the bulky old time compass which
he used as surveyor His travelling secre-
tary is a musty, leather encased box with
leather pockets for papers. The hall Ian
tern from Mount Vernon is here, with some
chairs, tables, andlrons, bellows; and a
wooden tea-board imported from
France just after the revolutionary war.
Some coarse WOODEN blankets, and bed-cur-
tains embroidered by Martha Washington
are curious objects. Here is the heavy iron
treasure chest of the continental army, and
Washington's camp-chest with its outfit OF
pewter plates, steel knives and prong
ed forks, that followed him in his many re-
treats and marches. One can look into the
identical, oval, gilt framed mirror that has
SO often reflected the features of the father
of his country, and oftener still, no doubt,
those of Mrs Washington. The tent-poles,
tent pins, and sleeping tent, the latter now
only a tattered bundle of linen canvas, but
ever venerable as the canopy that sheltered
General George Washington are oil display
ed in this case.
But by no means can all of these curiosi-
ties be claimed by Washington. For here
are the only known relics of Thomas Paine,
o clumsy pair of iron trimmed spectacles,
and O set of large ornamented steel shoe buck
les. The rifle of Sam Houston is shown, with
two guns presented to Thomas Jefferson by
the Emperor of Morocco, which are rich
and expensive weapons, but would be con-
sidered but poor firearms now. Here may
be seen the coat worn by General jackson
at the battle of New Orleans, with his case
of vicious looking oldfashioned fiint-lock
pistols. A coat, richly embroidered in gold, |
worn by General Santa Anna in the Mexl- |
can war; near which lies the reddish leather
war saddle of Baron De Kalb. Among the
many handsome swords placed here is the |
one presented 10 U. S. Grant by the Spanish |
Republic; others that were presented to !
Capt. Perry and officers of the U. S. Ship |
Concord, when at Alexandria in 1882 by |
the Pasha of Egypt But by far the hand
soonest O o is in blue satin case, with
scabbard heavily mounted in gold, present
ed to Lucien Young U S. Navy, i'll recog-
milton of his heroism in saving life at sea.
But think the most interesting souvenir of
the past is the printing press at which Ben
jrmin Franklin worked in London 1873
years ago as journeyman, which was pre-
scented by London Printers to Mr.. Murray of
New York, and by him deposited here for
safe keeping in 1912. Compared to the
Hoe, which invention and progress have
brought to its present state of perfection,
it is very primitive looking machine. but
it no doubt served an excellent purpose IN
it's day.
pair of large. drab- colored buckskin
gloves, of exquisite workmanship, made by
for the hand of Abraham Lin
coin, but which were not received i'll the
city until after his death, lie beside the
little model of mechanism for lifting YES
sells over shoals invented by him, and pat
ented in 1919. Mr. Lincoln must have had
this invention in mind when he said during
the war: 1.-The U. S. Navy can go anywhere
that the ground is little damp"
To PROTECT the buyers OF ''Pearline" the
publishes fac-simile of his
trade mark, which is on every package, and
none other are genuine. ''Pearline" is the
trade mark name of washing compound
only by James Pyle, $50 Wash