Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-07
THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP.
a Famous Old Resort and Its Collec-
ton of Old and CuriOus Thfnxs

PRoCLAMATION-GEN. DIX'S FAMOUS spot
ORDER, &c.
The sudden death Of Mr.. John Hancock, Dr.
prletor of the "Old Curiosity Shop" restar
rant, has directed public attention to tn
, correction Of curiOsities in that place, Year
oack, prior to the clash Of arms in civil conflict
: Hancock's was a favorite place Of resort 70
puoic men. 1t was patronized with especia
iohdness by southern Hen. The old-tim
southron had a weakness for "mixed drinks
ana, indeed, this taste is by no means extinc
among his descendants. At Hancock's
IL was understood, they got choic
pe ner th ahd tas ses it mixed in
custom Tor prominent southern men-Congress
men, cabinet ministers, and Others-to max,
patronage of the place confined to southern
men. for many years past it was not an un
tie91s ,nlhg 70 see leading men Of both sec
| were In Bitter antagOnism, sitting around the
plain table in the plain back room In the mos
friendly spirit OF social intercourse. AS they
slipped punches they would forget the acrimony
OF debate and join in most cordial devotion al
se SHRINE t OF OF bacehus Even in all the ami
| uncompromising political antagonists Otter
! met around the social board at Hancocks and
influence of palatable punch. OF late wears
Senators Bayard and Edmunds have often
eii 9l glasses at Hancocks, and of the thous
| anus Oh men VINO since the 4th of last March
| have visited Washington in quest OF office
hundreds nave exchanged hopes and expressed
| their disappointment at Hancock's.
oDp AND CURIOUS THINGS.
The place got its name of "Old Curiosity
| Shop from the success of its founder, Mr. An.
drew Hancock, in collecting odd and curious
articles He was genuine antiquarian. A
program of the first theatrical performance in
Inc wall 1t was at the United States theater
The play was 1.-The Secret, or Partnership Dis
| solved" and the entertainment was to con.
Of he POST Two
Man, or Sailors on Shore" "Admittance one
dollar. Tickets to be had at the office of the
theater, at Way d GrOffS printing office and
AT McLaughln's tavern, Georgetown" A large
| bill of the Boston museum in 1916. with the
announcement in large type of "a monstrous,
lection. Adjoining is bill of the play at Ford s
the night President Lincoln was assassinated
There is n bill of benefit in Philadelphia in
1864 to the Booths, when all three of
them, Junius Brutus, Edwin and John Wilkes.
appeared. There is quite collection of ancient
them is a copy of the New England Weekiv
journat, dated April 8, 172s. The collection
includes photograph of the U. 5. Senate of
1923, showing the features of JEFF. Davis, John
L Breckinridge, Andrew Johnson, Stephen A.
douglass and the many other celebrities who
were members OF that body. The celebrated
order of Gen. John \. Dix, containing the direc-
tion, IF any man attempts to haul down the
America fiag, shoot him ON the spot" is nicely
framed ana hangs among the curiOsities.
a VIGILANCE COMMITTEES PROCLAMATION
An original copy of a prOnunciamento of the San
Francisco vigilance committee is another in.
teresting feature. 1t is dated September 5th
1856 and is directed to John Stevens. It in
forms him that his written request for permits
sion To sail on that days steamer has been
granted upon the especial condition that you
never return under the penalty of death" The
seal OF the committee had big open eye IN the
center. In the upper margin are the words
Fiat Justitia Ruat Coelum.' In the lower
margin, NO creed, no party, sectional
| issues Among the numerous framed docu-
/ a nj no off,
100000 for the apprehension of 1.-The muir.
derer OF our late beloved President, Abraham
Lincoln" \ permit signed by George WASH
ington. and dated January 18th I 194. grant
ing permission TO the schooner Betsey to sail
3hs port Of is there It is signed
| efson. thanksgiving Proclamation
OF John Hancock, governor ''o OF
Massachusetts,. dated November sth, 1888
holds place 1t sets forth that as lit has
pleased the supreme Ruler OF all human events
to- put a period to the effusion of blood" SO
people should return thanks. Across the
| bottom are the words "God save the United
states states Of Amerea Cuts representing the first
American afford opportunity to note the
wonderful progress made in that direction
MONEY THAT USED TO CIRCULATE HERE.
Several frames are filled with specimens of
| old-time currency of the national capital. In
1889 Marc Dubant issued shinplasters printed
upon common white paper, and in the plainest
style OF the printers art. On demand Marc
Dubant was to pay twelve and a half cents and
other small sums. The Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal company issued money in various sums
1t promised to pay on demand the amount
named on the face of the note. The Bullion
bank, the Farmers and Merchants bank and
the Potomac Savings bank are represented in
the collection of notes. There is one note in
which the National hotel promised to paw 81
cents Oh demand. a piece OF peculiar looking
board is labeled as having been used as q chute
to conduct grain from the bin to the hopper in
Shoemakers mill, Georgetown. A sheet of
paper, carefully framed is certified to as a part
OF one OF the two sheets on which Jefferson
made the original draft of the Declaration Of
Independence. There is COPY of the old
National Intethgencer containing news of the
almost incredible victory OF Jackson at New
Orleans Near by is a bill of the "WashingtOn
theater corner 1th and e streets, near Penn
Sylyania avenue. Lessee and manager ].
Wilkes Booth"
\ pair Of old and rusty shackles hang on a
wall. one marked as having beer used on board
the Nightingale, a SLAYER many years ago. A
likeness of Mr.. Lincoln, when he was in Con-
gress in 1913, hangs against the wall The fac
yoke and pennant OF the captains gig, belong.
ing 10 the old frigate Cumberland sunk by the
Merrimac in 1862, are exhibited. Hats of old
nremen's organizations in 1917 and 1897 form
conspicuous feature of the collection at the
lower end OF the room.
OLD WEAPONS.
There Is great variety of weapons covering
different periods and representing different ma
tions. Firearms among the first made. sabers,
swords, cutlaSses, weapons of the aboriginees
etc. There is sufficient in this one collection of
weapons for an hour interesting study Near
the 'front.' door is "a large case containing hun
Greds of articles, many of which are quaint and
curious. y wine glass and small tumbler are
labeled as the identical glasses out of which
JeH. Davis, when Secretary of War; was wont
10 take his regular toddy at Jost's LIQUOR
store, No. 1902 Pennsylvania avenue
small strip of blanket was taken from
the one which enclosed Booths body when IL
was delivered To his friends. A huge iron kew
rudely made, used to lock and unlock tie
sin6 kehouSe door on Washngton's w estmore-
land COUNTY plantation; a button taken off the
coat OF Gen. Albert sydney Johnston on the
heiu OF shiloh, where he was killed; cap of
the Mexican Lancers, taken at the battle of
monterey; confederate money in different de-
nominations and confederate postage STAMPS:
cane made OF a limb of a hickory tree which
was cut down by minnie bullets at the battle of
SpottsylVanla Courthouse, May II, 1864: q
fragment OF the Merrimac; German pistol
hiatie In loo4; pair of confederate spurs found
ON the Fair Oaks battlefield: the reading lamp
used by Capt Hall, of the Polaris, on his arctic
eXpedltlon "a pair OF shoes which were worn by
SeorSe W ashlngton; button off the vest OF
JHlh Brown when captured; q lock of
mar, army badge and watch taken from the
Dody OF W. a. T.. Ryan after his execution in
Cupa, November, 1878; "A hat worn by Gen. Tay.
ior AT the battle OF Okechobee, Florida present.
ed by Gen. Robt. Buchanan, U. - A: q match.
lock gun made in 1900 Beau Hickman's cane
and umbrella; Also a receipt for 81 given hv
Beau Hickman 10 w. ID. Wylee which dollar
paid an limitation fee for one year" the over
shoes worn by President Lincoln on the night
OF his assassination, and hundreds of other ar.
ticles OF interest make up the contents of that
case.
The Reformed Church.