The Portland daily press., 1890-04-23
MAINE TOW MS.
Yarmouth.

II very unique ana interesting loan anu arL
collection is now on exhibition in the vestry
of the Baptist church in this place.
Yarmouth being one of our oldest seaport
towns, and her residents having travelled
extensively in all parts of the world in the
good old days of our merchant marine, it
would be natural to suppose that a rare
assortment of goods from different quarters
of the earth would find their way into the
homes of the community, and such is the
case. 1t occurred to some of the ladies of
the Baptist church that it would be of inter-
est to make collection of some of the more
interesting and curious of these. The result
has been most gratifying. An assortment of
articles, both ancient and modern, foreign
and domestic, such as Is seldom seen at one
place, is now open to the inspection Of our
people. The ladies are to be congratulated
both upon the idea and their successful man.
ner of carrying it out. Excellent taste has
been displayed in the arrangement, and
beholder
The church itself is an artistic gem, with
the soft light falling through the beautiful
memorial windows upon the golden tinted
veE al .oe
beautiful paintings Many of these are in
oil, and the work Of local artists, for which
Yarmouth is justly noted. Rich and costly
banners add to the effect. They, would
There 0f are also - numbers of histOTi-
cal views, painted some in foreign lands and
long ago. At one end of the room stand
number Of easels with crayon portraits, in
terspersed with panel pictures, a fine group.
These also are mostly by local artists. On
one of the tables is quaint picture on tin,
representing Yarmoutn's main street fifty
years ago. The contrast between then and
now is suggestive.
and antique" articles upon the tables, we
have an assortment worth going far to see.
Here too, are to be found a great number of
interesting articles from all quarters OF the
world, calling up to the minds of the behold
ers thoughts and fancies of long sea voyages
and many lands, and curious customs of far
away people. Here are articles of beautiful
lacquer work, articles in bronze. tumblers of
hammered brass, fans. canes, inlaid cabinets,
swords and clubs, and other articles from
far off India, China and Japan, and the isl
ands of the sea. at one end of the room is
a beautifully inlaid copper gong from China.
Here In show. case is unique collection
Gethsemane, of water from the Jor-
dan, sycamine, shittim, olive and
cedar woods. lentils, salt from Sodom,
bitumen from the Dead sea and many others.
There is bit of cloth such as is wern by
the women in Micronesia, poor apology
for dress; a steel mirror from Japan. ex-
qnisite she'll flowers, Chinese dolls for chill
dren, idols from Japan, and fern tree vase
from New Zealand.
Here is a collection of curious articles
from Alaska. Some years ago Miss Eliza
Curtis, then Yarmouth girl, went to Cali
fornia, joined there her brother, and with
him took trip to Alaska, where she obtain
e6 5e eSS SGa Of the nEe Here Ry are
table Is collection of rare and beautiful
china ware plates, cups, vases and the
like Most of this is very old. Here is a
plate supposed to be hand painted, 200 years
old; symmetrical lava pitcher of the middle
ages; a set of four pieces from Scotland 100
years old; solid silver tea urn of the reign
Of George /. and candle stick three genera
tions old brought from England.
Here is q spinning jenny of long ago; a
chair and ottoman belonging to Rev. Thomas
Green, for seventeen years the first
honored pastor of the church and an old
time yarn swift. A curious and interesting
piece Of work by Yankee sea captain, a
resident of Yarmouth, In the shape of an in
laid table top stands upon a show case. 1t
would do credit to native born Jap. There
is also curious shawl.
Here too, upon table, is a collection Of
old books. In the light Of modern type and
paper and modes of expression they are GU
rious enough. Here is an old log book neat
~ W Iltten up by former Yarmouth sea
captain; set of Shakspeare's 16 mo-, owned
and read in all his long sea voyages by the
brother of ex-Gov. Clifford of Massachusetts,.
There Is also an interesting book with notes
and accounts once owned by one Joseph
Weare, whilom Indian scout and fighter
hereabouts, dating back to 1760; an old ltal-
ian poem, La Prigione of 1851: course Of
sermons on Early Piety. with introduction
by Or. Increase Mather of Boston, 1921, and
a Historical Sketch of the 1st Church in
Boston DOCKS on astronomy, on astrology,
ana others OF the 18th century. Just above
this table hang two pictures finely executed,
representing the birth of Christ and the Last
Supper, both 100 years old. Above these is
Masonic apron, known to be $50 years old.
Near by in show case is a gold medal
possession Of Capt. Levi Marston
of Yarmouth Many years ago, in the fifties
when master Of the brig Harriet, in mid
ocean just after a violent storm, he came up
on the British ship Unicorn dismantled and
in imminent danger Of sinking. Laying 20
Captain Marston succeeded, after many
hours of severe and periIous eXertion, in
saving from the sinking vessel her passen..
gers and crew Of 325 souls. AS reward OF
medal was presented to Captain Marston by
the BRUSH government through Daniel
webster, then Secretary of State for this
country. IT Is valued at $l47.50. Upon the
represent the vessel.
But perhaps the most interesting and
unique collection Of all in this exhibit TO
very many is collection of coins, the prop
erty Oh MT. i. OdSSWell, also OF Var
mouth. The coins date from before Christ
down to recent times. The whole collection
comprises 5000 pieces have one here, fill.
ing two long show cases, about 3700 pieces.
1t is one of the finest collections the writer
has ever seen, and to lovers of raIe coins
this is proper feast 1t is
to be doubted If there is such
another extensive collection anywhere in the
state.
The exhibit will be open this Wednesday,
afternoon and evening. 1t will probably
close tonight. This afternoon the children
OF tne schools are to be admitted, when at
tSennaants Will make all needed explanations
All the goods are the loan of Yarmouth peo.
PIE, ana the ladies arranging it are worthy OF
large patronage. The lovers of the
crafty them.
Mr.. Charles Allen of Cloquet, Minnesota,
was in town Monday on flying trip. Mr..
Allen is the son of Rev. l.. b. Allen, pastor