St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-20

which. If melted down, would fully pay
the presidents salary for year or
more.
In one case there is complete collec-
ton Of gold and silver coins of Japan,
which has a wonderful numismatic
value, as it is the only complete set in
existence, except one in the Japanese
treasury. Some Of the gold coins are
quarter of an inch thick and as large
around as the top of a dinner pail.
Seven of them cost 5000, and there are
perhaps hundred in the collection.
In another case there are half
dozen large elephant tusks which the
king of Siam gave to Gen. Grant, and
there are six pieces Of costly jade
given him by one of the princes of
China. All the swords presented to him
are there and many of them have dia-
m0ndS set in the hits. The sword
given to Gen. Grant by the sanitary fair
at New York has a solid gold head rep
resenting the Goddess of Liberty,
which has two rubies, two diamonds
and two sapphIreS set in it. The sword
of Chattanooga has fourteen diamonds
Imbedded in it. and many of the gifts
WHICH, nC ICGClICu lIOilI IOlOlSlI
archS are of gold set with diamonds.
One of the medals which are in the
collection contains 5000 worth Of gold
and is as large around as the bottom of
TIN cup. The gold artic les in the col
lection would fill & peck measure, and
many cities seem to have given
Gen. Grant a gold box containing
the papers in which their free
dom was presented. The box
which he received at Ayr, Scotland, is
as large as Il cigar box and is OF solid
gold. The city of Glasgow gave him a
still larger one, beautifully chased, and
the gold box which he received from the
city of London is wonder OF artistic
workmanship, bearing an engraving of
the capitol on one side and Of the Lon
don Guild hall Oh the other. Enameled
on its golden surface are the Union
Jack, the Red White and Blue, and the
Goddess of Liberty shaking hands with
the British lion.
There is beautiful cigar case of gold
from the king of Siam, model of the
table on which Lees surrender was
signed in solid gold, and solid gold in
yitatiOn card as large as postal card
and about four times as thick, which
was sent to Gen. Grant in solid silver
envelope, inviting him to masked ball
at San Francisco. There are a number
of silver menus, gOld-handled knife
which the miners of Idaho gave him,
gold-headed canes set with diamonds,
and medals and other articles of gold.
The order of the Shelkcat, which the
sultan gave to Mrs. S. S. Cox, is also
kept in the National museum. 1t is
star larger around than trade dollar,
which sparkleS with more than 100 dia-
monds These diamonds are set in
gold, on brown. gold and green en-
amel. The star has five points, and
there are tWenty-siX diamonds on each
point. 1t has beautiful ribbon sash
connected with it, and was given to
Mrs. Cox one night at the sultan'S pal
ace when she went there to dinner with
her husband and ate Turkish viandS
served up by a French cook on gold
plates. After the dinner was over the
sultan presented this insignia. She
thought, | am told, that she was to have
it forever, but 1t seems that his ma
jesty only lends such presents tor lite,
and when she dies it is to be returned
to him. The wife of Minister Straus
was decorated with the same order and
she will have to return it in the distant
future.
Uncle Sam has vast collection of the
jewels OF savageS. He has silverWare
made by the Indians of Arizona, carved
ornaments from Alaska, and great
bracelets and ankletS of gold, silver
and brass from India. One Of the most
curious necklaces in his collection is
one of human fingers, which the men
of some of the Indian tribes wear, and
there is one made of siXty-seven HUI
man teeth, with holes pierced at their
roots to string them.
This necklace is ten inches long and
a number OF teeth evidently need filling.
1t came from the FIJI islands, and was
found there in 1910. Another necklace
was made of human hair, into which
the tuSk of the WalruS was woven. 1t
was about two inches thick and twenty
inches long. Another savage necklace
is one of human and dog teeth com
bined, and there are necklaces OF stone,
of gold, silver, copper and brass of all
shapes and sizes, gathered from all
parts of the world.
1t is difficult to appreciate the size of
the National museum. 1t is growing
more rapidly than Jonah's gourd, and
seums in the world. 1t surpasses any
other in the line of Indian antiquities
and matters connected with America,
and vast additions from all parts of the
world are received every year. Already
the building which was constructed
few years ago for it is packed to burst
ing, and new one will have to be built
very soon.