The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-07-11
UNCLE SANS TREASURES.
How They Are Secured Against
Pilfering Fingers.
Tho Vast Riches of the National Museum,
Apparently at tho Mercy of
Thieves, Yet Perfectly
Safe.

Apparently at the Mercy OF
Thieves, Yet Perfectly
Few people who gaze upon the treas
ures inclosed within the fragile glass
cases near the main entrance of the
National museum dream that any
material protection CARDS them from
burglarious and predatory paws, save
that watch is kept as matter of
course by persons in charge, says the
Washington Star. Gold and silver by
the hundred weight are there exposed
to view, while the intrinsic and his
torical value of the exhibits mounts
up into the millions. Yet all is open,
with only thin sheets Of crystal be-
tween the avaricioue visitor and this
precious property of the American peo-
pie.
Let the would-be robber try it then;
let him wait, and, when he is perfectly
certain the guard is not looking, lay
hands on so much as one small copper
penny of historic date exposed behind
the glass. Lo! an alarm rings through
the building, and from all sides the at
PENDANTS flock to the rescue. The
thief learns, too late for profitable in
formation, that each copper, silver, Or
gold piece in every case has a separate
attachment to the burglar alarm in the
building. The accessibility Of the cost
ly objects is only apparent; the entire
police of Washington is guarding them
day and night.
The United States cannot afford to
have these things stolen. Among the
treasures the museum contains Of great
intrinsic value are the presents made to
Gen. Grant while he was abroad.
Among them are three large Baskets Of
solid gold, each as big as an ordinary
four-pound confectionery box and very
massive, which were given by London,
Ayr and Glasgow, containing the free
dom of those cities. Besides these there
are four other boxes Of solid silver,
very massive. One of the most valuable
of these gifts was a set Of jade orna-
ments-a material much priced in China
which, being carved from such large
pieces, are worth many thousands of
dollars. They were presented by
Prince Kung. Gold cigar-cases and
knives are merely incidental, but a
most interesting and precious relic is a
gold card of invitation sent to Gen.
Grant by friends in San Francisco in
silver envelope with his address on the
outside, an ordinary two-cent stamp at
fixed, and a. request engraved upon the
envelope that the missive should be re-
turned to the sender if not delivered in
ten days. The invitation was to the
most superb ball ever given On the
Pacific coast, and Gen. Grant attended.
But in addition to the Grant presents,
these glass cases at the museum hold
ever so many other treasures Of value.
There are great number Of gold-hilted
swords, with solid gold scabbards.
Two of them were given to Gen.
Shields by the states of South Carolina
and Illinois, respectively, for services in
the Mexican war. Others are mounted
with diamonds and studded with rubies
and other precious stones. Congress
bought the two swords from Gen.
Shields family for ten Thousand dollars.
A. golden scimitar, given by the emper-
or of Morocco to Thomas Jefferson, is
one of the most precious relics. Another
is a gold box, set with initials in dia-
monds, presented to Francis, the inven-
tor of the ife-saving car, by Napoleon
III. One car after his model, which
saved TWO hundred men, women and
children from single wreck, is ON ex-
hibition at the museum. With the box
is displayed 81 gold medal worth five
thousand dollars, presented to Francis
by the congress Of the United States.
Also there is reproduction in fac-sim-
lie of the celebrated plate Of solid gold,
weighing nearly four pounds, which
was dug up in Rome in the year 210 A.
D., with sixteen golden coins set around
Its margin of different emperors. The
original of this plate was stolen from
the Louvre in Paris, and was subse-
uuently fshed out of the Seine, into
which the thieves had thrown it. A
collection of Japanese gold coins in
cluded in the same assemblage of curl
osities has valuation of many thou
sand dollars There are in addition
numerous gold medals granted to the
Smithsonian institution and to the fish
commission. Besides, there are ever SO
many presents Of great value given by
foreign powers and potentates to presi-
dents of the United States and other Of
fcials of this country, which by law
they were not permitted to accept.
Among these last were a bottle of dia-
monds and bottle of pearls, which are
not displayed in the collection of gems
at the museum.
Once in two Or three years the treas
ures of the museum in the shape of
gold, silver and jewels are cleaned. The
gold objects, inclosed as they are in
cases almost air-tight, need very little
touching up. In the collection of rare
coins are some very extraordinary curl
osities. Among them is al original
Egyptian silver piece with the head of
Cleopatra on one side and that Of Mare
Antony on the other. There are also
specimens of all the moneys mentioned
in the Bible: including the widows
mite,'' worth half a farthing. of Judea,
the silver Roman tribute penny val