The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-17
UNCLE SANS TREASURES.
How They Arc Secured Against
Pilfering Fingers.
The VAST Riches of the National Museum,
Apparently ut thc Mercy of
Thieves, Yet Perfectly
Safc.

SooSo EStS tiic lIlsllil cUtr1ucS CT The
National museum dream that any
material protection CARDS them from
burglarious and predatory paws. save
That watch is kept as Il matter OF
course by persons III 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 tire millions Yet all is open,
with only thin sheets of crystal be-
tween the avaricious visitor and this
precious property of tho American peo-
pie.
Let the would-be robber try il 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
~ 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 hc was abroad.
Among them are three LARGE caslicts of
solid gold. each rs big as an ordinary
four-pound confectionery box and very
massive which were given by London,
Ayr and Glassow, 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 u set OF jade ovn.-
lucnts-a iuatcrial much priced III China
which, being carved from such lar:rc
pieces, are worth many Thousands, OF
dollars They were presented by
Prince KING. Cold cigur-cascs and
knives are merely incidental but Il
most Interesting and precious rclic is Il
gold card of Invitation sent 10 Cen
Grant by friends III SAN Francisco Il. "A
silver envelope with his address on The
outside, an ordinary two-ccnt stamp af-
fixed, and Il request engraved upon Tie
envelope THAT the ,nissivc should be re-
t;irncd to the sender ii not delivered in
ten days. The invitation was to tic
most superb ball ever given on the
Pacific coast, and ticl. Grant attended
Eat il addition u the Grant presents.
these glass cases at the museum hold
ever So inany other treasures Of value
There are Il great nuinbc. Of gold-hi!tcd
swords. with solid gold scabbar,.s
Two OF them We're given to Gen.
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bv the concrrss Of ,hn r-,;.Dl s:..t,,'.
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lie Of tho c,,rbr,,. nI,,. NJ s,l;5 ,rniI
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was our ND i, Rome in the vn,rsio
d.. with siytacn .-ol1cn cni,: go, .,r,,,.,I
its marr;n Of 1i{frr,r. c,nnrror. .rhn
ori.-iuul Of hi; n,,,c ,y,s stn,nn f.n'o
The Lonvr, in I.,rie .,nJ r,s s,,,,.,,'
t,ucn.lv Gshcd ont of tho seine ;,,.o
which the thieves lad thro,v,; i
collection Of .Jno,nnsr c,id ro;,,s ~.
cirdcd in the sam, ossn,nll,,-c ~ cr,;-
os:tics h,s q v,l,,,,i,n ~ 49,, 49,,
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