Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-01
A SILVER INVITATION,
The Elegant Plate to Be Presented by tn,
Committee to the Encampment.

The Elegant Plate to Be Presented by the
Committee to the Encampment.
The encampment at Detroit is the twenty
fifth (''silyero encampment of the Grand
Army. The invitation of the citizens of Wash.
lngton to be presented by the committee that
goes to Detroit takes the material form of q
beautiful plate of silver suitably inscribed
This arrived last night from Philadelphia
where it was engraved, and was exhibited to.
day at Saks & Co.'S.
The shape OF the plate is generally square,
but the outline is broken into graceful curves
Some of these curves, leaving the border,
are continued around into the plate.
forming. panels for the various vignettes
that are etched into the silver and oxidized.
The Capitol in perspective occupies the top
central panel. with the Washington monument
looming up in the distance. In q sunburst
radiating from the dome of the Capitol is the
legend, Washington to the Grand Army of
the Republic, greeting" The center panel,
oval in form. contains the invitation, in bold
script. as follows:
The citizens OF Washington cordially invite
the veterans of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie to hold their annual encampment for 1892
at the national capital, assuring them of hearty
welcome and attractive entertainment in a city
rich with historic memories Of the war
Columbia they tender them the freedom of the
city, the key of which accompanies this invita-
ton.
Then follow the names of the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia and of the execu-
tive committee representing the citizens OF
Washington.
At the left of this panel is a large figure of a
boy in blue of 1861 patrolling his beat on the
banks OF the Potomac. On the opposite shore
the hillside is dotted with an encampment of
white tents. Balancing this figure, on the
right is another figure of the same bow in blue
in 1892, in the uniform Of the Grand Army of
the Republic. the armiess sleeve telling the
story of sacrifice made for his country, and the
gray beard showing the lapse of years since he
made his first encampment on the banks of the
Potomac. In the lower left-hand corner is a
shield, stack OF arms, mortar and other imple-
ments of war, and on the right the badge of the
Grand Army lying upon two Volumes one the
history, the other roll % honor of those who
fought in the great strife.
An artistic group is formed in the lower center
Of the plate by wreath Of laurel and oak sur
rounding the names of the principal battles of
the war, the bronze statues of Gen Thomas and
Admiral FarraSut on either side representing
the army and navy, The upper corner panels
are filled with vignettes of Mount Vernon, the
home of the first great general of our country
and Arlington, place made sacred to every
veteran of the war, being. as it is. the resting
place of Sheridan, Porter and thousands OF
braves who fell upon the fields Washing
ton.
The key which accompanies the invitation is
seven inches long, made of solid gold. and is
inscribed with the words &c. A. T., Washing
ton, 1892" The silver plate on which the invi-
tation is engraved and the golden KEY will be
deposited in q sumptuously finished casket of
Russia leather, lined with rich satin. The de-
sign on the plate is the work of Mr.. s. H. Nealy.
1t really does not now look as if the accom-
panyiug cut shows the design on the face of the