Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-23
TREASURES AT THE MUSEUM.

Silver and Gems Preserved There.
LEW PEOPLE WHO GAZE UPON THE
l. treasures inclosed within the fragile glass
cases near the main entrance Of the National
Museum dream that any material protection
guards them from burglarious and predatory
paws, save that q watch is kept, as matter Of
course, by persons in charge. Gold and
| silver by the hundredweight are there exposed
to view, while the intrinsic and historical value
Of the exhibits mounts up into the millions.
Yet all is open, with only thin sheets of crystal
between the avaricious visitor and this pre-
cious property Of the American people.
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 ex-
posed behind the glass; Lo an alarm rings
through the building, and from all sides the
attendants flock to the rescue. The thief
learns, too late for profitable information, that
each copper, silver, or gold piece in every case
has separate attachment to the burglar alarm
In the building. The accessibility Of the costly
objects is only apparent; the entire police Of
Washington il guarding them day and night
In reality.
1t Is the same way with the major as well as
with the minor treasures in the Smithsonian 3
museum. Gold and silver articles and orna-
ments, jewels and vases, everything of value in
fact. are guarded in the same way. 1t is prac-
tically an imposssbility for anybody ito get
away with them. A few of them were stolen
from the patent Office when they were there,
but they are beyond the reach of robbers now.
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 caskets
OF solid gold, each as big as an ordinary four
pound confectionery box and very massive,
which were given by London, Ayr and Glasgow
these there are other boxes Of solid silver, very
massive. One Of the most valuable of these
gifts was set Of Jade ornaments-a material
much priced in China-which. being carved
from such large pieces, are worth many thou
sands of dollars. They were presented by
Prince Kung. Gold cigar cases and knives are
merely incidental, but a most interesting and
precious relic is q gold card Of invitation sent
to Gen. Grant by friends in San Francisco in
silver envelope with his address on the outside,
an ordinary 2-cent stamp affixed, and a request
engraved upon the envelope that the missive
should be returned to the sender if not de-
hvered 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
other treasures Of value. There are great num-
bef Of gold-hilted swords with solid gold seab-
bards. Two of them were given to General
Shields by the states Of South Carolina and ILL.,
nois 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 80, 900. A golden scimitar
given by the Emperor Of Morocco to Thomas
Jefferson is one Of the most precious relics.
Another is gold box set with initials in dia-
monds, presented to Francis. the inventor of
after his model, which saved 200 men. women
and children from a single wreck. is on exhi-
bition at the museum. With the box is dis
played gold medal worth sS, 200 presented
r Francis s;a... by the Congress Of the
tiop in fac simile 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
was subsequently fshed out of the Seine, into
which the thieves had thrown it. A collection
OF Japanese gold coins included in the same as
semblage Of curiosities has q value of MANY
Thousands Of dollars. There are in addition
numerous gold medals granted to the Smith
sonian Institution and to the fish commits
sion. Besides, there are ever so many presents
OF great value given by foreign powers and
potentates to Presidents Of the United States
and other officials Of this country, which by
law they were not permitted to accept. Among
these last were bottle Of diamonds and a
bottle Of pearls which are not displayed in the
collection Of gems at the museum.
Once in two or three years the treasures
Of the museum in the shape Of gold, silver, and
jewels are cleaned. The gold objects, inciosed
as they are in cases almost alright, need very
little touching up. In the collection of rare
coins are some very extraordinary curiosities.
Among them is an original Egyptian silver
piece with the head of Cleopatra On one side
and that Of Marc Anthony on the other There
in the Bible, including the widows mite"
worth half farthing, of Judea, the silver
Roman tribute penny" valued at 10 cents,
the shekel of Jerusalem, and the tetradrachm
of Sidon and Tyre.