The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-05

Ntementoes OF Great Men In the Museum
nj yypshiuutou.

ut Nnshtuptou.
The most valuable Jewels in the National
Museum in Washington are the relics Of
our great men near the entrance, says the
Jcwclci's IVeekly. These are worth tens of
thousands of dollars in intrinsic value of
the gold and jewels of which they are
made, TO say nothing of the workmanship.
There are swords by the dozen set with
diamonds, guns inlnid with precious
stones, and canes with heads of gold In
which gems are embedded A guard Is
detailed to watch them night and day.
Each case has burglar alarm connected
with it, and the least meddling would set
an electric bell ringing and call the
Museum army together.
The Grant collection is one. IL Is made
up of hundreds of gold articles cxqus-
itely engraved, and brought together from
all parts of the world, of rare stones, of
china more valuable than solid gold, and
of other articles, which. il melted down,
would fully pay the Presidents salary for
year or more.
In one case there is complete collcc-
tion of gold and silver coins of Japan,
which has wonderful numismatic value,
as il 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 one hundred in the
collection.
In another case there are half dozen
large elephant tusks which the King OF
Siam gave to General Grant and there are
six pieces of costly Jade given him by one
of the princes Of China. All of the swords
presented to him are there, aud many of
them have diamonds set in the hilts. The
sword given to General Grant by the SAM.
tary Fair at New York has solid gold
head, representing the Goddess of Lib
erty, which has two rubies, two diamonds
and two sapphircs set in it, The sword of
Chattanooga has fourteen diamonds inn
bedded in 1t, and many of the gifts which
he received from foreign monarchs are of
gold set with diamonds.
One of the medals which are in the col
lection contains 5000 worth of gold, and Is
as large around as the bottom of a tin cup.
The gold articles in the collection would
fill peck measure; and many cities, too,
gave General Grant a gold box containing
papers in which their freedom was pre-
sented. The box which he received Mt Ayr,
Scotland, is as big as q cigar box and Is of
solid gold. The City of Glasgow gave him
n still larger one, beautifully chased, and
the gold box which he received from the
City of London is "a wonder of artistic
workmanship bearing an engraving of
the Capitol on one side and of the London
guild hall on 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 five times as thick, which was sent
TO General Grant in solid silver envel-
ope inviting him to masked ball at San
Francisco. There are a number OF silver
menus, q gold-handled knife which the
miners of Idaho gave him, gold headed
canes set with diamonds, and medals and
other articles of gold