Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-24

Natiouai museum IN this city. The book was
what was called the army and navy prayer
book and was printed in Richmond in 1865 for
the use Of the people Of the southern states
who had for the time being renowned their
allegiance to the President of these United
States, whose name is the one now used in the
Episcopalian book of prayer. Already this
southern volume has become an object of in
terest and many of the sghtseers as they pass
through the great museum in this city stop to
read over the open pages that carry the MEM
DRY back SO quickly to the days Of the great
civil war.
VARIED COLLECTION.
For some time past the officials Of the mu-
scum have been gathering together collection
OF relics of the confederacy. SO that now there
Is on exhibition q group OF articles that, while
not particularly numerous or valuable, arc sure
to prove OF lasting interest, the more the
days Of the war sink into the past and the
memories Of its hardshps arc softened by
time. The collection fills one OF the large show
cases near the main entrance and comprises a
curious and motley lot of articles, ranging
from an imposing punch bowl that camo from
the executive mansion at Richmond to a tat
tered gray uniform. Only few feet away are
displayed the relics Of Gen. Grant and the
many han dsome presents that were conferred
upon him during his famous trip around the
world. Within a few feet of each other rests
the sword that the northern leader carried
through the entire war and the old and rusty
gray uniform Of Col. Mosby; brass buttons o:
the Union in one case, brass buttons of the
confederacy in the other, at peace now. 1t is
hackneyed idea. perhaps, but if those two
collections could only describe their varied
experiences OF more than quarter of a century
ago they would tell story of the that
would surpass all others in point Of interest.
Why would it not be good scheme for some
of the comrades of the G.. A. r. during tie
great encampment to go over 10 the museum
at midnight some night and interview the
relics? At any rate, if that is not feasible, the
collections themselves are bound to be centers
of genuine interest during the stay of the
Grand Army in Washington.
EVIDENCES OF HARD SERVICE.
There is little about the relics OF the confcd-
eracy that would suggest ease or luxury On
the other hand there are many evidences of
hardship and deprivation. For example. there
are uniforms representing all three branches
of the service belonging to a colonial. a cor
poral and a private. All are worn and shabby,
and even i'll the case Of the uniform Of Col.
Mosby the trousers are sadly used up in that
portion that comes in contact with the saddle
when the wearer is on horseback. pair of
shoes that we're made in Virginia during the
war gives very good idea of the straits to
which the people often placed for the
very necessaries Of life So in the case Of
many of the other articles, it is evident they
were merely used makeshifts in the absence
Of anything better. A pack of playing cards
with emblems of the confederacv emblazoned
on the back shows the ruling passion with some
to have been strong even when boots were 500
pair and bread was out OF sight
A JOURNALISTIC CURIOSITY
One Of the most interesting and suggestive
bits in the whole collection is a copy of the
Daily Citizen. a newspaper printed in
yicksburg. Evidently the sheet Was a
variable quantity, depending somewhat on
the conditions that surrounded 1t The par
ticular number in the collection at the museum.
is Of the date of Thursday, July 2, 1868. just
before the fall of the city As showing the
difficulties that at times attends upon Journal
ism this paper is printed upon brilliantly col
ored wall paper and as a result appears on one
side of the sheet only. 1t is but four columns
good there is a noticeable dearth of news and
1t looks as though the telegraph editor had not
earned his salary for weeks. The paper is
filed with accounts of the hardshipG that the
people of the city were enduring, coupled with
the complaint that some of the citizens were
suspected Of concealinS breadstuffs in their
cellars and doing them ont at enormous fig
ures One column Is headed Yankee News
From All Points" In the first column appears
the following interesting EDITORIAL
1--WE are indebted to Maj. Gillespie for
steak OF confederate beef. alias meat. We have
tried 1t and can assure our friends that If il is
rendered necessary they need have no scruples
at eating the meat. 1t is sweet. savory and
tender and so long rs we have a mule left we
| are satisfied our soldiers will be contented to
subsist On it."
1t is curious looking sheet all the way
through ana yet between the first and fourth
columns Is recorded one of the mos, impor sant
events OF the war. Down at the bottom of the
| second column occurs the following paragraph,
hardly news and not quite editorial:
"On dit.-That the great Ulysses-the
Yankee generalissimo surnamed Grant-has
expressed his intention of dining in Vicksburg
on Saturday next, and celebrating the Fourth
OF July by dinner. aud SO forth. When asked
whether he would invite Gen. 10 Johnston to
join he said: No; for fear there will be row
at the table Ulysses must get into the city
before he dimes In 1t. The way to COOK a rab-
! bit is first catch the rabbit. &C., &C."
On the Fourth Of July the paper appeared
again. but with a sort of postscript that was
not counted on in the original. The northern
troops had entered Vicksburg and it ID to be
presumed that among them were some printers.
for when the forms Of the Cit,zen were found
they had simply inserted a paragraph and
printed off another edition. At the bottom Of
the last column on the page the original para
graph was lifted out and the following was put
in its place:
NOTE.
July 4, 1868.
''Two days bring about great changes The
banner of the Union flies over Vicksburg. Gen.
Grant has caught the rabbit He has dined
in Vicksburg and he did bring his dinner with
him. The Citizen lives to see it For the last
time it appears on wall paper No more will
1t eulogize the luxury Of mule meat and fric-
asseed kitten-urge southern warriors to such
diet no more. This Is the last wall paper
edition and Is, excepting this note, from the
type as we found them. II will be valuable
hereafter a. curiosity"
This curious old specimen Of journalism
tells an interesting story in q very few words.
AN INTERESTING FLAG.
This old newspaper is displayed at one end
OF the case and is tackled ON to atattered CON-
federate battlehag Of Gen. Hardy's third army
corps. c. 8. A. This flag was used in number
OF battles and, a. showing how hard put to 1t
the people were as that time for many Of the
necessities Of life, IL il instructive to note that
the white portion Of the nag was made from
the piece Of shirt that belonged to . soldier