Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-19

HNSSSF' interest outside of the
Sr-~sSskyHf fact that it is sterling
~|V o. Or lat. s,,: year. the h: '. .s:
spoons as mementoes of travel at home in
foreign lands has filled the market with re-
pr oductions and limitations until the average
souvenir spoon has become sort of joke.
Real things are always Interesting, aud in
many Washington homes it is not the elegant
furnishings. the velvety carpets, the almost
priceless pictures, &c. which command the
most attention from the casual visitor but it is
the odd, curious, rare or beautiful little things
that fill the cabinet or the glass-covered tables
in which they are displayed. When one owns
two or three pieces the desire for a collection
begins. Then from filling one cabinet one
finds it easy to fill two or three others, and 50
it goes along. until in few drawing rooms
that will be cited one could spend hours
looking at objects that they scarcely ever can
see duplicated
OLD WHITE HOUSE SILVER.
Mrs. Harrison. in whom the spirit of historic
research is hereditary, is never happier than
when she has brought to light some long-for-
gotten book, or restored some corner of the
White House to its old-t time USES or freshened
up picture OF n famous parsonage unearthed
from the rubbish and put it again where it can
be admired. or to do what she can to keep to-
gether if not all at least specimens Of the
china that old-time Presidents have used.
Early in the past winter several old closets in
the White House that were almost forgotten
were opened and the oldest silver in the man.
sion came to light. The ar ticles found in them
were four soup tureens of solid silver. of grace
full shape. but simple decoration. Each piece
was marked Presidents house" Mrs. HaIri-
son had them cleaned and they have since
adorned the four side tables in the state dining
room.
Mrs. Morton on her table uses a superb silver
service, and Ill general use she has also pitchers
DC, that were gifts to the Vice President and
bear suitable inscriptions. In a cabinet in her
blue par.or there are displayed a large number
OF both modern and antique silver ornaments.
many of them presentations to herself as well
as to her husband, commemorative medals. &c,
that go to make up not only valuable, but ex-
tremely interesting, collection.
OLD SILVER ORNAMENTS.
Mrs. j. Thompson Swami was probably the
first in this city to commence a collection Of
old silver ornaments. especially spoons Those
who assisted her in making the collection were
personal friends and gifted with the taste and
intelligent discrimination which 20 to make up
the real collector. She has some OF the rarest
and at the same time the most beautiful speci-
mems of the silversmith's art to be found in
Holland, Switzerland and Russia. Her spoons
are In all sizes. from set of little old Dutch
salt spoons with a rams head on the handle to
the much older and more curious fish spoon
with an ivory handle yellow with age. She has
some SWISS bridal spoons, one with very beau
hful carving, with the coat-of-arms of the
uniting families, an antique set of apostle
spoons and numbers of the old Dutch ''tasters,'
AZ they were called, each representing a differ
ent family and different in design and execu-
ton. These spoons have generous bowls and
substantial handles, with all their intricate
workmanship. 1t is said that the little hooks
In all the handles were there, that the house,
wives OF the old Dutch manors might attach
them to the weighty silver chate!aines hanging
from their girdles Among the Russian spoons
which are as large the ordinary soup spoons
the enameling at the back of the bowl and
handles Is a real work Of art. Perhaps no
people in the world make beautiful bread
dishes or plates and salt cellars as the Rus
SLAMS. The visitor to Russian house is asked
to partake of bread and salt After that hos
pitality the stranger becomes friend. This
act gives the opportunity to display mar
wells OF artistic workmanship in the dishes
of1ered-Mrs. Swami has a salt cellar in the
shape OF a little arm chair beautifully enam-
eled Under the seat is where the salt is kept
1hls little treasure cost 800. Another pretty
salt cellar is in silver, Russian drosky and a
reindeer pulling it. All these table adornments
are In regular use.
On the parlor wall in a deep frame is a
superbly carved ivory fan made in China in
1876. 1t was a gift from Mrs. Swanns first
husband to his mother, and her monogram
AT, Is e1quisiteiy carved in the sticks, that
are almost az delicate as lace work.
IN CABINET
are many fine pieces of old silver, curious and
weighty chGtelains, an antique silver miss;l
cover, chatelain mirror, two fine specimens
OF moss agate, lately found in Switzerland. and
some valuable miniatures. One of lie Brua by
her own gifted fingers ID equaled only inSiu-
terest by portrait OF Maria in all her courtIy
robes and Jewels sitting near the cradle OF the
baby king Of Rome. All the shelves are crowded,
as they are in two or three other cabinets with
Just as interesting and valuable things.
VALUABLE OLD FURNITURE.
In the library lakewood settle, with the
coat-of-arms of the Knights of Malta and bas-
reliefs of the battle of Lepanto, makes an inter-
esting study to those who admire genuine old
furniture. A tine old arm chair in black oak
richly carved, is another striking object. In
the hall near by is a wine press, also made of
black oak and richly carved in "a style one does
not See often in any but old European houses
MRS. FOSTERS COLLECTION.
Mrs Jno. w. Foster, during her residence
in many lands and extended travels III others.
has either by gift or by purchase collected to-
gether mcny rare and beautiful objects to adorn
her artistic home. In one corner of her draw
iag room, which she calls her Moorish corner.
she has desk. one OF the few specimens of
Moorish art in house furniture that has ever
been brought to this city. 1t il gilded iavishly.
but so softened by the blending OF other colors
to make beautiful whole. The desk was
purchased in Granada, has lock as ponder Gus
as might be on church door, is full of secret
and hidden drawers and hooks and is fully
three hundred years old. On top is a
superb Moorish A frame repro
duction of some of the doorways in the
ALEXANDRA, three or four genuine tiles from the
same marvellous structure are few of the
things that go to make up the Moorish corner.
In a glars-tOpped table are number Of span
ish and Mexican curiOn that would make any
collector envous. There is bit Of polished
metal, once MonteZuma's mirror, a buckle of
Ma ximiIisns harness, diamond, emerald and
ruby monogram OF the Inflated emperor aud
Csrlotta. gift from them to a friend, and a
case Of Mexican gold aud silver coins. the top
in exquisite filagree work, both gold and silver.
and bearing tiny gold plate in the center
with inscription in Spanish. 1t was gift
TO Mrs Foster from Madame francesca
Templads Agruria, who owns a large interest
in the Mexican minis, during Mrs. Fosters
visit there in 1879.
COURT DINNER SOUVENIR.
In tiny gold box, bonboniere souvenir by
the way Of a court dinner in Madrid, lies fac
smile Of Martin Luthsr's wedding ring. Mr..
Foster was given the privilege Of having the
original ring copied some years ago in Berlin.
h-& e.