St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-09-04


lin Honored-Relicso of France
and America-Display of the
Magazines - Original Manu-
scripts OF Many Distinguished
Authors.
Special Correspondence of the GLOBE
CHICAGO, Sept. Down OH the lake
shore, where the laughing sun is many
times reflected by the moving waters
and healthy breeZeS are waited in from
many strands across grand old Michi-
gan, rise like castle from the Renais-
Sanee the artistic walls of the French
building. Sitting in the shade cast by
its graceful portico, wondering if that
lion in the fountain was not weary OF
his worlds fair duty and willing
to return once more to his
native lair, nnally summoned up the
requisite courage. and, polishing up
bit of French that l didn't know The
meaning of, presented my decidedly
American-looking pasteboard, which
had never had the pleasure of ever
being in a French commissioners
hands, to the marine who guarded the
portals of the private exhibit of the gCy-
eminent of France. and was uShered i'll
through a crowd of less-fortunateS,
with characteristic gallantry. by some
fierce looking guards, wearing Louis
XIV. muStachios.
The apartment is high and stately,
one side of full-length windows. The
walls are nung with rich antique tapes
try, and many portraits of illustrious
Frenchmen who were the friends-ln
need to America during its famous
revolution against England. In fact,
this room is devoted to memoirs relating
to that struggle that France has pre-
served. One piece of tapestry was be-
gun in 1G2S, and took Jour years for
completion. Two other pieces were
made by order of the French govern
men in remembrance of 17T6. Portraits
of Washington, Lafayette and Franklin
look with peaceful countenance upon
these visitors of 1885, as if to say. I'VE
gave you peace; you did the rest. Our
reward is before u.s."
The floors are covered with handsome
rugs of Partisan design. and arranged
around tine sides of the room are numer-
OuS ottOmanS aud coucheS covered with
royal red velvet and trimmed deeply
with gold, and if only the mademoselle
from Paris now resident of the beauty
show could tilt her little, high-heeled
boots on the rounds of a stool and re-
cline her saucy figure on some Of the
rich cushions one could easily imagine
themselves in some Partisan salon, but
her lines have fallen i'll different
place.
There are several magnificent cases
in the room containing relics OF our
illustriOus forefathers. Here is
curiOusly carved blade presented to
Maj. Gen. Lafayette i'll 1924 as a token
of esteem for his part Ill the War Of
Independence: also copy of the orig
inal Declaration, given him by con-
greSs i'll 1924, and very valuable gold
vase presented 10y France i'll 1880.
Locks of Martha WaShiugton'S and of
the first Presidents hair are here in
locket. not the golden ones of youth ana
the days Of their cOurtship, but touched
with the frost of maturer years,
the struggles of life and were
retiring from the storm into the quiet
harbor at Mount Vernon. Here Is a
branch of cypress picked from Wash
ington's tomb in 1921, by a descendant
of the father of our country. Alto
gether it is place that awakeS the
patriotism of an American, aud the ad-
miration and respect Of foreigner for
the heroes VITO made this 1.-The land of
the free and the home of the brave"
ATTRACTIVE LITERARY EXHIBIT.
At the north end of the gallery OF The
manufactures and liberal arts building
are the displays Of the Century. Har-
per'S and Scribner's magazines and
other publications, but, more that this,
they-the Century especially contain
valuable collections of manuscripts
from the pens Of Americas, and some
of EngIand's, greatest writer's and con-
tributorS. Dear and sweet as are the
thoughts of LongfelloW, Whittier. Bry-
ant. Lowell, Holland and Tennysnn TO
US, to see the words written by the
hands of these masters as tho ideas
begged for utterance in the original
chirography, produces a more intense
sensation. and brings us more into the
poets realm Of understanding.
Besides these, are some from the pens
of the more recent writer's, that are
forming new schools of literature and
James, Charles Dudley Warner. Edward
Eggleston. Mrs. Olirhant. Thomas Mel
son Page, George W. Cable, and the
dialect poet, James WhitcOmb Riley.
There are some sheets from Mary
Mapes Dodge's Donald and Dorothy"
and of Louisa Alcott's happy pro-
duction, Under the Lilacs," and
some pages of Helen Hunts
handwriting. Here is a hi: of W. ID.
Howells' "A Florentinc Mosaic.'' and
Bret Harte'S "PomOna'S Daughter, "and
the closing passages from Frank Stock
toms The Lady or the Tiger?" And
this reminds ne OF a little story OF
Chicago lady who was determined to
learn which Ii was, and so gave a din
ner party 10 its distinguished anthOr,
and had the servant who brought in the
ices offer two To Mr.. Stockton, one In
the form OF lady. the other of a tiger,
thinking TO knOw from the choice he
made his answer to the question. She
was much amused and fooled in her at
tempt when he took both.
In the Century exhibit, moreover, are
some papers OF George Remnants in con-
nection with his Siberian exile lnvesti-
CATION, and the Illustrations made by
q. A. FruSt, who accompanied him, are
OF more than ordinary interest. Here.
Ill this private museum, are war SOU
Venlrs also, letters of Lincoln, Grant,
Lee, Mcclellan, jeff Davis-all of them
TOO interesting to bass by without read
ing. The original draft of the procla-
nation calling out 75,G00 militia, in
April, 1861; letter notifying Lincoln,
and his, accepting the presidency in
1860. and corrected copy of his in
augurai address us he gave it in 81;
and his acceptance of Gen. Shields
challenge To fight duel, which, we are
pleased TO record, Eever took place. All
Ines" are valuable memoirs of "Old
A0e."
-, pencil! used by Lee in correcting
the wording OF his surrender 10 Grant;
canteenS, bayOnets and old daguerreo-
types are other relics saved from the
war, and one of the strange happenings
of life took place in their connection
the other day. A lady visitor recog-
niZed one OF the daguerreotypeS as a