The Portland daily press., 1893-01-25
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Treasures in Possession Of the
Smithsonian Institution.
Historical Relics of Great yalue-one OF
the Finest chronological Collections In
the Manifestations from Every
Po,rion of the Globe.
Especial washington letter.

lS3DSCldl w HSuLllb bOiA hOSASA't
In the center of beautifully wooded
tract of land between the business por-
ton of the city and South Washington,
stands an old fashioned brown oulld-
ing which is daily visited by thousands
of curious sight seers. 1t is the Smith
sonian institution, and it has an inter-
esting history, but far more interesting
and entertaining are the many articles
with which it, or rather its more mod
ern addition, the National museum, is
stocked. Let us enter this place OF ed
ucation and entertainment, the doors
of which are thrown so invitingly open,
and see for ourselves what there is to
be seen. some minute, gentlemen,
saws the polite Waterman, you will
please leave your canes with me-" AS
he giyes us checks for our little evil
dences of masculine vanity, he explains
that all canes and umbrellas are
checked at the entrance in order to
avoid any possible destruction OF valua-
BILE curios by careless visitors who use
their sticks as the average schoolmaster
uses his pointer at the blackboard.
Directly over the main entrance is an
categorical picture representing the ge-
MUS of man utilizing the waters of a
rebellious stream, and making the fires
and lightning the willing slaves OF
progress. This picture is executed in
CLAW and consists of nine hundred sepa-
rate pieces.
The most interesting objects Of all,
and, as we are informed by an obliiging
employee, those first inquired for by a
majority of visitors are the historical
relics. From many showcases we OBJ
tain an idea of the lives of the great
men of the past. We are shown the
coats in which George Washington was
won't to attire himself, the chairs in
which he reclined, the cooking utensils
upon which the food for the father OF
his country was prepared, china plate
with the names of the original thirteen
states linked together, and which has
been broken and mended in many
places, and many other interesting me-
mentoes connected with the private and
public life of the immortal George.
There is also treasure chest of Martha
Washington, an oblong box of iron
bound with the same metal. The box
is so small compared with the immense
safes of to-day that no self-respecting
| burglar would take the trouble to blow
it open, but would carry it bodily to
| some place where it could be riaed at
leisure. One of the most beautiful and
| costly objects of the whole collection is
in case against the wall, away from
the light. 1t requires quite search,
but after it is found the inquisitive Wis
itor is well repaid for his trouble. 1t is
magnificent bronze sideboard which
belonged to the late Gen. Grant. The
top and a lower shelf are of pure onyx,
and competent authorities say there
never was more perfect specimen OF
that lovely stone. The coloring is ex-
oaisite, and the many lady visitors are
seized with a desire to have that par
ticular sideboard conveyed to their OWL
| homes.
Relics of all the great men of the
country fill this first room. A Moorish
| fint-lock gun, smooth bored, with oak
| stock and ornamented with gold, is ex.
hibited as a present to Thomas Jeffer-
son from the emperor of Turkey. AL
| the literature connected with the death
| and burial of President Abraham Lin
| coin is on file, and the delivers into the
tragedy of twenty-seven years ago can
| here ascertain the facts as they were
published at the time. Two immense
1 decorations of diamond stars two inche'