Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-12-10

of relics, as to a certain extent 1 held
myself personally responsible for their
safe delivery TO their owners, and, as
you know, the collection was quite ex-
tensive, so l was obligated 10 spend
some very cold days in the Government
Building before the last case was pack
ed. They are, however, all home safe
now, I believe, and 1 think 1 was about
the most unfortunate one Of the exhibit
tors, as this beautiful teacup, which
once belonged to franklin, was broken,
but, as YOU see, l have had it mended
so well that none but an expert can dis
cover the crack, and l am only glad
that it was my relic and not some Of che
other exhibitors that suffered"
RELICS OF FRANKLIN.
Among the relics of Franklin, which
Mrs Gillespie displayed as having been
exhibited at the Worlds Fair, were
three beautiful china plates, which
were given to Franklin while in France.
Apparently the platters are of Oriental
origin; the ware, however, is
not Canton. Besides the plates, Mrs.
Gillespie showed a handsome fruit dish,
evidently of French manufacture. The
decorations on this dish represent a
grapevine, the leaves, grapes and vine
being raised from the surface OF the
dish.
There are two of these Dishes" said
Mrs. Gillespie, ito my knowledge. One
of them was broken many years ago.
At the time the Sanitary Fair was held
in this city is was pieced together and
exhibited at that show, and at last sold
there for q high hgurS."
A very attractively-shaped pitcher,
decorated with brightly-hued flowers,
was also shown by Mrs. Gillespie as a
Franklin mementO and she further
stated that II was her belief that it was
purchased in France. Apart from the
| crockery relics Mrs. Gillespie owns sew
eral beautiful pieces of old furniture
which once belonged to the great phil
osopher. One of the most attractive Of
| these is q chess table OF dainty con-
| struction and evidently French work
mauship.
Chess, as everyone knows, was Frank
| Inns favorite amusement, and one OF the
hest papers that tho doctor wrote was
| on this subject. While in France he
had frequent contests with the best
| chess players on the Continent, and
also engaged in many games
with the famous %automaton chess
ulaver. who was at that time the rage.
! No doubt il this old table could tell
its story it could give the names Of
many distinguished men, both French
| end American, who have Cd its friendly
board contested with the author OF
The Morals Of Chess
Among the Franklin portraits in Mrs.
! Gillespie's possession is a miniature
[ painting by DupleSsis, at the request,
/ il is said. OF Louis XVI, snd sent, with
his compliments, TO Mrs. Franklin. II
has always been considered an excellent
likeness AMI has been reproduced sever
al times. One of the best engravings
made Of It was by James Wilcox for
Hale's Fran kiln in France" It is a
wellknown fact that Franklin did not
dislike TO sit for his picture, and this
miniature was not By any means the
only one which was made OF him while
in France, as the French people seemed
determined 10 have him in every posi-
HE position. 1t has consequently been
~
stated by q competent authority on the
subject that q complete collection Of
the various portraits of him made pub
lie while he was in France would in
clude almost two hundred different pic
lures, perhaps more.
A very curious old painting, owned
BY Mrs. Gillespie, which is now for the
first time reproduced, is a portrait Of
Francis Folger Franklin, who was
born on the goth day Juue, 1882, and
died in November, 1876. This boy was
named after Franklin's mothers family,
his grandfather being Peter Folger,
quite a prominent man in his day in
New England. Francis Folger Frank
lin was born about two years after
Franklin'S marriage. and some twelve
years before his sister, Mrs. Bache.