The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-06-13
AT THE FAIR.
Interesting Mementos of Our Fore
fathers at Chicago.
Washington Relics = Cherished Heir
looms - Strange and Valued Old
Articles of Historic Interest,

The Colonial exhibits have been un-
yelled in the rotunda of the United
States Government building. Fittingly
has this tender memory of the old Colo
MES been enshrined in the very center
OF the Temple of the Republic, in the
circle of alcoves from which all the aisles
of government radiate. Not all of the
thirteen are here remembered; New
Hampshire, South Carolina, Georgia, and
even Virginia, "the Mother of Presi-
DENTS" have neglected to gather together
relics of the part they played in the
glorious early days; but Pennsylvania.
New Jersey and Delaware stand forth
prominently among their sister States.
The conception OF this Colonial ex-
hlbit was born in the brain Of woman,
Mrs. George w. Kidder, of Wilmington,
\. C., and it has been admirably carried
TO success by the Committee of the Board
OF Lady Managers. They have also Sc
cured triumphant setting for their
precious souvenirs, for the rotunda is the
glory OF the Government building.
Above rises the great dome, modelled
after that of the Capitol. The sunlight
streaming through its many windows
lllumlnates the galleries, the double tiers
OF exquisite pilaSters, of golden brown
and OF sapphire, and the beautiful bal
comics, hanging midway and overlook
lng the tiled Hub" below. Symbolical
panels OF elaborate design ornament the
frleze, each picturing the sovereignty of
the administrative department, to which
its own aisle is devoted. 1t is a cabinet
wheel, and at the junction Of the spokes,
in the middle of the rotunda, there climbs
skyward the monument of the Interior
Department,
THE GIANT REDWOOD.
This huge monarch of the forest flour
ished until few months ago in the Sc
quota National Park, where its trunk
Spanned 81 feet in circumference, and its
lofty boughs swayed in the wind 300 feet
above the soil. 1t was famous far and
wide as ''the General Noble" after that
patron of forestry. 1t cost 81, 500 to have
it hewn down. followed out and hauled
by sixteen mules over sixty miles of
rough mountain road. AS shipped to the
fair It was subdivided into forty.six
smaller sections, some weighing four
tons each, and the whole tree occupied
eleven cars. A large spiral staircase now
ascends where once was it's pith,
Amid such environs, in alcoves draped
by the red, white ald blue and adorned
by the coat of arms of the original States,
are displayed the Colonial exhibits. The
kind, such as are treasured in museums;
but are such mementos as have de-
scended from family to family as heir
looms. Old laces, silver buckles, snuff
boxes, miniatures, old letters, yellow
leaved books, which the great-grand-
fathers read, old china, family plate,
swords-such are the shadows from
which to evoke the old time Approached
in the proper spirit, they are potential of
the tenderest recollectiOns. The old-time
fine gentleman and lady, full of colonial
courtesy and gallantry, live again, the
wooings. the balls, the weddings. The
embroidery recalls the quiet dame; the
sword the dashing officer, who, in the
stormy days of the Revolution, shed his
blood as bravely as he urged his wooing.
RELICS OF WAR AND PEACE.
Massachusetts shows a fragment of
Plymouth sRock, John Alden's Bible,
Miles Standish's pipe, General Putnam's
torch, John Hancock's proclamations.
New York displays Washington's old
camp-service of pewter. Rhode Island
exhibits Roger Williams snuff and,
of Persecution" Each State has its own
| treasures, trivial enough no doubt in
themselves, but sacred because of their
clustering memories.
The eagle of Pennsylvania and the
unicorn of New Jersey occupy the one
alcove together. A portrait Of Colonel
Joseph Hester, of the revolutionary
army, afterward Governor of Pennsyi-
vania, 1908, gaZes down from a frame
above the cases; and little below is an
other old painting, that OF Frederick
Augustus Muhlenberg, who was Speak err
of the House OF Representatives of the
First and Third Congresses. Consplcu-
GUS within the case is an aged brown flag
of the Eighth Virginia Regiment, carried
! at the battle of Brandywine and German
town, and throughout the revolution, by
Colonel Peter Muhlenberg.
The battlefield of Germantown is well
remembered in piece of the old fence.
that still stands on the site, riddled with
bullet-holes; yellow-crusted cannon
ball dug up from the field, and number
OF rusty bullets, and piece of an elm
tree that then stood on the Chew estate.
| J. L. Evidge, who contributes these, has
| also loaned many other interesting relics
"a chip from the first milestone in the
United States, Kitchen street, Wissa-
hickOn; funny lamp made in German
town one hundred years ago, and used
by the Unruh family. resembling kind
OF combination tea-kettle and coal-scut-
tie; piece of the first lightning rod
made by Benjamin Franklin, and a two
pound ten-shillings scrip printed by
Franklin q Hall, 1850.
Here is also an antique coffee mill. dug
up III IuS Ol1 lOlI dt dIl0y fOrQe.
queer screw for cleaning cannon in the
| Revolutionary days; buckles ana but
tons, relics of Washington's camp
amid the SHOWS OF Valley Forge. and a
golden-wreathed "Latay cite" badge. in
scribed, The Compatriot of Washing
ton" A Masonic apron, worn at one
time by General Washington, is exhib-
tied by its present possessor, NJ. w.
Wise of Du Bots, Pa, and eweled Ma
sonic emblem, once owned by Lafayette.
a piece of the old Treaty Tree also lies in
the Pennsylvania case, and a Lenape
Indian axe.
RARITIEs FROM PENIS CITY.
But here are also relics of the old
colony, smacking rather of the good
cheer and the happy home life. This old
red slipper or this little leather galoche
might either have been worn by some
pretty Cinderella of the ancient CITY of