Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-30

&c zen ana a nal1 OF everything III tNe CrCl-
Larry way being furnished. together with
such odds and ends of luxury In this
precious metal as the manufacturing Jew
eler was able to think of. The service
will always be kept In the admirars cabin
on board of the vessel being only intended
to be brought out for use on occasions of
ceremony when the officers are entertain
ing. &c.
The chief of the bureau OF equipment In
the Navy Department at Washington is
custodian Of all gifts accepted for ships
In the service. No regulations govern the
acceptance or rejection of such presents.
Some of nm Unusual Character.
Some of the gifts recently accepted by
the Lazy are of a character rather unusual.
bicycle manufacturing company offered
number of cycles for the United States
steamer Columbia, to be used for scouting
and military purposes by marines and
sailors while on shore duty. The depart
ment. while expressing gratitude for the
present. frankly stated that there were
comparatively few occasions when wheels
could be prof:tably employed by bluejackets
and sea soldiers. A clippings agency in
New York city gave to the cruiser New
York a handsome book flied with cuttings
from newspapers relating to the vessel.
The late George w. Childs was anxious
to present to the same ship a dove cote,
stocked with homng pigeons Of finest
breed. He was very much interested in
the efforts made at Annapolis to demon
strate the value of pigeons for carrying
messages from the sea to the land. Doubts
expressed by officers Of the navy as to the
usefulness Of this idea seem to have dis
couraged the Philadelphia philanthropist
with his project. At all events. 1t was
dropped. This was pity. perhaps. for the
bird house was to have been the finest and
most elaborate thing of the kind ever seen.
Among other gifts received for the New
York was a silver service from citizens Of
the metropolis. superb music box from
manufacturing firm. and line library
of 800 volumes from Edward c. SpoffOrd,
q public-sp.rited citizen OF Tarrytown. Poo
pie are apt to write to the Navy Depart
rCnt for suggestions as to what would be
acccltabir in the way of a present for one
ship or another. Response Is usually made
to the effect that a piece of silver-pare
stuff, not plated ware. of course, for the
captains cabin. suitably engraved. would
be- NEST appropriate Inasmuch as this
knife TO punch Eowl, the donor may
spend as much or as little money M
chooses.
Speaking of punch bowls, the people of
Nachias, Ne, gave a beautiful silver one
for the use Of the officers on the United
States steamer Machias. mother punch
bowl Of the same precious metal was pre-
scented to the Charleston by the city of
Charleston. As a memorial of George Ban
croft. relatives Of the late historian have
given a bell for the Bancroft. which is a
practice ship for laval cadets.
The He'll for the Charleston.
A few days before the casting Of the bell
for the Charleston. a pattern-mak at the
ship yard in San Francisco suggested that
1t was a pity to use ordinary metal for this
purpose. and that each workman on the
steamer might contribute ten cents I'm sill
yer to enrich the composition and 50 give
the bell a finer ring. The entire force at
work en- the vessel, over one thousand men.
responded, the sum realized being about
$3.50 Nearly the whole Of this amount was
In dimes. which were put into the crucible
and mixed with the other metal for the
ca sting.
On learning Of the facts in the case the
Secretary of the Navy wrote letter. say
ing that among the numerous and costly
presents made by towns and individuals to
the Ships of the navy there was none more
highly valued and appreciated than the
tribute of the workmen of the Charleston"
He added that 1t was particularly APP
propr.ate and graceful thought that led
these American workingmen to cast a per-
manent memorial to their united labor.
One Of the most beautiful Of these pa
triotic testimonials was given to the gun
bronze reproduction on a small scale of
the famous monument which stands In that
town. representing the Minute Man OF
ITO" Exclusive of the pedestal the
miniature work of art Is two and a half
feet high. and the weight is 300 pounds. 1t
has been set up on the forward part of the
poop deck Of the Concord. The Minute
Man stands with a gun in one hand and
his other hand resting on the handle of a
pillow.
bell was presented to the Newark by the
board of trade of the city of Newark. 1t
bears an inscription which reads: This
bell Is presented to L. S. $. Newark by the
citizens of Newark. New Jersey. We man
age the shop. you defend the shore" The
bell is very beautiful and highly polished.
A large crayon portrait Of Lord Balti
more, copied from an oil painting. was pre-
scented by Joseph H. Rierlan of Baltimore
II has been hung in the captains cabin.
The owners OF the Baltimore Sun gave a
library OF 800 volumes for the use Of the
officers of the Baltimore. The collection is
very choice. being chiefly composed Of books
Of travel and standard fiction.
\ painting of the city of bet -oit has been
offered for the cabin of u. S. S. Detroit
citizens OF Baltimore gave a silver service
OF eleven pieces for the good ship Baltimore.
Mrs. Elizabeth b. Beardslcy of Eikhart
Ind. presented q superb flag worth $50 to
the cruiser Indiana. Citizens Of Boston
gave to u. 3. 3. Boston a set Of colors con-
sistlng or an ensign, a union jack, a long
pennant, battalion flag and four guidons
american SILK.
The Navy Department has accepted from
the Womsn's Silk Culture Association a
set Of flags for the Philadelphia, comprising
an ensign. union jack. a narrow pennant,
a rear admiral's distinctive flag two boat
flags. boat pennant. and a rear admirais
distinctive boat flag. All these are to be
made Of American silk
AS matter Of fact. apart from considera-
tons OF sentiment such a set OF flags is not
very appropriate gift. There Is nothing SO
handsome or so useful as bunting for a
ships flags. Silk will not stand the in
cidental wear and tear and 1t is readily dis
colorsd by salt water. Silk is fit material
only for hags that are used on land. 1t
does very well TO- the battalion colors car
ried by marines marching on shore, which
are the regular stars and stripes Of the
United States.
A silver service for the officers of a ship
of-war Is the handsomest and most useful
gift that can well be chosen. A great deal
OF entertaining has to be done on boa I'd OF
such vessel while in port and it is only
very recently that the Navy Department
has gone SO far as to allow even an cuuip-
ment OF plated ware to the wardroom
though the captains cabin has always been
furnished with every luxury Of the Kind.
The officers must provide everything else.
save crockery and glass, on which a certain
percentage Of breakage is allowed II this
I