The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1894-08-10

VALUABLE RELICS.
Treasures deposited in The National
Museum.

of our great men near the entrance. These
are worth tens of thousands of dollars in in
trnsic value of the gold and Jewels of which
they are made, to say nothing Of the workman
ship.
There are swords 10y the dozen set with dia-
monds, guns inlaid with precious stones, and
canes which have heads Of gold in which gems
are imbedded. a guard IS detailed to watch
them day and night Each case has a burglar
alarm connected W.T. it, and the least med
ding would set an electric bell ringing and
call the museum army together. says the Jcer
elers' UeekiH
The Grant collection is one. |. is ma de up
Of hundreds of gold articles exquisit, ly ell
gfaved, and broueh: together from all parts
of the world; of lare stones, of china more
valuable than though it were solid god and
of other articles which if mel ed down, would
fully pay the Presdel IS sarlary for year OF
more.
In ole case there is complete cole ,tion of
gold and silver coins Of japan, which has
wonderful numlsmatic value, as it is the only
complete set in existence, kept one in the
japanese Treasury. Sane Of the gold coins
are a quarter of All inch thick, and as large
around as the top of a dinner raji Seven of
them IS s. 0O), and there aye perh ,ps a hut
bred in the collect on.
In another case there are half 4 zen large
elephant tusks, Which the King of Sirm gave
TO General Grant, and there are six pieces of
w; 10 IL,
China. All the swords p esen'eI to him are
there, and many of them have di tmonts set
in the hits.
The sword given to General Grant by the
Sanitary Fair. at \ Nv York, has solid gold
head, representing the CD dnss of Liberty,
which has two ruhies two diamonds and two
sapphires set in it. The sword Of la tanooga
has fourteen diamonds mbaded IN it and
many Of the gifts win CHI h received from for
eign monarchs are Of god set with
diamonds.
One of he medals which is in the collection
contains 5000 worth of gold, and is as large
around as the bottom of a tin cup. The gull
articles in the collection would fl! a peck
measure, and many cities seem to have gwen
General Grant a gold box containing the
papers in which their freedom was presented.
The box which he received at Ayr, Scotland,
is as large as cigar box and is of solid gold.
The city of Glasgow gave him a still larger
one, beautifully chased, and the gold box
which he received from the city of London is
wonder of artistic workmanship, bearing an
engraving Of the Capitol on one side and the
London Cuildhall on the other EnameleC
On its golden service are the union jack, the
red, white and blue, and the Goddess of Libel-
ty shaking hands with the British lion,
There is beautiful cigar case of gold from
he KING OF Siam. model Of the table on
which Lees surrender was signed in solid
gold and solid gold invitation card as large as
postal card and alb Dut four times as thick,
which was sent to General Grant in solid
silver envelope, inviting him to a masked ba II
at San Francisco. There are a number of
silver menus, gold hardled knife which the
miners of Idaho gave him, gDld-heai led canes
set with diamonds and ne das andotI er ant Giles
OF gold
The Order of The Sh, | kat, which the Sultan
gave to Mrs. S. $. Cox, is also kept in the
National Nh scum. 1t is star larger around
than trade dollar, which sparkles with more
han 100 diamonds nse diamonds are set
in gold on b:own COL! and green enamel. The
star has five points, AMI there are tweIty -siX
diamonds on each point. 1t has beautiful
ribbon sash connected with it. and was given
o Mrs. Cox one night at the Sutan's palace
when she went there t. dinner with her nus
band and ate Turkish vlands served up by
French cook on gold plates. After the dinner
was over The Sultt IN presented this insignia.
She thought that she was to have it forever
but it seems that His Majesty only lends such
presents for | te, and when she dies it is to be
returned to him. The wife of Minister Straus
was decorated with the Oder, and she will
have t , return it in the distant flltlre.
Uncle sam has vast collection of the jew
els of savages. He has silverware made by
the Indians of Arizona, carved ornaments
from Alaska aud srea. bra ,elets and anklets
of gold, silver and brass from India. One of
the most curious necklaces in his collection is
of the Indian triocs wear, and there is one
made of 5 US ven human teeth, with holes
pierced at their roots to string them.
This neck ace is ten inches long, and num-
| Der of teeth evidently need filling. 1t clme
from the FIJI Islands, and was found there in
1910. Another necklace was made of human
| hair into which the tusk of the walrus was
| woven. 1t was about two inches thick and
twenty inches long. Another savage necklace
is OF hum an and dog teeth combined. and
| there are n ecklaces of stone, Of gel l. silver,
copper an2 b rass of all shapes and sizes gath
cred from all parts of the world
1t is diilicult To appreciate the size of the
National Museum. 1t is growing more rapidly
| than Jonah's sour,i?, and it is now one of the
best organic d museums il the world. 1t
| surpasses any other in the line of Indian
Antiquities and matters connected with Ameri-
| ca, and vast additions from all p.r-s of the
| world are received every year. Already the
| building which was CONSTRUCTED a few years
ago for it is picked to bursin! aud a new one
| will have to be butt very soon.
TIE NAY THEY M ,T