The morning times., 1896-01-05
NOT OF INTRINSIC VALUE
President Lincoln's Device Which He
Tried to Have Patented-GOvern-
mental Treaties of Ancient Date.
Rare Volumes In Congressional
Librnry-Personal Journals.


cial world, they are as priced as the most
sacred OF heirloOms, anu TO purchase any
one of them would require a sum equal
the proverliiaf kings ransom. Even at that
figure one hassto contemplate his Uncle
Sam as financially "in the SOUP and
without marekt for single bond,
before entertaining thought OF even the
most remote possibility of the exchange
OF his relics for pelf.
The mcmeDtoes OF by-gone age are
treasured on account OF their associations,
and their historical or scientific status
little things, many of them, uninteresung
IN appearance and liable to be passed by
without thought or Comment from casual
sightseer.
They are presented in almost every form
and guisc and are found i'll all the depart
ments.
Tie museums have hundreds, the Patent
office II great collection. the Congressional
Library its quota, and they take the shape
OF mechanical devices, gems OF thought,
specimens of anatomical popularity and q
thousand other designs.
The emariner's compass of ancient pattern,
and dating its origin back to 1904, is a
valued government keepsake. II is me-
mortal story in its way, having been pre-
sented to the government by Henry A. wise,
of Virginia, who was at the time minister
to Brazil, in the name of Lieut.. Shepherd
of the United States Navy.
Wherever 1t may now be found, 1t contains
ticket with certain information upon
it in the handwriting of Governor Wise.
PRESIDENT LINCoLN's DEVICE.
/ The framework of a western steamboat
was once received as model at the Patent
Office 1t bore the date Of May 80, 1S49.
and was designed to illustrate a method
of passing boats over sandbars. If success
full the device would have made its In
yentor very wealthy, but it went the way
OF thousands of other patterns.
For twelve years it was a conspicuous
model nothing more, but an event trans
pired at The end OF that period that made
that model famous. Abraham Lincoln, It's
designer, was installed rs President OF the
Republic, and 1T his request, after his inaug-
uration Il messenger hunted IL up and TOOK
it TO tie White House, but IL was later
placed in what was known as the wash
ington Case" at the Patent Office.
The moGel bore ticket upon which was
written. Model for sinking and raising
boats by bellows below. A. Lincoln" The
date was added.
The original treaties between this coun-
try and foreign powers, for so many years
in the custody OF the Commissioner OF rat
ents, are specimens of nothing, perhaps,
save Very indifferent chirosrapliy
With the exception of those with Eng
the French language, and bear Il number OF
huge red and green seals. Among them are
the treaty with Austria, with he signatI.e
of Francis attached; the first treaty with
Russia, signed by Alexander l; the treaty
OF peace with England in 1914, TO which
George " affixed his signature; an earlier
treaty with France, dated in 1903 and
signed "Bopaparte." and the agreement
arranged with Sweden when Bernadotte
reigned in that country.
AMONG THE CURIOSITIES.
A curious document is the treaty with
Turkey, consisting Of a number of slips OF
parchment filled with columns OF Turkish
characters. and yet most noteworthy OF
ALL probably is the treaty OF 177S, made
with France, and signed by bouis XVI.
Under that document the struggling
colonies Were assured OF help in their
hour OF need.
Congress much that they deem TO be prec-
ious; the profaDe call it trash Medical
enthusiasts handle with every sense or de-
light rare bone formation that the un-
initiated would exchange for "brass
farden," and again the sentimentalists revel
in ecstatic bliss among souvenirs left of
departed heroes, not one OF winch Wouid
attract the heavy ma q OF business.
There are in the library considerably over
900 volumes of American newspapers,
including 2s5 printed prior to the year 800,
a large collection Of the journals and laws
of the colonial assemblies showing the
legislative policy which eliminated In
their independence the highly priced publ
cations of the presses of the Bradfords,
Benjamin Franklin, Isaiah, and Thomas;
very many different works OF Increase and
Cotton Mather. printed at Cambridge and
Boston from 1871 to 1875; perfect copy
of that rarest of American books, Eliots
Indian Bible, and a collection sho wing
the progress of the art of printing from
its infancy.
GEN. wASHINGTON'S JOURNALS.
Valuable ma manuscripts are preserved, also,
including two autograph journals of George
Washington. One OF these is dated 111o,
during Braddock's expedition, and one in
| 1897 written at Mount Vernon. Two
| volumes OF an Sriginal military journal of
| Major General Greene, 17S1fS2. twelve
| folio volumes of the papers of Paul zones
| while he commanded American cruisers,
| 1176-'7S; n private journal left by Arthur
Lee while minister to France in 1176-11;
a coilecti ion of orderly books of the revolu-
| ton, and more than two score of volumes
| of autographs of great rarity and interest.
Not least interesting are number OF
| Illus strated works and collections OF cngrav-
ings. which embrace choice reproductions
| of the art treasures of the old world.
Bound copies of the periodicals of all
| nations, and embracing complete series OF
| the leading ina gaines of Great Britain and
! the United States for many years past. are
| among the sacred things touched by the
| finger OF time.
In the law library of Congress are to be
] found every volume OF English, Irish and
| Scotch, as well rs American reports, a pro-
| life and nevcr-failing fountain of knowledge
| from which the barrister may draw in-
| spiration. 1t is understood. also. that the
| library contains n complete collection OF the
| statutes of all civilized governments. includ-
Ing those of Russia since l649, the latter OF
which fill about 100 quarto volumes.
RARE BOOKS OF REFERENCE.
Classed with the curiosities there found
are the first edition of Blackstonc's Com
mentaries and an original edition of the
report OF the trial of Cagliostro, Rohan and
La Matte for the theft of Marie Antoinette's
diamond necklace.
Scientific men regard the Army Medical
Museum as one of the most important adj
juncts of the Government. Huge volumes
many in number. contain illustrations OF
the wounds and diseases treated during the
war OF the Rebellion, and detail the pro-
cess of treatment in each, and the results
The library contains many raritics, one
being among the first books printed afteI
the art prcservatiye of all arts was dis
covered II was published In Venice In
4so, and Is the work OF Petrus dc Argclatd
Another rare work is n copy OF Gaien
once owned hy the Dutch anafomist. Vie
rost and which was annotated by him.
The museum preserves specimens of the
organs affected ~ diseases treated In army