The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-12-10
OUR CHICAGO LETTER.
NEW BUILDING OF THE CHICAGO
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

its Valuable Collection of Paintings, Med
ais, Momentoss and Historical objects
Remarkable Sale of stamps-A Joint
Controyersy-Coi. Grants Ambition.
Special Chicago Letter.
The new and beautiful home OF the
Chicago Historical Society is soon to
be opened to the public. The new
building is absolutely tire-proof Twice
In its history the Chicago Historical
has seen the laborious collections of
years swept away by fire. The Society
was founded in 1856. Its present Pres
dent is Mr.. Mason. The Society now
has many valuable manuscripts, books,
paintings and objects of historical in
terest. Among them are to be found
many mementoes of the French occu-
patton of this territory. Upon the
walls are the portraits of various
French explorers and Governors, and OF
jhe French Kings who ruled during
that period, the portraits of Louis XIV.
ind Louis XIV being conspicuous. The
portraits of Bienville. who was royal
governor of Louisiana when Illinois
was included in the jurisdiction OF that
territory, and of Fontenal, are OF es-
)ecial interest. There are many war
like momentoes of the period of French
occupation. The portraits Of the early
Presidents of the Society and of the
pioneer citizens of Chicago occupy q
,ommodious space. There are num-
Der of works of art of much merit.
There are also many historical por-
rats of the early English governor of
illinois. Near the pictures of Sir Guy
Carleton and Sir Frederick Haldiman,
he last two English governors, Is that
VI George Rogers Clark, of Virginia,
rho wrestled the territory from British
control. The list of portraits, busts,
md meda1llons, all of historical inter-
,st is very large. The gem Of the col
ection is an original portrait Of Gem
,ral Washington by Peale. A unique
| eature is a list of medallions, heads
| If explorers, travellers, and Indians con-
| ,picuous in the early history Of llli-
| lois. There are four bas reliefs, by Nc
Neill, representing scenes in the life OF
| Pere Marquette.
The museum is large apartment,
| and is full of curios and relics Of past
hat is replete with exciting adventure
and varied changes in the form OF civ
|
There is a curious old safe, some three
feet square, in which the first records
Of Cook county were kept. A gruesome
| black cabinet contains the bones OF
Jean La Lime, the Indian trader, kill
| I'd by brother trader in the first part
Of the century. There is a rocking
chair which George Washington used
N his home at Mount Vernon. The
|
would attract attention in any museum.
This is very brief and Inadequate
description of the treasures now being
placed in the handsome new building
of the society. They will be rapidly
added to under the new and favorable
conditions for the preservation OF val
liable historical relics.
The stamp collector is ubiquitous. He
exists everywhere, and Chicago Is well
represented by the genus. AT sale OF
stamps this week by the Chicago Phll-
atelic Society, there was a good attend
ance. Competition was brisk on many
If the lots, and, while no especially
rare stamps were offered, yet, to per-
son not interested in stamp collecting
some of the prices paid will seem amaz-
ng. A United States 24-cent stamp oi
he issue Of 1869 brought 80, 3O-cent
stamp of the same issue brought $3.50
md 9O-cent stamp realized $40. A
3-cent revenue stamp that had been
used on a package of playing cards was
considered a great bargain at $4.2O
Among the foreign stamps, block oi
our Spence Canadian stamps brought
s1S, and a 71a-pence of the same coun-
Try brought $1O.1O. Two early stamps
Of Nova Scotia brought IS each, and
j-cent stamp of St. Kits brought $ll.oO