New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-16
MRS. DEEMSS PRESENT.
AN AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION THAT CoN-
GREss DID NOT WANT.

GREss DID NOT WANT.
Washington Feb Is tspeciaD.-Packed away IN
ana corner Of the east portco OF the Capitol OUT OF
the current OF travel. is what appears 10 oe Dis
box about six feet high and four feet VICE. iheie
s nothing to indicate what 1t contains OF that II
contains anything. SO that It shall be notlceu as
little as possible It has been painted graylsh
white like the walls OF the building peh'ho IT,
Most persons regard 1t as a rubbish-box. though
the greater number never seem to notice IL at all
The guides at the Capitol consider It OF such little
importance or interest that they never mehuoh II
in describing the sights and explaining the sur
round,ngs OF the building and It's grand porticos.
Yet there is an interesting story connected with
the box which illustrates that. as has often Deeh
charged, republics are ungrateful
In the Centennial year 1t was discovered that'
though this was grand and glorious country out
side OF the country itself there was not much TO
show for It. OF there was the original copy
OF the Declaration OF Independence In the state
Department though that precious document had so
faded that It could not be exposed to daylight any
longer for fear OF its being oblterated. and there
was some furniture in Independence Hall. in Phia-
delpha. But there not by any means enough
to satisfy some Mrs Deems. OF New-York. was
one of those who thought there should be better
showing at the end OF the second centennial and
she Immediately began to put her ideas into opera
ton. She conceived plan of preserving not only
the autograph, but also the photograph. or every
public then alive well as Of every woman
OF prominence. and OF presenting the collection to
the country. II took her many months to get the
collection together In a parchment album made
for the purpose. but she finally did So and on the
Fourth OF July 1876 she locked them UP in an iron
SAFE which she also had constructed for the pur-
pose General Grant encouraged her. and ne prom
Used Mrs. Deems that not only would he place his
autograph and photograph in the album. but he
would for her those OF his Cabinet and
their photographs which he did Hundreds OF off,
Gals also entered their names and photographs.
did many others prominent In other walks OF life
including a number Of the Diplomatic Corps. For
weeks Mrs. Deems sat in the Old hall OF the House
of Representatives and invited Senators and Repre-
sentatives to sign the album. She took the album
to the sick-bed OF some for their signatures. and
even to the insane asylum for signatures; for It
in the councils Of the Nation We're inmates Of the
same. suffering nom dipsomania She allowed
others to write nice little notes to posterity and
pack them snugly away In the alright compart-
ments OF the iron safe with their own hands The
before she locked the safe At an appointed time
she closed up everything and locked the safe in
Wrlfer u '0" persons among whom was the
With the feeling that she had done her duty to
farewell to her treasures and left the Capitol Tho
newspapers Of the day recorded the fact, and the
recorded another II CT. one which was not n pleas,
ant one to her The, officials OF the Capitol found
hands. They did not know what to do with the
safe First II was pushed into corner and then
INTO ne next Like poor Joe. II kept movin'
along IT was regarded as nuisance. The officials
sa. he the had 5ns san hy yoS
have to keep load Of junk had It been dumped
The whole proceeding had been gone through with
WITHOUT any legislation or authority. Mrs. Deems
paid all tho expenses OF II out OF her own pocket
and supposed that, as IL was her property she had
a right 20 give II she desired But the Govern
meni has many wheels in its head and elsewhere In
It's body, and has to insist that there shall be al-
thofity gwen 10 some one 10 accept anything before
hat some one can accept. Mrs Deems In
formed that she must come nme iiately TO the city
and tako her safe and its contents away She an
swered that she had no control OF the safe ms she
Idea OF being considered "Injun gver; that when
she gave she gave, and that ended f. and Il dd end
u as far as she was concerned. 4 friend OF Mrs
Deems thought the easiest way OF settling the mat
ter was to have Congress pass resolution accept
Ing the safe and its contents and he worked Tor
several years TO have tho resolution passed. but II
did not pass.
Persons who not friendly 10 the scheme md
who regarded II as possibly n Advertisement for n
care manufacturer. or who may have been nsti-
gated by rival safe manufacturers were more suc-
cessful In regard 10 legislation They had resoiu-
ton passed directing that the eafs should be re-
moved from tho Capitol. and It removed: that
enteen years has stood where Il stands today on
the east portico II there is any Advertisement, OF
the safe maker on the cafe IL has never been seen
for as stated above, 81 has been carefully boxed up
seven. and OF the House OF Representatives ALL are
dead with tho exception OF about sixteen .. the
supreme Court signers all are dead except one-Nr
Justice Field Mra Deems was Informed ~ tho ac-
ton OF Congress in ordering that the safe should be
removed from the Capitol and Was again reminded
that she could have Il whenever she desired. But
she made no reply. Nothing has been heard Of her
X Is, and Mrs. Deems's wish Will be gratlled