The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-24
WORSE THAN THIEVES.
Nothing Is Sacred to the Relic
Hunting Fiends.
Why People are Averse to Inauguration
Ball Being Held In New Library.


magnificent new building are naturally
opposed TO It. They fear the building will
be damaged by the enormous throng OF
people, many OF whom will come from
distance, and, while they will feel less re-
straipt and local pride I'm the structure,
will the more prize any relics and souvenirs
Of the occasion.
The very delicate carvings on the balus.
trades and in various parts Of the building
would be great temptation to this class
OF people. Besides, there would be danger
of the carvingsnnd decorations being dam
aged In the putting In position Of the flags
and drnreries with which all national
events OF this kind are accompanied. In
addition to this, any mishap among the
throng Of people might produce similar re-
suits.
Another point which Is urged is that
while the halls, whom reached, are spacious
and magnificent. the passageways reaching
to them are insufficient in width 20 accom-
modate the throng of people who are ex-
pected TO attend.
1t Is In tho matter of vandalism, how
ever, that the friends of the building fear
most. In such throng individuality
largely disappears, and 1t Is the experience
of all those who have had To do with tho
public structures In Washington that the
average sightseer Is on the alert for SOU
venirs, even though bo may be "a patriotic
and self respecting citiZen.
A Now York lawyer once paid fine for
chipping piece Of marble from the shaft
of the Washington monument, and only
few weeks ago a visiting minister from
New Jersey fell in the hands of the officers.
He was on bis wedding trip, and in court
he blamed his wife for what he had done.
She wanted relic in the form of piece
of the marble and the husband obligingly
used his umbrella to disilgure the big
shaft. But ho Jared no better than offend
ers who were supposed to be less intelli-
gent, for Judge kimball made no excep-
tions In cases of this kind and fined him
$40. These are only two Of the many cases
IN which we'll known people have figured
as yandals, and Judge kimbsll, as well
as the police, can SEQ no reason why others
should not follow in their footsteps.
The White House and monument In
particular have suffered from the thought
lessncss Of relic hunters The furniture
and curtains in the east room are being
constantly tampered with. Many pieces
have been cut from the hnngings, and 10
Is common practice for visitors To try TO
unscrew the ornamental knobs on the
chairs and sofas.
The Washington monument has also
suffered severely from vandalism in spite
of tho efforts TO prevent IL. The majority
Of the exquisite memorial stones have been
broken or otherwise damaged. All tho
raised letters on the Nevada tablet have
been taken away, and all but one of the
raised lettcrs on tho Swiss tablet. This
damage was repaired as well as possible.
Visitors are constantly chipping pieces
from the monument outside and in not
withstanding all the watchmon can do.
Whenever detected. these thoughtless peo-
pie arc arrested but generally escape upon
the payment OF "a small fine. In one case
a man from Texas was seen to break
piece from tho shaft, and the piece was
found In Els Pocket, hut he was discharged
by the police court judge from "lack Of
evidence"
A remarkable example of this kind Of
work can be seen in the senate waiting
room, which Is, perhaps, in decoration the
most beautiful apartment In any public
building In the city, and perhaps not less
beautiful than any in the world. On one
OF the thick french plate glass windows
there are inscribed words with but little
meaning, with a thousand lourishes, which
cover tho entire window. This vandalism
is at n point moro frequontod by the public
than almost any in the building. 1t is just
whero watohman would be likely to see
the vandalism committed, but no one did
see ii, and no enc Knows who did Ii except
tho vandal himself IIe had gloried in
diamond ring, and Lo took pleasure in
digging deeply into tho glass to show how
good diamond IL was.
The most wonderful pair of doors in the
United States are those hung at the east
entrance Of tie capitol. 1t would seem to
be very risky business for any one to
tamper with tho delicate and artistic orna-
ments giving a sculptrral history OF the
country Irull lis earliest EettlolgeBts " Aieh
adorn these remarkable doors of bronze.
These doors were secured at Immense cost
and arc ono ot the great sights not only OF
the capitol building, but Of the city Of
Washington.
The vandals have not oyerlookcd them.
The stirrups OF soldiers the swords of the
miniature warriors and various delicate
parts Of thu ornamcBtation havo been
knocked Cff ana carried away to the homes
of tho yandals in various parts Of the coun-
try IN order thai they might lave relic
of the great building. Ihcso relics arc ex-
cecdnply custiy 20 tho government, as 10 "a
considerable extent they mor tho beauty Of
works Of f1t Chat have required tho ox-
pcndituro Of large sums OF money in order
TO procure them.
1he statvaiy that cdorns either side #
the cast entrance, which from It's proini-
nent position would seem ia bo conlrnra-
lively safe from tEo harbaToCs relic hunt
srs, las not Csc9lod Injury. The sculptors
have bCcn callod t.ron "a number of times
since those statues were put In place To
patch on fingers and toes as neatly rs pos
siblo TO cover up tic injurious work of the
yGrdtls
OF coUr6c " considerable expenditure
Of money every yccr tho uGlinoss Of this
vandalism cnu be painted out or by repairs
removed 50 that 10 IS rot highly conspicu-
Gus But " tio capitol building could 30
for ten yCars without having one piece OF
vandallSn occurring during that period re-
moved f.c.u sigAt ~ would 10 nn exceed
ingly ugly wcmcnt0 tn tho destructiyeness
that scoms t. dwcll IN a certain class Of Wis