The Portland daily press., 1897-11-10
WCTORlA'S JUBILEE GIFTS.
Collection of Tributes of the Earth to
EngIand's Queen,

will have especial interest. Addresses
and offerings expressive of loyalty from
her subjects in every part of the empire
have been brought together, forming u
collection, SO vast and varied that the task
of arranging them with some approach to
systematic classification will not be easy.
That work, however, is being done by
we'll trained staff under the direction of
Captain Sir Alfred Jephson, r. N,
whose capacity for reducing apparently
hopeless confusion to perfect order has
been proved before now. Remembering
what he did with the heterogeneous eJe-
ments of a naval exhibition, one cannot
doubt his capacity to group effectively
even materials so incongruous as bicycles
and bracelets, jeweled lockets of great
value, and household furniture of home
lest simplicity. Surprising packets, the
contents of which are inadequately sug-
gested by the brief descriptions accom-
panying them, make their appearance in
rapid succession as cases are opened, and,
in order to display the countless articles
with due regard to proportion, it has al
ready been found necessary to widen
considerably the space which was at first
thought sufficient. Variety in abundance
will be tho chief charm of this exhibition
In one feature there may seem to be
monotony. 1t would be difficult to give
great diversity to the phrasing of har-
monious sentiments In $50 loyal address
es. But, when many Of these come from
people whose habits of thought are as dis
similar as their languages, they furnish
interesting material for curious study,
and there is still more variety in the cas-
kets that inclose- them. English ideas in
this respect do not rise much above the
level of cardboard cases, velvet lined and
morocco bound, with conventional en-
bellishments in the form of ormulu
mounting.
1t is wholly different, however, in the
case OF distant colonies and Eastern de-
tendencies, whose addresses are. with few
exceptions, inclosed in richly wrought
caskers Of rare woods or precious metals.
In this respect the section devoted to ad-
dresses will probably prove not less at
traotive to sightseers than any other de-
partment of the exhibition. Having
from the furthest off and least known
portions Of the empire, we may at the
Imperial institute make close acquaint-
anoe with them through their characters
tic productions, which in many cases are
exquisite examples Of art work, and in
others admirable illustrations of ingenu-
ity in the treatment Of simple materials.
One address, from the native merchants
OF Hong Kong, is written in Chinese
characters on gold leaf, and surrounded
by Examinations of delightfully."- delicate
color. The case for this scroll is of fexi-
BILE silver fashioned so cunningly and en-
bellished with such elaboration of fanci-
| full forms that workers in precious metals
will be enchanted with it. Another ad-
dress, which is rolled in silver cylind er
OF quaint design, very dexterously
| wrought, comes from the Maharajah, Sir
Kashree Singhji, of Western Rajputana.
| The cylinder rests on massive stand of
en- bossed silver. with sandalwood box
that Is inlaid with minute mosaics of
| ivory pearl, ebony, and silver.
Most of our colonies send their address
es in caskets that are made of the rarest
woods and decorated with elaborate mar
aueterie. From Toronto comes such a
casket of beautiful birdseye maple, with
ornamentations in high relief, admirably
modelled. Its sides unfold like leaves
exposing an inner box of finely chased
silver, which holds the address. Yer,
similar is the form In which British sub
iects resident at Rio de Janeiro enshrin
their sentiments of loyalty to the Queen
while Western Australia sends its jubile
congratulations in square chest that ha
iplaid on all sides in geometrical pattern
rare woods gathered from the vast forest
| where the jarrah, tooart, akrri, red an,
blue gum trees, and fragrant sandalwoo,
flourish The corner pilasters, witt
carved lions heads adjoining them, res
on fragments of quartz, in which vein
of pure gold glitter, and similar nlocl
of auiferous quartz crowns the slopin,
cover supporting An allegorical group
Even finer examples of colonial workman
shin than these may be found in the case
that have not been opened yet, and Their
are possibly unsupported art treasure
among the multitude of presents accom-
panying addresses from India, of whicl
only bare list has been furnished
Samoa's tribute, on the other hand, i
very simple. British residents there hav
written their address plainly on rougl
pauer of native manufacture, and had i
illuminated with pictorial subjects, ap
narently from the brush Of Samoan ar
fist.
The covers are framed in wood tina
looks as If 1t had been cut from the waite
stained timbers OF stranded ship. o.
front and back the panels are decorated
with eolored devices, such as South Sc;
islanders delight to use as means Of ex
pressing their artistic aspirations, boldl,
but roughly drawn. Nothing simple
could have been conceived, but it has tn
precious quality of local color and the dis
tinauishing charm Of unconventionality
Tho position assigned to it by the Queen
wish is proof that her Majesty value
presents rather for their associations thai
their costliness. A dairymaid's stool, or
namented with poker work, by an OLE
lady who had no costlier tribute to offer
the richest gems. The little parasol o
black and white silk, with iewelet
handle, presented by Mr.. Villiers, fathe
of the House of Commons, and Mrs
Keeley's ebony walking stick, are protect
cd by glass cases more securely thai
many articles of silver.
Personal presents from members of tn
royal family will probably be included il