The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1898-11-04
SECRET DRAWERS.
A Custom That Died with Furniture
Makers of the Colonial
Period.

Little, If any, modern furniture is
made with secret compartments, such
as those that gave kindly aid to our
ancestors, and often, even in the re-
productions Of antique desks and bu-
reaus, these drawers are omitted. This
Is probably owing to the added labor
and expense that are necessary to
produce them.
Among the desks that have secret re-
ceptacles are those that have come
down from colonial times, when the
secret drawer came Haunting into
fashion. A typical colonial desk is
owned by prominent woman in New
York, who declares that it came over
on the Mayfower. Its secret drawer
Ia shown with much pride; for in it
was once hidden by the fair Priscilla
letter from John Alden. The desk
ls very cumbersome, and the locality
of the drawer could hardly be doubt
ed by the most unsuspicious.
But of all nations that of Spain has
undoubtedly expended the most in
genuity in secret drawers, and it is
quite safe to say that their fine pieces
of furniture are made not only with
one but with many such places. They
are always so well concealed that 1t
Is taken for granted that finding them
would be impossible, and chart is
therefore provided by their designer
as q clew to their locality.
About two years ago superb speci-
men of Spanish mystery and fine work
in the shape of an escritoire
was consigned to an antique dealer.
1t was bought by ex-Mayor Grace, of
New York city, and probably has not
a rival in this country. The chart that
accompanied 1t, and which was mod
ern one, showed the location of 18
secret drawers. But when it was reno
waited and overhauled by an expert,
there were found to be no less than
10 more such places, completing in all |
a number of 30. Many were arranged |
within others. For instance, by push
ing to one side a column that ap-
peared to be simply for ornamental
ton, and necessary to the design,
small slide was found, which, when
also pushed, revealed little chest of
five drawers, most exquisitely fas-
tened, and finished with carved ivory
Knobs. In their turn they could be
fitted out as a whole, when a much
arger and deeper space was found
hat could be used for hiding almost
my object of value.
1t is sometimes strangely true that
he more open and frank the charac-
eristic of a nation, the more many OF
heir belongings abound in secret
places. This was illustrated by their
laving been so fashionable in Puritan
lines in this country. A traveller
trough New England tells of his
at the caution displayed
" one of its inhabitants in providing
or himself as well as his goods and
hattels a secret hiding place in case
f necessity. Upon examination, he
ound that an old colonial bureau that :
TODD against the wall in an upper 4
Dom had been used for this purpose,
he partition between the two lower
rawers as well as the backs were pro.
ided with grooves and springs to as
ist them in gliding out of sight. The J
pace was then so large that the own.
r could easily crawl in and pass
trough hole in the wall that con.
ected with a dark closet. The closet
l its turn, opened upon an outer shed
rom which an escape could be made !
:. Y. Sun. y