Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-02

several succeeding campaigns. Over
the nahtelplcce, in the largest and
brightest room of the museum HANGS
the torn and faded but still beautiful
nag which draped the proscenium box
OF Ford,s theatre the night of Lincoln'5
assassination.
This mute avenger of the Nation'.
chief was added to the Oldrovd collec-
ton less than three months ago. IT'S
history is as follows: In 1862, when it
was feared that the treasury of the
United States might be pllared nv tho
confederate forces, such of the en-
ploycs of the department as were ah,,
To pear arms were provided with them.
ang drilled. in order that thcv might
ne aple 10 defend the building, should
'NN"9ioii arise. The organZa ton
winch Included men of all ages. from
veteran officials and clerks to very
youthful messengers. numbered nearly
eoo' IL was known as The Treasury
Guard AT drill and on parade. over
tae neads of this regiment floated a
nag OF the finest bunting, purchased
LOT 1t by the ladies employed in the
treasury Experimentation scarcely
more than a hundred in number.
On the night of April Il, 1865. the
treasury Guard gave a bali at Ford
tHeatfe, which was deliberately decor
rated for the occasion. Much of the
work had been done by a professional
decorator, who bestowed special efforts
IN The disposal of the flag purchased
lor the Guard by the ladies' On the
morning of April IA the decoration
committee of the Guard went to tho
theatre TO remove the flag On the
stage stood Mr.. Ford. admiring its
tasteful arrangement. He said:
The President and his party will be
here tonight. If you will allow the flag
To remain where it is | Will put them
in that box"
Consent was given, with results
known to all the world. The flag. in a
frame with a glass covering, hung for
many years in the little room at the
left of the east entrance of the treas
ury department. The 15-inch rent torn
by Booths spur may be seen plainly
But for this flag, in all probability he
would never have been captured.
From this flag the story of the assas-
sination may be traced by an object
lesson, for beside it hangs the identical
spur by which ii was torn. This SPUR
was obtained only after many years Of
continuous search and panstakin.
effort Close by it hangs a framed
copy of the official proclamation offer
ing 100000 for the capture of Booth
ON the other side hangs the key of
the old penitentiary Gong since demol-
lshed) in which the conSpirators wern
hanged, and in another frame are Ia
beli@d sections of each of he ropes used
on that occasion.
Among the numerous busts. casts
and masks of Lincoln in this collection
are the life mask and the casts of his
hands, made by Leonard w. Volk
Every square inch of space remaining
is occupied by framed enGravings,
prints and cartoons, most OF them dat
ing between 1860 and 1868. In these
patriotism, pathos and the venom of DO
litical satire, are, sometimes crudely but
always effectively, set forth Aside
from their import, they are cminent!y
worthy of study. if only for the purpose
of comparing them with the present
styles of illustrating. These pictures
are interspersed by seemingly every
token of patriotic enthusiasm ana
ingenuity can devise.
But for its admirable arrangemcnt
the collection could not be crowded int
the space that it now occupies. Even
the visitor who has never met Mr..
Oldroyd must be constrained to admit
that it was no ordinary youth who chose
such method of enshriring an ideal no.
would any ordinary man have found
delight in carrying on. for almost &C
years, a work SO arduouS. Mr.. Old
| royd's appearance and bearing alike
attest his refined and scholarly tastes
| He is justly proud of this institution
| distinctively Amcrican-in that its
| thousands of objects most of them in
| trinsically of little value are, through
the sacrcdness of association. of great
| er worth than the regalia of an empire
/