Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-12-01
SECRET DRAWERS.
A Custom That Died with Furniture-
Makers of the Colonial
Period.

Little, II 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 hauntiIs Into
fashion. A typical colonial desk Is
owned by q prominent woman in New
York, who declares that il came over
on the Mayfiower. Its secret drawer
is shown with much pride; for in it
was once hidden by the fair Priscilla
q letter from John Alden. The desk
Is 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 1t 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 ii
Ia taken for granted that finding them
would be impossible, and 4 chart is
therefore provided by their designer
as clew to their locality.
About two years ago superb speci-
men of Spanish mystery and fine work
manship 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 il, and which was a mod
ern one, showed the location of IS
secret drawers. But when il 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 80. 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 a little chest of
five drawers, most eXquisitely fas-
tened, and finished with carved ivory
knobs. In their turn they could be
lifted out as a whole, when n much
larger and deeper space was found
that could be used for hiding almost
any object of value.
1t Is somet etimes strangely true that
the more open and frank the charac-
teristic of nation, the more many OF
their belongings abound in secret
places. This was illustrated by their
having been so fashionable in Puritan
times in this country. \ traveller
through New England tells of his
estonishment at the caution displayed
by one of its inhabitants in providing
for himself as well as his goods and
chattels secret hiding place in case
of necessity. Upon examination, he
found that an old colonial bureau that
stood against the wall in an upper
room had been used for this purpose.
The partition between the two lower
drawers as well as the backs were pro-
vided with grooves and springs to as
sist them in gliding out of sight. The
space was then so large that the OWN
er could easily crawl in and pass
through a hole in the wall that con. 1
nected with dark closet. The closet /
IN It's turn, opened upon an outer shed /
from which an escape could be made
n. Y. Sun.