Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-03-23

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM.
again" and all that sort of thing. To
deride and belittle congress is popular
and cheap amusement in some quarters.
At every session of congress doubtless
mistakes are made, and there is more
or less of bad legislation, but on the
whole it fairly represents the liberty,
strength and enlightenment of the ma
ton, and when it cannot be trusted to
deal wisely with the political situations
as they arise our whole political system
becomes absurd and vicious.
The congress which has just passed
out of existence has had to deal with
situations more complex and difficult
and to face issues more important than
any congress has encountered since the
civil war and the period of reconstruc-
ton. In the main it has met and per-
formed its duties in patriotic spirit,
while perhaps it has left undone some
of those things which it ought to have
done and possibly done things it ought
not to have done. During its life sue
al
of peace concluded, and altogether the
great problems involved have been rea-
sonably well solved so far as they have
been reached. Every one recalls with
pride the promptness and unanimity
with which this congress voted the
funds for the prosecution of the war
with Spain, and while there have been
sharp differences as to policy and along
political lines, and there have been sew
eral contests that will be historical, it
cannot be fairly said that this has not
been patriotic congress.
With the adjournment Of congress
and the departure of the nations law
makers Washington is quiet and as
these are the sofnber days of Lent there
is but little social activity in the city.
Much interest is now manifested in
the National museum by reason of the
fact that there is being installed great
historical exhibit illustrative of the
Spanish American war, its causes and
effects. 1t is being placed in the depart
ment of American history, where in flu
ture years it will excite the curiosity
and interest of millions of visitors from
all parts Of the world. Professor w. II.
Holmes, the curator of the museum,
has for long time had his agents hunt
ing through Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines. and many rare and valuable
relics have heen secured.
In the autumn, as soon as our posses
sion of Porto Rico became a certainty.
Mr.. Frank Becl1with was commissioned
to ransack every corner Of the island
for historic and archaeological treasure
He also visited Cuba on the same mis-
sion. Mr.. Beckwith recently returned
and your correspondent was permitted
to inspect some Of his choicest speci-
mes before they were placed in the
museum.
During this trip to Porto Rico Mr..
Beckwith visited the ancient castle Of
San Cristobal, guarding the west end
of San Juan and opposite Moro Castle,
and, located deep under the bluff, six
tenth century dungeon vaults filled
with all manner of cruel instruments Of
torture, including racks, thumbscrews
and other engines of punishment.
In the military prison Of Arecbo he
found pair of rusted handouts to
which an interesting history is attach
ed. A negro fisherman who had devoted
many years to life saving along the
coast and who had been decorated oy
the queen of Spain for bravery one day
caught fish too large to be sold in the
market and which he ratified without
permit from the proper authorities For
this slight otfense he was sentenced to
pay an eXorb, tant fine and to be cast
into Arecito prison until it should be
accumulated. Here he remained until
he died Of starvation. The handouts
are positively identified as those he
wore.
From Ell Morro San Juan, Mr.. Beck
with obtained three fourths of the frag-
ments of the 10 inch shell fired by Ad-
miral Sampson s fleet during the bonn
hardment. Striking on the limestone
bluff below the sea wall it exploded
and distributed itself over a radius of
90 feet, SCATTERING all the surrounding
rock. The recovered fragments will be
mounted like an articulated skull and
incased in glass. In contrast with this
the most destructive projectile Of mod
ern warfare, are several rusted and
crumbed grapeshot fired by the British
during their bombardment of the same
castle in 1897,
The relics thus far mounted form but
the nucleus Of the exhibit, which prom
ises to be of great historic value and
source Of inspiration to patriotic Amer
leans. '''"'r1 HUBBARD.