The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-25


discredited and consigned to neglect. the
century safe" with it's contents of auto
graphs and photographs of representative
men of former generation and other pa
triotic relics, has faded from public in
terest. Concealed behind the white
painted pine boards in which 1t is boxed,
1t occupies an inconspicuous position, and
It's purpose in history is forgotten. With
out owner. without custodian, it's preserv-
alton to the fulfIlment of its mission I'm
provided for, it is confronted by a pre-
carious future and is permitted to hold
its present position on suffrance.
Perhaps not one hundred persons in the
Capital City, and barely an equal number
| outside of it, retain the merest recollec-
tion of the century safe, and the object
for which it was designed. Even around
the Capitol building the memories at
tached to it have strangely passed from
mind. Those who retain slight knowledge
of its history are but family reminiscent,
| and logical account is only to be lad
from the columns of contemporaneous and
| now out of date periodicals, or from the
pages of publications which have almost
ceased long since to find even an isolated
| reader.
The architects of the Capitol, who have
charge of all that is connected with the
furnishings Of the buildings. are by vir-
| tue of that charge the nominal Custo-
dams of the ownerless century safe. In
| that Office nothing Is TO be learned of 1T.
Only the most fragmentary bits of IN
| formal ion can be collected from any of
| the employees of the Capitol concerning
| the safe.
Twenty one years ago. with simple cere
monies, the Chief Magistrate of the ma
| ton, assisted by his Cabinet and men,
| bers of the two houses of Congress, within
| the safe, accorded at that time an honor
able position in Statuary Hall. placed
| those sacred, patriotic relics, which it
was intended should next be beholden CT
| man 100 years after. The hopes of the
| inventor of the project, woman cnthu-
| siastic with credence in the Importance
of her project, were for the moment con-
| tented. and her name she conceived was
| thus eternally inscribed among the names
| of the nation.
| Forgotten and Neglected.
Today. removed from its honored POSI-
| ton, without resting place to which it
! can-lay rightful claim, the name of the
protector forgotten by many, the century
safe is a reminder Of the effacement Pro-
1
only when house cleaning functions at
| the Capitol render some recognition OF
| its existence unavoidable by the officials,
| or when some remotely possible Idle
| glance rests curiously upon the white en-
| easement and speculates upon the con-
| tents.
| Strange traditions have already crept
around the old safe and are prevalent
| among those of the old Capitol force who
l nf
| tions relates to the key of the inner door.
| which IL is supposed has been Intention
| ally done away with, in order that the
| purpose of the promoter may not be irus-
| trated by its premature use to open the
safe. In view of the fact that the key
| is not to be found, and is not in the GUS
| tody of the Smithsonian Institution. as
was the declared wish of the protector, the
tradition may have foundation in fact.
| 1t is also said that the combination OF the
| outer doors to the safe is transmitted from
| Sergeant of-Arms to eant-of-Arms in
| succession. in order that at the arrival
| of the allotted time, the difficulty OF open
| ing the safe may be obviated by Ibis
| knowledge.
The scheme of the century safe was the
conception and execution of Mrs. Charles
| F.. Deihm to commemorate the centennial
wear of 1876. and to transmit to the Amer
| lean nation as 1t should be at the second
centennial of its independence in 1876. pa
| triotic records of the ilustrious men OF the
| first century's close. After indefatigable
| labor she collected autographs and photo
graphs of eminent Americans OF every state
| in the Union and of national repute. These
! size mounted in albums and designed the
| safe for their reception. Then the safe was
placed on exhibition at Philadelphia dur
| ing the Centennial Exposition In that city.
Her project contemplated the sealing OF
| the safe for 100 years. TO be opened by the
Chief Magistrate OF the nation on the
| Fourth of July, 1876. BY the persistence
| OF her efforts she finally obtained pernis-
| sion to place the safe in Statuary Hall, in
| the Capitol building and here. on Wash
| ington's Birthday 1873, the safe was final
| " closed by President Hayes, accompanied
| by simple ceremonies. Later the safe was
| removed, Notwithstanding her most violent
protests Her hopes to have 1t replaced
| were never fulfilled The century safe has
| been in its present position for years. and
| may remain so until the arrival of the
| hour for its reopening unless some other
| disposition of 1T be made by Congress IN
| the meanwhile.
Autographs Of Noted Men.
In addition TO the safe and its contents
| three albums were placed with it in Statu-
airy Hall when the safe was closed. Each
of these albums enclosed in case of
rosewood with ebony borders. and top OF
plate glass. One of these was an auto
graph album. with spaces provided for lo0,-
| 900 names. II was intended that Pres1-
dents and Vice Presidents, Speakers OF the
| House of Representatives,, Cabinet oiiicers,
| Judges of the Supreme Court, members OF
! Congress, generals Of the army, admirals OF
| the navy, and Governors OF States, VINO
should succeed to those positions subse-
auent to the sealing OF the century safe,
should therein subscribe their names Inc
second album was for the reception OF the
photographs of the succeeding Presidents
and Vice Presidents. and the third album
was designed to hold the photographs of
the justices of the Supreme Court. Cabinet
officers officers of the army and OF the
navy. and Senators and Representatives.
Places were provided in order that every
two years photos Of four of the most promi-
nent men In the navy and four In the
army, two Senators. and two Representa-
tives from East. West, South, and North,
could be contributed to the collection
What has become of these albums, which
we're permitted to remain outside the safe,
is now unknown. 1t Is quite possible that
thny have been encased with the safe, and
are safely reposing on its broad top. No
one however is able to answer the queS-
tian.
The safe was especially designed for the
purpose OF preserving the relics, OF which
it was to be the depository. The exterior
was delicately tinted and embellished with
designs in the national colors. On the top
of the safe was the inscription, "Dedi-
Gated to the People of the United States
by C. F. Deihm, July 4. 1867
The safe was lined with royal purple
velvet. The inner doors of the safe are
of plate glass, with a border of cut glass.
rLiS dnnr W. nlncnd nd lacked WaSl