Evening star., 1900-06-05

NOTABLE NoTABLEHExYHlef ExHlef
The Gifts Presented to Admiral
Dewey on View.
PLACED At The NATIONAL Museum
Array Of Articles SentimentalIy and
Substantially Valuable.
THINGS OF RARE BEAUTY
PLACED At The NATIONAL MDSEUM
THINGS OF RARE BEAUTY

An exhibit of exceptionally. popular in
terest at present in the National Museum
is the loan collection deposited there by
Admiral George Dewey of the United States
navy. The collection consists of the in
trinsically and sentimentally valuable gifts
which have been bestowed upon Admiral
Dewey since his victory in Manila bay,
May l, 1898, and since he resumed his resi-
dence in this city. number of the tokens
are of quite recent possession, having been
presented during the recent western and
southern trip of the navy's chief officer.
Precious stones and metals, coupled with
the best efforts of the most eminent silver
smiths and gold workers, have made the
articles in Admiral Dewey's loan collection
things Of rare beauty. Their inscriptions
and the motive of their presentation make
them of priceless value to the admiral and
his family and reflect high credit indeed
to the American republic especially since
there Is a saying which attributes a total
lack of appreciation of valiant services in
such form of government. The Dewey
collection at the museum Is in Itself
refutation of such an accusation, as far
as the United States is implied, whereas
more substantial evidences of the gratitude
of the people of this country to Manilas
hero than this display of gems and gold
are in existence.
Some Are Omitted.
Naturally not all of the gifts that have
been received by Admiral Dewey since his
return home are included in the National
Museum collection. The bear, for instance.
which came from out the west, Lochinvar
fashion. is notably among the absent pres
ents. The admiral would detract consid-
erably from his domestic surroundings were
he to include all of the bric-a-brac. fine
vases bits of rare tapestry. cabinets, pieces
of beautiful furniture and other articles
received by him from enthusiastic admirers
the country over, and he would also greatly
tax the already cramped space of the ma
tons repository. The collection consists
of those gifts which are of greatest public
interest and most attractive in appear
ance.
Two large glass display cases are COM
pletely filled by the loan of the admirals
effects. These cases are the first seen upon
entering the museum building by the main
or south door They form a part of the
exhibit dealing with the history of the
United States, and relate to the eriod of
the war with Spain. The museum has sew
eral additional cases filled with curios,
souvenirs and relics of the conflict from
Cuba, Porto Rico. the Philippines and from
the wreck of the battle ship Maine.
Sword of Honor.
First of Importance. naturally, in the
Dewey collection, is the sword of honor
presented to the admiral by special act of
Congress in recognition of his service at
Manila bay. The sword and scabbard are
valued at $4,000. The blade is inlaid with
gold, and the hilt handsomely ornamented
and inlaid with diamonds. The scabbard is
most beautiful, the feature of its decora-
tons being large monogram &c. D. set
with brilliant first-water diamonds. and the
letters "U. S. N" set with smaller stones
of the same character. The handsome
naval belt striped with solid gold, is also
on display. The sword, it viii be remem-
bered publicly presented to Dewey
October last. the pompous ceremony at
the east front of the Capitol being wit
messed by thousands of persons. The
sword. and, in fact, the entire collection at
tracts probably more attention from visi-
tors than any other display in the big build
Ing.
A second sword in the atimirars belong
ings is regulation naval blade, the hilta and
scabbard of which are heavily mounted in
gold, appropriate In its design. This sword
was presented to the admiral by popular
subscription of 10 cents by each subscriber,
the fund being raised by the Boston Trav-
eler, hub newspaper.
In magnifcence generally, and in beauty
and elabora teness of workmanship, the
solid gold loving cup presented to Admiral
Dewey by the citizens of New York city
upon the occasion OF his reception there
September 30 last forms a priceless fea-
ture of the collection. The cup is of the
loving pattern, with three handles designed
to represent the dolphin. From base to
plIil II ls dpOuI eighteen lncHeS IN hf1knt.
1t is massive in appearance, and the gold
Is wrought in the peculiar soft tone and
dull finish known to the jewelers. as rose
gold. In the general working there are hints
of marine life and the career of the sailor
A gold and diamond -incrusted medal is
another valuable souvenir of the New York
reception to the admiral The main body of
the medal is suspended from bar bearing
in enameled letters Manila May l. 1S9S'
and this bar In turn being pendant from a
cannon, to which the pin is affixed. Rubes
and emeralds are intermingled with the en-
circlng diamonds
Another cup in the collection is one of
unique design in oxidiZed silver from the
Piccadilly Club of Cincinnati The cup is
not massive in contradistnct:on from the
others, but is rather slender in pattern. Its
conception seems to have been derived from
a Dantean idea. The cup was presented AT
Manila while the admiral was on duty
there.
Mammoth Loving Cup.
The immense silver loving cup made I'D
of 12,UD 1O-cent pieces collected by the
New York Journal, has a glass case all to
itself. The cup on exhibition in a jewel
er's window in this city prior to its presen-
tation at the Dewey home, and was viewed
widely. silver-bound volume containing
the names of all those who contributed
dimes accompanies the big cup.
beautiful silver vase was presented to
Admiral Dewey during his trip to Savan-
nah last spring by the residents of that
city. The vase In design and general ap-
pearance is in keeping with the other valu-
able gifts in the collection 1t contains
among other decorative features, an en-
graved representation of the first steam
ship that crossed the Atlantic ocean, which
sailed from Savannah May 20, 1919, and
In another panel Is engraved modern liner
plying between Savannah and European
ports. An embossed figure of "Victory"
trailing laurel is prominent bit of decora-
ton on the vase.
The list of cups on exhibition Is COM
pleted with a tiny silver affair, gold lined
in which is engraved an invitation to the
ILL. ,ln4,s l,a,Il L.