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

opening to the right are found the WORDS
ut Is the wish Of Mrs. Denim that this
safe may remain closed until July 4, 1876,
then to be opened by the Chief Magistrate
OF the United States" On the left door
is inscribed: In memory Of those whose
names appear upon the pages OF the al
bum deposited within, who have rendered
service to their country" A
portrait of the first President of the
United States adorns the cornice above
the top of the safe. Portraits of Lincoln
and of Grant are found on each of the
iron outer doors.
Contents of the Safe.
Within the safe have been many ar
ticles, whose historic value will be the
heritage of the century which is expected
to pass before they become the property
of the world.
The most interesting Of the relics are
the two albums. which represent indie
fatigable work and persistent application
to her one purpose on the part Of the col
later. The first album contains the pho
tographs and the second album the auto
graphs of the most distinguished states
men, jurists, legislators, orators, poets,
scientists, clergy, historians. and mer-
ShaAto Va thC yCaA Aosob VhSh sAS SSAASS
tion WIS accomplished.
In the photograph album are portraits
of over 500 of the then leading men OF
the nation. The autograph album. sent
to every State and Territory in the I'm
ion. contains the signatures of the most
eminent men of each. In this album
line has been reserved under each sigma
ture, designed that there, leo years after
their ancestors signatures were written,
the autographs of the nearest living de-
scendant of the same name might be in
scribed.
Inkstands of solid gold and silver are
among the deposits. These are engraved
with the old pine tree shilling, the shield
Of the Union, and the proverbial pen and
sword. Pens accompanying them are of
pearl and gold.
Part of the relics are framed portraits
of Washington. Lincoln, Grant, Mrs.
Grant, Hayes, Mrs. Hayes, ex-Vice Presi-
dents Wilson and Wheeler, Senator S. w.
Fairy, Speaker s. J. Randall, ex-Speaker
Kerr, private secretary to President
Hayes; W. X. Rogers, Col. Thomas A.
Scott, then President of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, and of Mrs. Elizabeth Thomp-
son.
Other deposits were a parchment con-
tanning the autographs of the members
book, containing the names of $4,000 peo-
pie then employed by the Government; a
card from an express company authoriz-
ing its agents to receive and forward
pages of the autograph album free OF
charge during it's circulation through the
country; copy of the United States Cen
tennial Welcome; magazine published
during the Centennial year by Mrs.
Denim, printed in national colors, and
representing the flag; and copies of the
Second Century" magazine which fol-
lowed the above.
Within the safe was also placed pack
age tied with red, white. and blue ribbon.
containing letter from Mrs. Deihm, ex-
pressing her wishes regarding the move
ments to be taken upon opening the safe
in 1876, duplicate of which. with the
key of the safe, it was intended by Mrs.
Deihm should have been placed with the
Smithsonian Institution.
A picture of Mrs Deihm, procured.
framed and placed in the receptacle, as
she claims, without her knowledge or in
tention that a portrait of herself should
be thus preserved. was sent in by the
President on the morning of the closing
of the safe.
In its position in Statuary Hall the safe
Stood with outer doors open, exhibiting
to the gaze of the Capitol's innumerable
visitors through the inner glass doors, its
sacred contents. 1t was the hope OF Mrs.
Deihm that a suitable protection should
have been built about the safe, but this
was never effected.
At the Centennial.
The century safe attracted considerable
attention in the Centennial Exhibition at
Philadelphia, in 1876. In March of that
year it was assigned to a place in the an
mex to Memorial Hall, and in the follow
ing May it was allotted space in Me-
mortal Hall.
There can be no doubt that at this time
much general interest was entertained in
the project. Letters of introduction, COM
mending Mrs. Deihms scheme, were freely
given by prominent persons, and the sigma
lures of John A. Logan, W. b. Allison. O
p. Morton, ]. Proctor Knott Sunset Cox
James G.. Blaine, Chief Justice NJ. X
Waite. Justice Samuel J. Miller. Gov. ]. d
Bidle. of New Jersey, and many other dis
tinguished names were given in endorse
ment Not least noteworthy is a letter Of
introduction and recommendation bearing
the signature of President Hayes wee
President Wheeler, John Sherman. William
NJ Eyarts. r. W. Thompson, George w. Nc
Coy. Charles Devine, d. NJ. Key, and Car
SchurZ the entire official family OF the Adj
ministratiOn at that time.
The persistent effort OF Mrs Denim 10
induce action upon the part OF Congress
was after two years, crowned with partial
success. Space was allotted to her in
Statuary Hall, in the Capitol building
whore the century safe found temporary
resting place and was closed. with simple
ceremonies. on Washington's Birthday, 1873
the centenary Of his birth.
The ceremonies consisted Of the placing
of the articles within the depository. by the
most eminent men of the nation Inc
autograph album was deposited in the safe
by President Hayes, and Mrs. Hayes was
assigned to place the ink stand within the
glass cover. The photograph album was de-
nestled by Vice President Wheeler. and T
w Ferry. s. j. Randall, and a host Of
members of the Senate and House per-
formed the like duty with the various
other articles.
The inner glass doors OF the century
safe we're then locked. The key was to
have been deposited with the Smithsonian
Institution. with the package containing
the directions for the reopening OF the safe
on July 4. 1876. This, however. seems never
to have been done, as search OF the rec
ords at the Smithsonian Institution fails
IN reveal the receipt of the key and pack
age, and none OF tHe oiuesI eIpioseo VI
that institution have any recollection or
knowledge that the key was ever entrust-
ed to its keeping. What has become of 1t
will in all probability remain mystery.
In the place assigned to the century
safe in Statuary Hall it remained for only
a few years, for in 1881 Mrs. Deihm utters
her protest against the removal of the
safe to an inferior position on the piazza.
1t is to be regretted writes Mrs. Deihm
at that time, that an undertaking consid-
cred so patriotic by those whose opinions
are of worth. and notably by James A.
Garfield should have excited the enmity
of any person. Mrs. Deihm ascribes the
removal of the safe to backstair influence.