The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-21
GIFTS MADE TO THE NATION.
| HETEROGENEOUS COLLECTION
OF PRESENTS.
Cups, swords, Tombs, Gates, Num-
mics and Precious stones-Esrt-
ern P~otcntntes the Most Generous
Gfvers - Articles slowed Away

II1TT TUTTF TT Joe TTITITTTTT : ~ -
ents given TO George Washington and the
magnificent gifts showercd upon Gen
Grant and the public men, but there Is
beyond all this n sort OF unclassihed Ist
comprised Of those presents for the most
part almost unknown, I'm spite OF their
national interest and Intrinsic value
which the country at large from time 70
time in its history has received from Tor
eign nations. II woul be superflu0us 10
cite the instance Of Barthoidis Liper-
~" but stored away In the corners OF
various Of washington's public buildings
are many OF the rich collections and
splendid ''objets de virtu' with when
other countries. and especially by Orien-
tai states, have seen At TO honor us.
Among the first presents America ever
received was a large silver cup eiapo-
ratefy chased and decorated with inc
coat OF arms Of the house or bruns"lch'
that was presented TO the Virginia house
~ burgesses BY George /. II was there
used M a mace until the revolutionary
war. since which 1t has passed through
several families and finally into the
hands Of the Colonial Danes, by whom IL
was deposited In the National museum.
One OF the most extraordinary presents
rIven 10 the United States is a sarco-
phaRus sent to President Jackson by the
sultan OF Turkey. The tomb Is or carved
marble, and is very ancient, dating pach
to the dynasty OF the seleucidae. This
dynasty was founded In Syria after the
hiexnndrinn conquest by Nicator, a son
of Antiochus, one OF AleNanders gen.
erals. The era of the Seleucidae in chron-
ologv Is considered az beginning In Sl2
r.. a., and ending with the reign OF Epi-
pnnnes, in 1D r. C. When TINS funerehi
gift was rendered to President Jackson,
which the sultan specified was TO receive
hts body after death. he was naturally
somewhat surprised. but he managed 70
respond IN one OF the most deliciousiy
tactfil speeches I'm history TO the erect
that he. "a humble representative of a
democratic people. was utterly unworthy
10 lie IN tho sepulcher OF a king. ana
that he would fain content himself with
n less ostentatious burial place among
hts fellow countrymen." OF course, i'm
mediateiy upon Its receipt. the sarcopha-
gus became the property OF the govern
ment, as II IL unconstitutional for tho
president OF the United States to receive
gifts or decorations from any foreign
nation or potcntate.
Gifts of the Imnum of Muscat.
There arrived In New York harhor May
l, 1870. the sailing ship S~ultana, bringing
greeting from his highness Sud said
imaum of Muscat, to his excellency Mar
tin Van Buren,. president OF the United
States. and also the following articles,
presents to the country. which. II was
hoped. would always continue the friendly
relations which had been established Two
Arab steeds Of the famous Nedtie breed.
"unrivaicd'. a brilliant gold mounted jave-
lin. n string Of one hundred and fifty pearls,
two single pearls OF large size and great
price, n bottle of altar OF roses. a bale OF
-four Cashmere shawls and nve demijohns
OF rose water. What became of the bulk
of this collection the records OF the state
department do not show, but the pearls.
both those OF the necklace and the single
pearls, and tho shawls arc now In the mu-
scum. Tho sultana was the first ship to
visit this country from the imaum's do
minions-thefeforc tho elaborate presents;
but the worthy ruler did not allow the
friendly relations thus auspiciously a
gurated 10 lnnguish. fer some years later,
during President Tyier's administration he
son, over about nifty diamonds. not all
very large, Il II true, but OF the first and
clearest waisr. These jewels were given
IN charge ot the state department. whence,
In course ot ,ire. they were transferred
60 the treasury vaults. but have now finally
found a resting place at tins museum
A great many presents AVE been given
to this government by Japan, notably
when Perry throw open the Japanese
ports To Occidental At that
time ne was made the bearer OF n col
lection OF ceramics. lacquer ware. old
armor and other metal work. which IS
now scattered among the various eX-
hihits at the museum and tn the library
ot the state department A statue Sc.
lected by Japan from her display NJ tho
Chicago exposition and presented to this
government also ~, IN a way. common.
orative Of rcrry's voyage, II g. IA nR-
ure. very realistic and lfelike. Of the
paron Kamon-no Kami Nawsuke the
pioneer diplomat Of Japan. The baron Ia
dressed IN the fun costume ~ his rank;
the strlna Of his henddrcss and tho tab
l.. h.. aHf a.. 80. AaVN - sfAa. .rhHat
he actually uscd In his lifetime.
China'r Generosity.
The United States has also been tho
reoiplont 90 Chiua's generosity, especially
at the time Of tho Centennial celebration
tn philadelphia when 'the Celestial ON
pirv" presented the most choice portion
90 her nuc display there. One ~ the
mrst interesting features ~ this exhi.
hitlou g. o. curious wooden gateway.
nanked hy two smaller onoe, which form
rf she main entrance to thc chinese do
fartmcnt ~ IS q sumutuous curlei ar
faif carved with flowers, bosses and
scroiis. riidst end Inscribed in tho height
~ thr elaborate but grotrsuUe Oriental
art The tolors AVE, AZ they always
a. IN china a special sigulhcaurv and
those nrrsipuinattrg ave yellow. tho I'm
perial coioy. and rcd trs feiicitaus color
Thc large Inscription pn the naiu sntc-
way has AT the appearances. - ~ over
grown laundry ticket but Translated it
opiy means Weston GatrvhN Other
Inscriptions read 'rhr s-ule0lnr ~ the
dispiae ~ articles caisctcH FROM lhe
Eighteen Provinces a. o. Chiual may
even anrnaNx nature" which mrat have
been very fattrrinS ta the nlnaud cypt
delegation. and che establishment ~
this great Ans prosperous cxhIhftian ar
dictates the maintenance ~ amicah'N e.
latlens hctNeen chira ana the United