The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-05
THE WASHINGTON RELICS
Articles Which Are to Be Restored
to the Lee Family.
Tire Presidents Recent Decision
Arouses Renewed Interest In the
Collection = The Generals Tent.
and His Wife's Treasure Chest.

The recent decision of the President to
order the restoration of the historic relics
of Georget Washington now in the Ma
| tional Museum to George Washington
GUSTS Lee has aroused renewed interest
! in them This is the second time Presi-
dent has ordered their restoration to the
| Lee family Andrew Johnson, on Febru-
airy &C. 1853, instructed Orville II. Brown
! ing, then Secretary of the Interior. TO re-
turn them in response to the request of
Mrs. Robert E. Lee. The news of Presi-
dent Johnson's decision was published
the same afternoon in the Evening Ex-
,, press" and caused much comment. The
next day John A. Logan, then a Repre-
| sentative, brought up before Congress a
resolution against their restoration and it
was passed.
Since that time the relics have remain
ed in the care of the Smithsonian Insti-
| tuition, although repeated forts have
been made by the Lee fam y to regain
possession of them The articles. while
they do not comprise the major portion
of the Washington historical collection at
| the Museum are nevertheless extremely
interesting and their removal will neces-
, sarily curtar the completeness of the ex-
hibit.
II would be difficult to select the mos.
| interesting objects in the collection, bu-
| perhaps the tents used by General Wash
| ington during the Revolutionary war ap-
| peal most to museum visitors. They are
his sleeping tent OF linen and marquee
! tent made of wool. with complete linen
cover They do not show their great age.
| 1t is difficult to believe that they were
made over a century and a quarter ago
| and that they were used in a vigorous
| campaign and doubtless saw hard.ser
/ vice Styles in this sort of habitation DO
| not change in any great degree, and the
! photograph of these tents erected has n
most commonplace and latter-day look
The collection of china has an entirely
| different aspect-it has the hall Elark OF
| good old age on every piece. Tie most
conspicuous pieces are the Cincinnatus, or
| perhaps, more properly speaking, the Gin
| cinnati china The history of this china
| is somewhat curious, and has little OF
I mystery connected with it. 1t was made
| in China. and has something the appear
| ance of old Canton. The decoration, how
| ever. instead of covering it, is confined
! TO q heavy border. The centre of every
piece has a design of an ange! bearing
| the arms of the Society of the Cincinnati.
| 1t seems curious the Chinese should know
anything of this society, which had just
| then mad its inception. However. the arms
| are thereon every piece The bill of lading
mentions two sets; it is not known for
whom either was imported. but General
Washington. who. il he be not misrepre-
scented, always knew good thing and
| how to acquire 1t, heard of their arrival
at the Baltimore port and sent an agent
10 buy As the first President OF the
Cincinnati Society. it naturally had spe-
f1s. = tra
| other set has always remained u mystery
As these are associated with General
Washington, there are several pieces
of a set associated with Mrs. Washington
These belong to service said TO nave
been presented to her by the French Of
ficers who fought with her husband dur
ing the Revolution. They consist or a
large plate, a small plate, ana cup ana
saucer of white porcelain. with the initials
NJ. w. in monogram in the centre OF each
piece. The monogram is in gold, surround
ed by a green band. with the motto. De
Gus ct Tutamen al NO.. below: the
border bears the names OF the thirteen
original States in oval medalfionS or
green. These pieces are all sadly cracked
and mutilated, which might lead to the
suspicion that the walters and maids OF
Colonial days were not great improve
ment on those Of the present time
Another article belonging to the original
First Lady of the Land is an iron treas
ure chest, ip which Mrs. Washington was
wont to keep her jewels. papers ana 9TH
| eE NdiudDlt puSStosflotias
case with this are the iron hall lantern
from Mount Vernon, and pair OF
wrought-iron andtrons-
The most valuable items in the collec-
ton are two Worcester vases. thirteen
and half and eighteen inches high, re-
spectively They are of dark blue porce-
lain relieved With gold and are decorated
In O'Neale's best manner. with some or
his celebrated animal paintings broken
niInch-bowI of Chinese porcelain. pair of
handsome cut glass candelabra. large
mirror and a few minor articles complete
the Lee collection.
a curious feature IN regard to it is that
the exclamation placards which aecom-
pany almost every article on exhibition at
] the Museum are lacking on all OF these.