Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-05-06
WASHINGTON RELICS.


relics of George Washington now 10
the National Museum to George Wash
ington Custis Lee has aroused renewed
interest 10 them. This is the second
tims Pr, sid ant his oriered their les
toration to the Lee family. Andrew
/ johnson, Oh February 16, 1869. ipstruc.
ted OrvilIe h. Browning, then Secret
ary OF the Ioterior. to return them Ia
rssponse to the request of Mrs. Robert
| E. Lee. The news Of President John.
sons dec sion was published the came
afternoon in the "EveDiDg Express"
and caused much comment. Toe next
| day John A. Logan, then Represen'
talive. brought up before Congress Q
resolution against their restoration and
1t was passed.
Since that time the relics have re.
maiped in the care of the Smithsonian
Institu ion, although repeated efforts
have been made by the Lee family to
regain possession OF them. The srti.
Giles, while they do not comprise the
major portion OF the Washington his
torical collection at the Museum, are
nevertheless extremely interesting and
their removal will necessarily curtail
the completeness of the exhibit.
1t would be difficult to select the most
interesting objects 10 the collection, but
perhaps the tents used by Gen. Wash.
ington during the Revolutionary wsr
appeal most to museum visitors. They
are his sleeping tents of linen and q
ma, quee tent made of wool, with COM
plele linen cover. They do not show
their great age. 1t is difficult to be-
lisve that they were made over GEN.
iurp aud quarter ago and that they
we're used 10 vigorous campaign and
doubtless saw bard service, Styles In
this sort of habitatiou do not change in
any great degree, and the photograph
of these tents erected has most COM
mouplace and latter-day look.
The collection Of china has an en-
tirely different sspect-it hiss the hall
marx of good old age on every piece.
Tne most conspicuous pieces are the
Cincinnstus, orr perhaps, the more
properly speaking the Cincinnati china.
The history OF this china Is somewhat
curious, and has little of mystery con-
nected with it. 1t WAS made In China,
and has sometime the appearance OF
old Canton. The decoration, however,
instead of covering it, is confined to q
neavy border. Toe center OF every piece
b Is o design of an angel bearing the
arms of the Sociey of the Cincinnati.
IL seems curious the Chinese should
know anything OF this society, which
had just then bad it's inception. How
ever, 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, If be be not misrepresented, al.
ways knew good thing and how
to az Cquire it, heard of their arrival at
the Baltimore port and sent an agent to
buy.one. AS the first President of the
Cincinnati Society, it naturally had a
special value In his eyes. The fate OF
the other set has always remained .
mystery.
AS these are associated with General
Washington, so there are several pieces
Of a set associated with Mrs. Washing
ton. These belong to a service said to
have been presented to her by the
French officers who fought with her
husband during the Revolution. They
consist of q large plate, email plate,
and cup and saucer Of white porcelain,
with the initials M. w, in monogram In
the centre of each piece. The mono.
gram is in geld, surrounded by green
band, with the motto, "Decus ct Tuts-
men al Illo." below; the border
bears the name of the thirteen
original States in oval medallions oi
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 q
great Improvement on those Of the
present time.
Another article belonging to the
original First Lady of the Land is az
iron treasure chest, in which Mrs
w sshiugton was wont to keep hei
Jewels, papers and other valuable pos
sessions. In the same case with thii
are the iron hall lantern from Noun
Vernon, and a pair of wrought'iror
andirons.
The most valuable items In the col
lection are two Worcester" vases
thirteen aud half and eighteen inches
high, respectively. They are Of DARK
blue porcelsiD, relieved with gold anc
are decorated 10 O'Neale's best manner
with some of his celebrated anims
paintings. A broken buDch-bowl o
Chinese porcelain, pair of hsndsom'
cut glass candelsbra, q large mirror
and a few minor articles. complete th'
Lee collection.
A curious feature In regard to 1t !
that the explanation plscards which &C
company almost every article on exhi
biiion at the Museum are lacking on al
OF these.
m L. orfr -