Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-19
THE ADAMS MIRROR.
President Pro Tenn Frye Orders
It Replaced.
Inc interesting Story of an Old Cap
ital Relic.
1oss'p Regarding the Proposed Legislation on
irrigation.

| mas given instructions for
i'piaclhS the Adams mirror in the
an''i OF the president of the Senate
ms mirror has a history. 1t WAS
rui chased by John Adams when vice
! fresioent and has reflected the courta
nee OF every Nice-PresiCent of the
Hi'eu states except that of Mr..
| i'ooseNet, and ii failed to perform
| 'hdl service because during his short
| service as the president of the Senate
INC looking glass was in retirement
| haNlng been removed from the room tn
| make way for its modern fittings
Trough It had To give way for yreater
! elegance, the old mirror was at ore
! tine regarded as "A piece OF unv.ar-
| lAnled extravaganza on the part Of
| Nice-President ADAMS Mr.. Adams sa-
! iected the mirror himself and paid for
II the sum of $40. 1t was purchased in
| New York and removed here in 1900.
| The bill had to be paid from the CON
! tinGent fund of the Senate. and when
that body learned that $40 had actually
| 9cen expended for Il single mirror
| there was 4 burst of severe criticism,
! IN the part of the economists. Mr.
| Adams had To listen to speeches de-
nouncinS his extravaganza. and while
the bill was finally approved. it was
| zone in such Il way as To effectuallv
call halt 10 repetitions OF such reck-
lesr proceedings. But from that time
| on the adams mirror became an oh
| Jtct Of great interest. 1t was retained
iii lac room of the Vice President and
when the Capitol was enlarged it was
lemoVH4 to its more elegant quarters
III The marble north wing Of the
building. 1t had heen pointed out as
an example Of magnlfcence amt cx-
| tr&NaSance to ba avoided by all soher-
minded people. AS time Wore On and
the products af wealth became more
common; the mirror hy comparison
lost cast as an example of elegance.
Int Immediately took WI another
feature Of interest.
Ii became al example of Mat haI
| been elegant and tNtl"tVagaGt 4l one
time. and thousands Of visitors trom all
over the world have been shown the
mirror and :old tn" story 80 y ic.-Plcs-
idcnt Adams difficulty h4,"uSn of his
purchase Vi il. NJ this ,in.,. III. room
of th" pr 81 lent of tnn Senate WAS in
crcasiH& in elegance. Tho mirror, while
cherished fey its hlstur. interest,
locked a little plan It has lever lost
its simple elegance but IT ,.4S not in
keeping with its SURROUNDINGS. n had
the experience Of thr htirlooms uf the
fImly that rises in " llth. rs they
have Travelled from Iaricr to sitting
room. then from bedroom tp garrett. so
the mirror Vas placed in IN offset or
ylrsc'. which contains tho stationary
vashstand that was many Eears ago
introduced in the Nice-President's ;
room. Eut ID va Sti'l VII aye it could
be rointrd ont /" visitors Will, rot
earring on the nice TASTE of hos. VINO
don't like to see an OLD Thing like that
llarring the effect OF elegant furniture
and hanginss. Then three ;'ears ago
the cePresidents room was fitted
up in form OF elegance never before
equalcd.
Ever TIE closet W2s fixed NJ :" nh"ly |
that the Adams mirror was out of
place. and the historic relic vas ac-
tuaIly removed and sent to q store |
room. II was NOT placed with Old |
furniture. however, bur Assistant Arch |
itect Woods hung ii in his Office. There
it was discovered by Mr.. Charles |
Moore. who appreciated its value and
hal q shelf put UP on the wall of the |
room Oi Tie s7SIi'itt' N-'
District of Columbia so that the mir |
,, ,,,icrI,+ b. l.cnt in view until It's res
'"' 'i'7'''' .,I t.,.t,i,pe1
toratlon- just as the 'i" i''-.ioi' -
mahogany table is hauled out ot Inc
e,,,,4t oud placed in the middle OF he |
p,,.Ior ftpr laVin. beer ppt III retire |
m,nt by the rrcSSuf" OF some passing
c,,.,. i, bonsefrrnishin.- so the Adams |
''tioS . ;, 49,, .,,,,ra.iat.d
hitFof ili9 "-''ii ,Ie0" 'i
NJ Elen Senator f'r%e l2t"lF l"Si it'd |
,b,r the oId relic hal been in exile he |
7;.-,,,+ ceno,or uo., called il |
WAS lhoislis'".' - III Iii .,.,.. |
nothing less than Nan'tilhShi 10 ~ 'i-dt
If A., order has been given for its re- |
I'LL ,-ice-pres,tuni.s room |
h"NaI To 'rr 49,, .a,,,,,. i, tho 1a7.a-
ir'' y" ~ " 7st. VII IL, ,,,,.., a ~, |
r ~. .,,,ost coDsnicuorS objects in |
o"t VI t.'V -..,,t co,,, tin,a |
that Splcndio a'dt th'VH'' N
u.han President Roosevelt Is a tt Inc |
LII ~, .sl-p1 ~ look into the |
'dllt"i ne "'i' . ,,,. int,
hdaus mHror. lie t'tii ~ 'oN |
il as Virn- President, for his advance
flo''t mas ~ III ~, ,,,asidin.-
rOr as a f""'t''i ~ ~ - III, |