The Washington times., 1902-01-27
MANY GIFTS.
TO UNCLE SAM
Foreign Rulers Have Sent
Various Presents.
MR., VAN buren, EMBARRASSED
When President. sultan of Oman
Sent Him Number of Tokens
of Appreciation.

| Notwithstanding the fact that there is
a law which prevents the President OF
the United States from accepting presents
| from foreign sovereigns or countries, -
| said an official of the National Museum
| recently. they will continue to show
their friendship for Uncle Sam in some
| such manner.
And now comes Prince Henry with a
large number of presents, the majority
of which, no doubt, will sooner or later
find their way into the National Museum 8
keeping.
Uncle Sam has received number of
presents since his childhood days On
December 25, 1929, Seyyid Saood. Bin Sui
tan Bin Ahmed, Sultan of Omar, ad-
dressed gracious letter to His Excel
lency Martin Van Buren, President of
the United States of North America, in
which he informed him that he had sent
him by the royal ship Sultanee few lit
tie things as a token of friendship and
good feeling.
Present of Horses.
These little things consisted of two
Arabian horses and their groom, one
bottle of altar of roses. two pieces of
gold. five demijohns of rose-water, one
Persian carpet. one gold ornament with
a silk tassel, four camels-hair shawls
one gold-mounted sword, two large pearls,
a string of one hundred and fifty pearls,
one gold plate. one bottle of diamonds,
one gold snuff box studded with precious
stones, and one box of mixed pearls and
diamonds.
President Van Buren was in a guam
dary about the acceptance OF the gifts.
He notified the vessels agents in New
York that he could not accept the pres
ents. But the commander Of the Sultanee
was not willing to take the gifts back to
his master. The matter was submitted to
Congress, and after two months OF de-
liberation it passed resolution author
izing the President to accept them in the
name OF the United States.
The President sold the horses. the
shawls and the rose-water, while Uncle
Sam had 10 look around for a Suitable
place for the remaining little things.
He also had considerable trouble in lay
ing hold OF the thief who. in a spell OF
alteration, carried of the whole
collection in a bag.
Elephants as Gifts.
Uncle Sam received many offerings, |
consisting of horses, elephants, tigers, and |
such, and no little trouble was encoun |
tered in finding accommodations for such |
unwieldy and ferocious gifts, which were /
in many instances forced in spite OF pro-
tests. A very singular present was that
of the King of the Fill Islands. II con-
sisted OF plain whales tooth.
THE first gift received by the United
States Government was that of two paint
ngs-oil portraits of Louis XVI and
Marie Antoinette. These were received
rom the King and Queen themselves soon
after the close of our Revolutionary war.
From Queen Victoria.
Another most important gift is the
Presidents desk. It is of oak. and is Of
much historical interest aside from its
value as a present from the late Queen
H. NJ s. Resolute, which was sent TO
he Arctic Sea in search of Sir John
Franklin. The vessel was abandoned in
he ice, but was afterward discovered by
IN American whaler and restored, and
;ent back TO England by this country. AS
token of appreciation the desk was
made especially for the United States
for use In the White House,
md was presented to Uncle Sam in 1881.
THE gold-bron clock in the Green
Room of the White House is another ar
icle of interest. This timepiece was at
me time the property of Napoleon Bona
arte. who gave II to Lafayette. and this
atriot in turn presented it to this coun-
ry.
I'm the same room there may be seen a
ichly decorated music rack, gift OF the
austrian Government. Frances regard
or Uncle Sam is shown in some beautiful
evres vases of the highest artistic