The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-27
TREASURES OF THE CROWN.
England's Monarch Has Rare and
 Valuable Possessions.
ChIcagO ChronIcIe.

No living monarch Is the possessor of more or costlier treasures than King Edward of Great Britain. A few may have some particular article of vaster or greater historic interest, but the crown possessions of the sovereign of England are certainly of sufficient splendor to slider only the wonders of gold and pre- cious stones, our King has many which eclipse him in the range and interest of rare possessions, and even if we con- sider only the wonders of gold and preci- ous stones, our King has many which may challenge comparison with anything to be seen in the royal palaces of Persia or Turkey, says Tit-Bits.
 To mention only a few of these regal treasures. there is at Windsor single magnificent candelabrum. exquisitely wrought in solid gold. and weighing the tenth part of ton: there is an enormous tiger. large and fierce as life. sheathed in solid plates of gold and with flaming eyes of crystal. and the daintiest bird in all the world. with plumage one blaze of precious stones. These treasures-the tiger and the bird-once made the eyes of Hippo Sahib flash with pride of owner ship.
 At wi~isor. too. is probably the finest gold dinner service in the world. a full table equipment for 140 guests. a single dish of which is sufficient burden for one man and with gorgeous center pieces which would tax the strength of three men. There are huge shields of gold. one of which is composed of sniff boxes. is said to be worth 10000 pounds; large golden tankards and goblets incrusted with gems. cuspidores and candelabra. and other treasures of precious metals and jewels, a mere list of which would
 fill columns.
 But, although the value of these treasures Is estimated in seven dguras there are others less splendid. but really more interyeting. What fabulous sum would not many a millionaire pay for tankard made from gold doubloons taken from one of the ships of the ill-starred armada. or for that lovely casket of enamel and crystal which was one of the personal treasures Catherine of Braganza brought with her to her Eng fish home.
 Then there Is to be seen at Windsor surely the most wonderful and heauti- full cloak in the whole world. made from the red and yellow plumage of rare birds to be found only in few Pacific islands. It was three-uuarters of century ago one of the most prized possessions of the Queen of the Sandwich Islands and its value is estimated at 12.000 pounds.
 An exquisite little clock of enamel brings back pathetic memories of Queen Anne Boleyn, for 1t was one of the pre- sents which made her happy on her we'd ding day: and pair of spurs are a legacy from the far-off days of Richard HI. who once wore them. There Is part of a regimental dinner service used dur ing the black days of the siege of Luck now and dented by rebel shot; and two bronze guns presented to Queen Victoria by the last Emperor of the French. Y
 King Edwards books none but a mill Iionaire could hope to match. for the number in all over 15o.0oO volumes. of which two-thirds are at Windsor. Among these volumes are many Caxtons, missals, psalters and other centuries old volumes, for some of which hibliophlles would gladly pay few thousands apiece. The Kings pictures. too, are valued in hundreds of thousands of pounds and in. clude some of the finest works of mast CTS old and new; and to these he adds more than 200Oo drawings. engravings and miniatures. largely the collection of his father. the Prince Consort
 The royal collection of china has scarcely a rival in any palace of Flu rope. It is the accumulation of cen- turies and comprises the finest specimens of the worlds potteries from China to Dresden and Derby. One exquisite ser- vice of "Bleu Du Roi," made for Louis XVIII of France. Is also said to be worth 10000 pounds.
 But these and countless other treasures of equal interest have all come to the King by inheritance. Among his own personal collections are also many things of rare beauty and interest, of which two at least are unique. His collection of silver models of ships is unrivaled and includes every type that has been seen in our navy from the earliest times, each vessel microscopically exact reprodua- tion of its original.
 The King. too, is very proud of his collection of walking sticks. which num- bers several hundreds, and among them a stick made from one of the piles of old London bridge, and another on which a great Australian statesman worked for months while serving d sentence of im- prisonment