Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-25
age of cashmere shawls, box of pearls, a

.,
| sword and 12l diamonds.
Congress was at once thrown into pro-
| Ionged debate. John Quincy Adams, then
| in the Senate, occupied the floor for two
| days contending that the gifts should not
be received and denouncing the monarchical
custom of present-giving as demoralizing.
1t was decided, however, that we could
not refuse the gifts without giving offense
to the Arabian ruler, who had given aid to
American vessels in distress near his coast.
Congress therefore accepted the presents
and directed that such as were not suitable
to be deposited in the Department Of State
should be sold and the proceeds deposited
| in the treasury. Those retained found
their way to the National Museum and
Smithsonian.
The pearls and diamonds were for a long
time stored away under seal in the treas
ury vaults. Some twenty years ago some
descendants or relatives of President van
Buren applied for them, thus raising con-
troversy as to what final disposition should
be made. 1t was finally determined to de-
post them for exhibition in the National
Museum. where they are now seen in cases
installed in the gem room The diamonds
are very small the total weight of the en-
tire 121 being but 1882 carats. They a,e
of very good color, however, averaging FIRST
and second water, and their intrinsic value
at the present market price Is about 5000.
There were 14S pearls in the box. They
have since been strung as necklace. The
two largest were pear-shaped, and evident
ly intended to be arranged as pendants. It
is estimated that the entire string is worth
upward of 5000
The magnificent Persian rug sent by the
imaun was valued at 5000 in 1910. 1t
was hung upon the wall of one OF the
large halls of the museum until found to
be losing its shape. 1t now adorns the
floor of the regents room in the Smith
sonian tower The horses. altar of roses,
rosewater cashmere shawls and sword APP
pear to have been sold. No record of them
can be found upon the register of the Ma
tional Museum.
President Pierce received from the French
government two Sevres vases manufacture
ed at the national porcelain works of
France Upon one is the picture of Char
lotte Corday before the tribunal which con-
demned her, and the other bears a picture
of Marie Antoinette before Robespierre.
They now adorn one of the state parlors
of the White House.
Grant Begrudged Foreign Dog.
Grants large collection of gifts now in
the National Museum were received after
he left the White House. They were Ie-
gally his personal property, and there was
no cause other than generosity for their
being turned over to a government institu-
ton While he was President he was pre-
scented by the Emperor of China with a
costly LACQUER cabinet which he left in
one of the state parlors of the White House
along with a very handsome screen of old
gobeln tapestry, presented to Mrs. Grant
by the Emperor of Austro-Hungary. In
1873 the Spanish republic presented to Pres
blade steel guard, ivory grip and gold and
enamel sca.bbard Upon the blade is en-
graved: Belmont, Donaldson Shiloh,
Vicksburg Mission Ridge, Spottsylvan.a,
Richmond. Let us have peace" This is
exhibited in the National Museum While
Grant was President he caused tremen-
dous amount of criticism by accepting a
dog from a foreigner. After leaving the
White House he received from the Sultan
of Turkey two milk-white Arabian stall
lions President Mckinley received from
the government of France pair of large
blue vases made at the national porcelain
works of Sevres,
President Roosevelt has received the
greatest variety of presents yet showered
upon a chief executive. When Prince
Henry of Prussia was here he presented
Mr. Roosevelt with large pastel portrait
of himself in naval attire, statuette (bust)
of Emperor William and an autograph naval
cite shows the ruler of Gremany in the
uniform of the Corps Guard and wearing
the eagle-tipped helmet.
Roosevelt's Menagerie of Gifts.
six fine Arabian stations from the Sui
tan of Morocco were received here last year.
IL being announced at the time that they
were to be divided between the President.
Mrs Roosevelt and their children. At
the New York custom house it was said
at the time that a duty of twenty per cent
ad yalorem would have to be levied upon
the sultan's gifts which appear, however,
to have been turned over to the bureaus of
animal industries here for stock breeding
experiments.
Two lions two Soman zebra, two Gelada
balloons, two Somali ostriches and coll
lection of weapons of unique and handsome
design were presented to the President by
King Menelk of Abyssinia. just year ago.
The ostriches arrived IN New York wear
ing trousers, as the native keeper travelling