davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14
DOUBTFUL TREASURES.
Trouble Concerning Antiquities at the
University Of Pennsylvania.

AiOuU4c SO1CCIA1Ak Antiquities dI tuC
University Of Pennsylvania.
From the New York Tribune.
The genuineness Of certain gems, cary
iEgs and other art treasures in the muse
UNI of the University of Pennsylvania has
been called In question. Charges that a
part of certain collection Is bogus are
said to have been made fully a year ago
and to have been ignored at that time
They have now been revived by Philadel-
piia numismatist. s. Hudson Chapman;
and at a meeting OF the board of managers
a. few days ago a resolution was adopted
calling for an Investigation and also for
the rejection of any objects which might
be found to be spurious.
The articles concerning which suspicion
has been raised Were presented by the late
Prof. Maxwell Sommerville. who for eight
or ten years filled the chair of glyptology
In the university. He Is said TO have
been man of means and to have &C.
CURED a large number of Greek and Roman
engraved gems gradually during his life
time. These he gave to the university
shortly before his death, which occurred
about year ago.
1t is readily conceivable that Prof. SOM
merville may have been imposed upon by
the persons from whom he obtained some
OF his specimens. Purchasers of statuary
paintings gems and objects professedly
antique are continually being confronted
with clever forgeries. A man who is known
to have money to spend is peculiarly ex-
posed to dishonest designs of this sort 1t
would not be at all strange il the Philadel-
phfa collector had in few cases, IL not in
many, been victimized. Unfortunately, he
cannot now reply to questions which might
be raised regarding the sources from which
he secured the articles whose genuineness is
challenged Those who dispute 1t may also
have difficulty in establishing their case.
In particular instances, however. 1t might
be possible to convince competent and dis
DO n he ,4
possibility that certain engraved gem
say, one representing the Triumph of Con-
star tine-has been recognized as histori-
cally unique. If two museums professed to
own it. the question would arise which had
the original and which had merely copy.
Were foreign institution able TO establish
a better title to the possession of such an
object any similar one in the United States
would be discredited. II Is alleged that a
number of articles in the Sommerville coll
lection can In this manner be shown to be
unworthy OF place In the Philadelphia
museum.
The University OF Pennsylvania seems to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14

All during the past summer residents of
formation have been moving into more de-
sirable quarters as rapidly as possible, but
in some cases the spectacle was witnessed
of gangs of 1aborers dumping load after
load from the construction train into the
street, until the new level brought them
on line with the second floors of many
houses still occupied. Along North Capitol
street between Z and L streets a row OF
houses, ten In number. was almost entirely
hidden. Near the same neighborhood dirt
was dumped against at least one building
i'm such quantity that the side wall finally
yielded to the pressure and fell inward.
While so much Of this work has meant
destruction to blocks upon blocks of houses
and to many miles of streets, there Is one
redeeming feature promised on which work
has not been started, and which, even in
contemplation, is far in the future. This
concerns the reverting to the District OF
the present right of way of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad tracks between the pres
ent station and the point where the old
tracks intersect the line of the new APP
proach. This right of way is sixty-six feet
In width, and in time 1t is proposed to make
it a model boulevard. This thoroughfare.
when completed, will extend in direct
line to Langdon, D. c., to Florida avenue.
and thence across blocks and streets to ID
and / streets northwest, whence 1t can
easily be connected with the system of
streets and avenues converging upon tho
plaza.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14

~ ROBABLY not again within the life
time of the present generation,
possibly never again, will such q
great change occur in the topogra-
ply of the city that which is
each day drawing nearer completion in con-
nectiou with the work of preparing the ap-
proaches to the new union station These
changes have been particularly noticeable
in their effect upon the croSStown streets
between the northeast and northwest sec
lions of the capital. and the Westinghouse
of only a few years ago brought back to
visit the familiar scenes would need to
hear the clarion-voiced assurance of the
man behInd-the- megaphone on a modern
'rubberneck wagon" If he We're to be per-
suaded that the tunnels. cuts" and fills
and the enormous embanknent now
stretching in a continuous line from near
the Capitol northward were the Swan
poodle" of his, or possibly his fathers
story.
''Swampoodle" was the name long borne
by all of that formerly low section dividing
the northwest from the northeast, and
scores of Washingtonians yet remember the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14

time when much of the vast stretch was a
series of swamps. Now, however, Swan
poodle" has been buried, and in It's stead
rises veritable plateau.
X y
1t was to get under this great pile OF
dirt and yet retain the convenience of ex-
listing streets that much of the time and
skill of the Districts engineering depart
ment has recently been devoted Great ex-
cavations have been made to carry the thor
oughfares beneath the wide-spreading rail-
road tracks. and plans of bridges which
the contractors for the union station ap-
proaches proposed to erect were passed
upon and approved, and at the same time
single eye was had to preserving at every
possible point the beauties of the city for
all time to come.
Present conditions along the great fill
will no doubt be improved, for everywhere
yet are the evidences of the destruction
which must ever be an incident to a re-
casting of the lines of transportation COM
panies after modern city has attained
much of its growth. At some places along
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14
@NEW GRADE ON Est AND MASS AVE. AT UNION STATION

1875 feet wide spans L street, and the en-
gineers found 1t necessary to make great
excavation to get this street under the
tracks. At its deepest point l. street is
fifteen feet lower than formerly.
M street and Florida avenue are subject
ed to nearly similar treatment, and N
street, never open through the section, has
been permanently closed on account of the
railroad improvements.
In lexington all the streets between Eek
ington place and Brentwood road and r
street and Rhode Island avenue nave been
closed to make way for the great freight
yard which, when completed, will nearly
equal in size the Capitol grounds. BY law
a new street forty feet wide will adjoin
the west wall of the viaduct between LIST
street and Massachusetts, avenue, and 1t
will reach the level of the union station
plaza by a gradual incline which, at it's
termination at Massachusetts avenue, VIII
mean 'iill' fully thirty feet high.
In nearly all of the blocks affected alleys
have been closed, and in some cases the
smaller thoroughfares entirely obliterated.
School children who formerly had the level
street In front of their homes for a play
ground have taken great delight during the
progress of the improvement in running up
and sliding down the artificial hill which
eventually will carry the new tracks.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14

GHE United States government mas
a most interesting and valuable
numismatic collection. 1t Is con-
tained In cases at the Phiiaoei-
phia mint The beginning of this
collection was in 1898. when d..
r. NJ. Patterson, the director OF the mint
at that time. authorized the establishments
of a cabinet of coins and metals, following
the example set by nearly every other CIV
ilized nation.
The cabinet began with small collee-
ton. taken largely from foreign coins that
had been sent in as bullion. This collection
has been augmented from time TO time by
purchases out of a small fund provided ny
Congress and by donations, until the num-
Der Is now about 10 COO pieces. and includes
many rare and scientifically Important
specimens. The numerical development OF
the collection has been retarded somewhat
by a tendency to give preference 10 expen-
sive rarities This has resulted in the neg
Iect of coins of the lower denominations.
There is a corps of guides ut the mint
whose duties are to give intelligent direc-
ton and instruction as TO this collection
and other features OF the mint The col
lection attracts n great deal OF attention.
T. Louis Comparette looks upon the col
lection entirely different from most coin
collectors. VINO regard COINS as mere GURUS.
He gives emphasis 10 the educational value
OF historic coins.
The monetary history of the early ages
in its metallic currency was uuduly neg
leeted by ancient writer's. With the excep-
ton of a short chapter by PolluX, a Greek
writer of the first half of the second CEN
fury OF the Christian era, there Is no evil
dence that the ancients In any wise COM
pretended the value OF coins as an edu-
cational and historical factor until we
come down 10 Petrarch This flustrious
scholar. whose love for the beautiful Laura
has overshadowed even his fame in let
tiers. may well be regarded as the father
OF the modern science of numismaties. He
II was who pointed out 70 his coDtempora-
ries the intimate relationship of ancient
coins with the life and history of the peo-
pie that produced them. and awoke an In
terest in their value representing ma
tional character and development--an inter
est that has been stimulated and promoted
by many devotees among all classes from
that day to this.
Most accurately do coins portray the vi
eissisudes of political. financial and COM
mercial history and contribute to a nations
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14

The currency used by the most primitive
nations and among barbarous tribes was of
the crudest character. Shells were a COM
mon circulating medium, and are even used
to this day by some of the African tribes.
The small cowrie shell was employed as
money IN China and Siam 1900 years before
the Christian era. and for higher denomi-
NATIONS the tortoise shell, ranging In size
from one inch to eighteen inches In Rus
sra the earliest currency known was the
Whoie skins, with claws and teeth intact
OF squirrels. martens and other fur-bearing
animals. Cloth money was also a medium
or trade exchange among some of the Slay
races Among the Carthaginians, Spaftans
and Romans leather was sometimes used as
form of money.
In rude state of society barter was the
Hfst form or commerce Advancing trade
feiations demanding more coherent and
general medium of exchange, metals were
employed as possessing a property value,
copper, silver and gold gradually becom-
ing the preferred metallic currency The
earliest use of metals was by weight
among eastern nations the exact weight
ana value We're marked on the metal the
standard weight being the ancient Baby
ionlan gold shekel, the divisions and SUBJ
divisions of which have substantially come
down to the present day through various
changes of name in different countries
The first pieces of coined metallic money
were rude and shapeiess. In cabinet
OF ancient coins the chief place is claimed
by Grecian coins on account of their
antiquity and as tracing the development
OF Greek art The first coinage of money
is said to have been made by the Ionian
Greeks seven centuries before our era The
Phocaeans stamped on each piece OF coin
their city arms, called "phoca or seal This
arr spread rapidly throughout the different
Hellenic towns and colonies. and the de-.
signing for their coins being Entrusted 10
artists OF recognized standing, these pieces
of Grecian money became representative OF
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14

ment in modern artistic excellence and
culture.
The colonial series of American coins
possesses a patriotic flavor, but lack ar
tistic merit, which the national series has
not yet redeemed
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14

contemporary art They show its growth
from the crude archaism of the primeval
Hellenes. through the unfolding centuries
of Hellenic originality and art development
down to the classic days of the Phtdian
age, and the glowing artistic splendor of
the period of Praxiteles and Scopas. Be
sides Illuminating the history OF Greek arr,
these coins add materially to our knoWl-
edge of the religious ideas. mythology, his
tory and commerce of their times These
series of Greek coins are especially service
able to the modern student of history.
It is mainly due to the scholars OF the
present generation that the monetary his
tory of Rome has been rescued from its
chaotic state occasioned by the fall of the
empire. The rise and decline of the Roman
empire can be historically determined
along with the rise and decline of her COIN
age. We find an echo of the barter period
in the tradition that the decemvIri, or
commission of ten. appointed to codify the
laws. ordained that thereafter fines should
be paid in money and not in cattle. There
are still few pieces extant of the crude
irregular masses of copper or bronze which
succeeded the wooden money and shells of
the primitive city of Romulus. Greek in
fuence. which dominated Roman art, later
reduced these misshapen masses to bars,
with a stamp on one side with the design
OF a COW or q QOB OF d sheep ATlerWdrQ
the bar became a circular coin, with the
head of Janus on one side and a ship
PROV on the reverse. The Latin coin or
medal was called .nummus.
The vast series of Roman coins extending
from about 500 B. C. to the fall of Con-
stantinople in 1853 A. D., though of little
artistic merit. form an invaluable hstor-
ical record that is without parallel in the
conatses OF the world. They are divided
into two classes-the consular and the i'm
perial. The first record the traditions of
dominant families under the republic and
are significant of numerous historical
events. The reverses illustrate incidents in
public life-the citizen at the ballot box the
judges deciding the issue of a lawsuit, a
priest sacrificing at an altar, the consul
with his lictors The imperial coins speoifi-
eaiiy apply to those coins issued from the
ending OF the republican era down to the
fall of the Roman empire. They surpass
the former In historic ailusion and form
priceless record of Roman imperial history
They have been termed the Imperial Ga
zette' chronicling the important exploits of
each emperor and portraying the cultural
type of the period. They concreteiy ilIumi-
nate the course and character of Roman
civilization. and also. preserve the outlines
Of many noble monumental buildings
The reduction in the weight OF their
ounces to a half ounce. In SO B. c., repre-
sents the financial vicissitudes OF a long
period OF Roman history. eventuating In In
creased wealth and prosperity. which rem
dered necessary the introduction OF silver
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14

the line of "cuts" and fills houses are
perched upon what seem to be the most in
secure of precipices, and at other points
erstwhile residences, factories and ware
houses are nearly hidden behind the enor-
nous entertainments Similarly sections of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14

below what form erly was the street level.
Other streets are as much as thirty feet
above the former level. When all is fin
ished the city Is promised not only the
great advantage Of better transportation
facilities, but 1t is also to have all of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14

in go B. c., and a gold coinage Just after
the death of julius Caesar.
~
Not alone Rome, but the other italian ma
tions and ancient countries reflect the do,ni-
nant form of art In which the coins were
issued, as the aff1uent craving of Etruria,
the gem engraver's art OF Sicily, the strik-
Ing naturaltsm OF Cretan coin designs and
the pictorial art Of Asia Minor. The Alex
andrine coins are distinctive in their in
production Of portraiture. and he who reads
the printed text Of history can embeIlish it,
In this series, with the realistic likeness of
the benefcent or tyrannicaI ruler whose
The mention of the Alexandrine DC Rod
suggests the kingdom OF Bactria between
the Oxus and the Gauges that. with Per-
arms of Alexander the Great but which az
terward regained its independence. and
breaking of all commercial and social rela-
tons with the west turned to the orient
for intercourse. For six centuries this
nation was lost to history, and the only
giimpses now furnished to the world of
her long succession of sovereigns her
national character and mode of worship are
contained in the recent discovery of her
ancient coins In the cemeteries and other
places in Afghanistan. The standard OF
her money till I50 B. C. was the prevailing
attic. when native Indian standard was
substituted.
Along with the adopted standard there
appear strange oriental divinities, and an
oriental tongue. in place of the Hellenic
gods and heroes and the classic 6ictton of
Greece. This case is unique one in his
tory, where its coins supply the only link
to a nations life, but there are somewhat
similar disclosures in the Achaean League.
the Boeotian Federation, the Samian Com,
mercial League, the Defensive Alliance of
the Greek cities of southern Italy and
other interstate considerations which
carry an official compendium OF their ex-
istence In their coins.
The coinage of the hordes of Cloths and
Vandals that devastated the western part
of the Roman empire present only seryiie
copies of the Roman coins of these sinh
Jugated countries, and their crude and in
artistic limitations indicate that these
northern hordes were devoid of any sort
of artistic sense. Their barbarian instinct
naturally chose the glitter of the golden
coin, but there is an evident lack of
national autonomy in the absence OF any
name of ruling king or chief upon the COIN
age.
The Byzantine series depict a continue
ton of the Roman coinage in the eastern
empire for many centuries but it is in
ferior In artistic and mechanical workman
ship. The coins OF Byzantium. however.
are valuable to the student Of Christian
icenography, as affordtng abundant ma
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14

sometime level thoroughfares have been
subjected to the not too tender mercies of
the steam shovel and the excavating gang,
and the level surface has given way to a
sharp. or gradual, descent and ascent, with
the bottom of the incHnes score of feet
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14

The greatest change of grade in any of
the thoroughfares affected is on the line of
H street which will become a veritable
tunnel. 800 feet long, between LIST street and
Sd street northeast. Immediately after
crossing LIST street the cut which carries
this thoroughfare under the railroad tracks
is begun and at its lowest point the excava-
ton Is carried through fully fifteen feet be-
low the former level. The bridge carrying
the railroad tracks varies from fourteen
feet to twenty-five feet in clearance. The
next highway northward, / street, is closed
altogether across the union station ap-
proach.
Another tunnel. $50 feet long. carries X
street under the tracks, and at that point
heavy cut has been provided, SO that the
bottom of the two inclines will be fourteen
feet below the former surface. bridge
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14
HISTORY OF NATIONS
TOLD IN THEIR CURRENCY

artistic development They are invaluable
records of historical events and social prog
ress. AS illustrating their prime import
ance in throwing light on the history and
the life of great world nations the late
Prof. Mommsen, the German historian,
when engaged in his Investigations prelimi-
nary to writing his political and constitu-
tional history Of Rome was led to first
write an extensive work on Roman coinage
in order to properly utilize the vast infor-
national fund of coin material in iliumi-
mating and authenticating his historical
text.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14

terial for his study Of the patron saints OF
the early evangelical age.
A history Of coins would be incomplete
without mention of the Jewish series,
which are of prime Importance among ORR
entail coinages Of a Christian type, and
Hebrew money is of special interest to us
from Its frequent Scripture mention. After
centuries OF an fnconvenient commercial
exchange, first in barter of commodities.
weighing of transferable gold and silver
and the usage of coins of other nations,
Simon Maccabbaeus, 138 B. c., established
native money by striking into the form
| OF coin the aforementioned shekel weight Of
silver. The designs stamped thereon were
chalice on the diverse side. triple lily
on the reverse, which accorded with the
national religious faith. No personal like
ness or pagan emblem was used until the
unpatriottc Herodian family placed q heret-
fcal stamp upon 1t.
Jewish history is written on it's coin.
Those struck during the first revolt led
by Simon, in the reign of vespasian. bear
ing the legend, THE DeIiverance OF Jeru-
salem" express the optimism of their hope.
The Roman coins following the disastrous
| issue of the rebellion. issued at Rome and
Jerusalem. portray the type of weeping
woman and the legend. "Iudaea devicta"-
Judea subdued, or Judea CAPITA. The
| last issue. of the national coinage was
under Hadrian, in the second revolt, led
by Bar-cochab. With the crushing out OF
this revolt Hebrew nationalism was blotted
out and It's coinage expired.
fteuSiOuS SYMBOLS on coins were COIllnOH
to all the countries that accepted Chris
tianity, the bust or monogram of a ruler
on the diverse and on the reverse a cross
or Christian temple. But as the simplicity
of classicism disappeared before the elab-
crate composition and decoration of the
middle ages we find heraldic devices SUBJ
stituted, which gave a national and indf-
vidual character to the coinage. The gold
coins of the time of Louis TX are highly
artistic and flamboyant in decorative de-
tails The beautiful Florentine ducat
which was first struck in 1852 A. D., was
widely circulated. and resulted in an al
most universal modelling of the new gold
coinage of the entire continent.
About 1450 A. D. portraits appeared on
the Neapolitan coins and the portraiture
of the papal coirrs executed by the cele-
brated artists Francesca Francia and Bel
lini display superior merit and was speed
lily adopted by other countries.
Upon the Napoleonic coins the career of
the Bonapart family. with ali Its varying
fortunes Is easily read. and Is especially
commemorative OF that interesting epoch
in French history
The coins of England appeal strongly to
our own national life, from which ours Is
derived, and this series evidences the bar
barous condition Of our forbears and Illus
trates the slow a,ad faltering development
of Anglo Saxon art. and Its dnal achieve
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14

conveniences which latter day engineering
can suggest.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14

in $50 B. c.. and gold coinage Just ate,
the death of julius Caesar.