The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-10-20
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

lection Of classical pottery and
bronzes which was loaned to the
Smithsonian institution by Mrs. Flea
nor A. H. Magruder, whose Will, re-
Gently probated. provides that these
valuable Italian and Pompeiian relics
shall be sold by the executor unless
the children wish to retain an6 make
an equal disposal of them.
Etruscan and Roman Relics.
The collection is an interesting one
from an archaeological viewpoint, COM
prising as it does specimens of the pot
terry Of three periods-the Etruscan, or
pre-Roman; early Roman and later
Roman.
The literature Of the museum on the
subject of the collection is very scant,
consisting only Of Mrs. Magruder's let
ter lending the collection to the insti-
tuition and of carefully compiled
catalogue made by the officials.
Part of the collection. comprising 1853
pieces. was deposited in 1894 and an
other lot of 16I pieces in 1898.
The pottery includes vases, urns,
pitchers, cups and jars. many Of which
are beautifully decorated. There are
a large number of figurines, masks
and parts of figurines.
Glass From POmpeii.
Several smaller vases of similar ware
are included in the collection. Other
vases without decoration are neverthe-
less beautiful in shape and show that
love of form SO characteristic of Greek
art which the peoples of the Italian
peninsula borrowed from old Heias.
There are several wine cups, some of
which would seem from their shape to
nave been the parent of the modern
loving cup.
Although the limitations of classic
pottery have been innumerable, no
doubt has ever been raised as to the
authenticity of the specimens in this
collection.
The few glass fragments gain espe-
cial interest from the fact that thev
are reported to have come from the
ruins Of Pompeii
Bronzes of Long Ago.
The bronZes include kettles, bowls,
pitchers. pans. cups, ladies', strainers,
tweezers, steelyards and miscellaneous
household utensils and ornaments.
Many of the implements greatly resem-
bic those in use today. Even more
startlingly modern are the bronze safe
ty pins, or fibula, with which the an
clients fastened their garments. Large
numbers of these are found in tombs,
generally near the shoulders of the
corpses. showing that they were en-
ployed to pin the garments at that par
ticular location.
A large and perfectly modelled bronze
hand has the consular ring, which was
third finger
Horse Of the Ancients.
There are other rings and earrings in
bronze. The only representations of
lower animal life in the collection are
those of tiny image of dolphin in
bronze and a little clay horse, each in
perfect preservation, which shows the
type of horse among these people to
have been stockily built and much like
the modern Percheron.
Even the casual visitor to the insti-
tuition cannot fail to be impressed by
the appearance Of the collection, and
the officials are sorry to lose it.
To Silence Church Bells.
Many of the Christian churches of
Washington have dispensed with stee-
pie bells, and now nervous citizens are
complaining that their peace and COM
fort are disturbed by these that re-
main.
Commissioner Mcfarland, who Is
himself prominent in church affairs,
has taken the initiative Of bringing the
issue for decision. He believes the
time has come to enlarge the police
regulations prohibiting noises, and in
these days, when a timepiece can be
found in nearly every household, he
can see no good reason why notice Of
the approach Of a service in church
should be given by the loud ringing of
bells.
All fire alarm bells have Ae1n sup
pressed with the exception e one in
the business section of the city, and
its doom is sealed. Curfew has not
rung for years in the shadow Of the
capitol, and the commissioners will,
unless the representatives Of the
churches can offer some unexpected
good reason. restrict the ringing of
bells upon those edifices to strict COM
pliance with the ritual of the churches.
Old Ship Appears.
Washingtonians who have recently
returned from that section Of Prince
William county, Va. in which the big
railway "filr' over Neabsco creek Is
being made. report that tho immense
quantities of earth dumped into the
marsh at that point recently have rails
ed the level of the marsh and forced
from its resting place Of probably a
century and a half the well preserved
hull of a schooner filled with pig iron.
The hewn timbers Of the vessel and the
fact that Neabsco creek has not been
ma vigable for boat of the dimensions
of the one described within the memory
of any one now living furnish food for