Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-19
'JAr1E5W1LLLAM CHENEY
War LIBRARY

les are often very beautifully gotten up.
Those made with China are usually hand
Somely embroidered while Japans are
incased in lacquer boxes In one case an
ivory tube in the shape of a cannon was
used. AT the present time 1t Is the Gus
tom of most countries to use the snu11
box wafer seal. Papers relating to IN
ternational claims commissions, such as
the French Spoliat ton claims, Alabama
claims Mexican, French and American,
Venezuelan and the late Boxer claims
against China. are on record here with
decisions, maps and records OF various
boundaries and boundary commissions.
The library of the State Department is
an outgrowth of the resolution OF Con-
gress passed September D. 1IS9 which
provided for a working library for the
Secretary of State and his assistants.
confirming it's collection to the exclusive
needs of the department. 1t comprises
books on the laws of nations, and It's
branches text books. histories of foreign
countries, foreign biographies and similar
books of reference. In 1852 the library
was annexed to the division of rolls 1t
has but a working force of three persons.
in addition to the chief, and requires an
annual appropriation of only $1,000.
The use of the library is restricted TO
the official business of the department, to
the department service. to members OF
the diplomatic corps of Washington and
others specially admitted.
Stone From China's Wall.
Having seen the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, visitors to the State Depart
ment library. on turning around, see
strange article neatly incased in promi-
nent position near the historical docu-
ments of the nation. 1t is a brick or
block OF crumbling weathered stone,
whose CONCEALED constituency time is
turning to white powder. This brick
looks like AMY other rectangular block
of stone, but it has a history. 1t is one
of the original stones from the ancient
great wall of China. and has enjoyed the
happy old age of 1900 years. 1t is con-
temporary with the palmy days of ancient
Grecian history, and was formerly part
of the most stupendous work of mankind
for the great wall of China embraces
more masonry than all of the pyramids Of
the Egyptians and the military roads. and
aqgeducts of the Romans combined.
In the same case with the Chinese brick
is Gen. Washington's sword and Ehilt
scabbard and belt. There is a black cane
or staff used by Franklin and also the
buttons from the court dress of Franklin.
with medals. presented to him and a pair
OF handsome lorgnettes or eyeglasses pre-
scented to Washington by Lafayette. Gen.
Jacksons sword rests beside swords pre-
scented to the government of the United
States by the Japanese and Siamese gov
ernmentS. Thomas JefferSons desk. on
u
pendence. is in the same case. A copy
of the Picking Gazette in Chinese, the
oldest newspaper in the world, is preserv-
ed here. A whales tooth sent to the
government of the United States by the
King of the Fiji Islands holds a promi-
nent place as treaty token. 1t is about
the size of an ear of corn. A daguerro-
type Of the late King of Siam lies near
the "Cronica alb Initio Mundia." an old
manuscript in Latin of the history of the
cra of world containing medle
val conceptions of the Garden of Eden
and the fall of man. This volume was
printed In 1893. and is the first book ever
printed in movable type. Beside 1t
MISUNDERSTANDING knives known as
Ma lay krisses
On the other side of the library is
projectile fired from Mont Valerien dur
ing the siege of Paris in 1871 presented
to the State Department by r. b. Wash
burn United States minister TO France
during the commune. This projectiie or
obus struck tho barricade erected by the
communists in Paris on the avenue of the
Grand Army. Impressions from the great
seal OF the United States are also on eX-
htbition for those who are unacquainted
with state papers. The great zeal is in
the custody of the bureau of appoint
ments for the Secretary OF State.
Naval War Records.
Washington's finest collection of rare
old engravings and naval records are kept
in the archives of the library of the NAVY
Department as part of the naval war rec
ords. Thousands of valuable engravings
paintings and photographs are on file in
this library. Most of them include por-
traits of prominent naval commanders in
the history of the United States pictures
of vessels that have flown the Stars and
Stripes and civil war photographs This
collection is equipped almost to complete