The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-04-26

Philadelphia, where the service is be
ing made in order to have 1t complete,
| in time to accommodate The official
in charge of the presentation.
The sixty-two pieces are to cos
$500. The main utensil will be
punch bowl of seven and a half gal
Ions capacity. 1t will be elaborated,
decorated and will bear on one sid,
Of it an etching of the new Missis
sippi, and on the other an etching O
the old Mississippi. The contrast be
tween the wooden ship that did val
liant service in her day, and her won
derful steel successor that could ca
silly destroy a fleet of vessels like
the old Mississippi, is brought out in
this etching in a striking way.
The design which has caused the
most comment, however, is that to
be found on the centerpiece of the
set. 1t is the one which bears a
likeness of Jefferson Davis, the ia
nous Mississippian, who was elected
president of the Confederate States
of America, and served his state in
distinguished capacities. On one side
of the centerpiece is to be an etching
of "Beauvoir," the home of the late
Mr.. Davis. Beneath this is to be
etched a bust in medallion relief of
Mr.. Davis In citizens costume. On
the opposite side is being etched
representation Of the old capital at
Jackson, while beneath it will be
placed a bust of De Soto, the Span
lard who discovered the Mississippi
river.
In the original design the bust OF
De Soto was placed under the etch-
ing of "Beauvoir." Inasmuch as there |
was nothing in the design under the
etching of the capitol its symmetry
was imperfect. At the suggestion of
Mrs. Eunice Miller Lockwood, of Mis-
sissippi, the head of the COMMITTEES
If design, a change was made. The
picture of Mr.. Davis, as he was ac-
to appear at his home dur
ng the latter years of his life, was
placed under "Beauvoir" and the De
Soto medallion was transferred to the
'pposit side.
The large waiter in which the
punch bowl will be placed will bear
IN etching representing the first
french settlement at Biloxi in 1899.
The waiter of the water pitcher will
lave an etching representing the adj
-ent of American flag at Natchez in
1877. Another large piece, to be ad-
led to the service will bear the etch-
ng of the discovery of the Missis-
ippi. This etching will be a repro,
uction of the large painting in the
orridor of the house of representa-
ives in the national capitol, showing
)e Soto advancing to strike the wa
ers with his sword. The other pieces
1 the set will be adorned with many
linor designs and emblems, some.
historical events.
In presenting a silver service TO
he Mississippi the state is following
lie precedent established years ago.
My ten states have failed to present
lie officers of the ships named after
lem with a silver service although
many instances the state legisla-
res have not made appropriations
r that purpose, as was the case in
but patriotic citizens in
e various commonwealth have
Used large sums to buy the service. I"
lie states which have not given SER "
ces are Massachusetts, Idaho, Kan l
S, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Memp- VI
ire, New Jersey, North Carolina, u
d West Virginia. ''
The amount spent for this purpose {"
the various states has varied from ~
900 to $4,000. The most costly IL
vice was that presented by the DC
tie of Pennsylvania, whose legisla- IS
e spent $4,000 for the purpose. % :.
e Maine is particular proud of its =
vice because it belonged to the o
line that went down in Havana har- =,
:. =,
rhe value of the various services,
scented by the states, or its cit :
ms, to the ships in the navy is as -
lows: so
Alabama 1920, California $4,000, A.