Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-29
SILVER SERVICE.
Magnificent Gift TO Bat
Heship Mississippi.
Presentation Ceremonies Will
Occur June |.
Service Will Contain Sixty.two
Pieces and Cost $1,000.

w dsHiHSl Ion, April ZS.-MOfo alLen-
ton has been attracted to the coming
presentation OF the magnificent silver
service To- be given by the state of Mis-
5issippi to the gigantic battleship bear
ing that name than has attended SINH
lar ceremonies in years. in which the
oder ships Of the navy have figured.
This unusual notice is generally re-
garded as due to the extraordinary in
tcrest which the citizens of the state
have given the event and to the pro
posed trip Of the Mississippi up The
Father of Waters" to Natchez
On account of inability to have the
service completed earlier in the spring
the presentation ceremonies have been
postponed from time to time. The pres
ant arrangement is to have the ccre-
mOny occur June !.
The designers work on the siXty-two
pieces composing this elaborate service
Of silver was finished some time ago,
but the manufacturers are working
overtime at the establishment in Phil
adelDhia, whore the service is being
made in order to have it completed in
time to accommodate the officials in
charge Of til" pres entation.
The siXty-tvo pieces are to cost ST.,
100. The main rtcnsil will be punch
bowl Of seven and a half gallons capa-
city.
1t viii he deliberately decorated and
will bear on one side of it an etching
OF the new Mississippi and on the 9TH
or an etching of the old Mississippi
| The contrast between the wooden shiI
that cid valiant service in her day and
her wonderful steel successor, that
could easily destroy a ilcet of vessels
| like the old Mississippi. is brought out
ir this etching in striking way.
| The design which has caused the
| most comment. hoWev r, is that to be
found on the conterpiece OF the set 1t
| is the one which beers a likeness OF
jefferson Davis, the famous Mississippi
plan who was elected president of the
| Confederate states of America, and
| scrvr' his state in distinguished capac-
! tics.
ON one side Of the centcrpiece is tc
be an etching Of Beauvoir. the home
| of the late Mr.. Davis. Beneath this il
to be etched Il bust in medallion relief
Of Mr. Davis in others costume.
| ON the opposite side is to be etched a
representation OF the old capitol at
jackson. Eeneath it will be placed a
bust of De Soto, the SpaEiard who dis
covered the Mississippi river.
| In the original design the bust OF De
SOTO was placed under the etching of
| 3eauvoir. InasmUch as there was
nothing in the design under the etch-
| ins; Of the capitol, It's symmetry was
! n perfect.
| 1t the suggestion OF Eunice Miller
| lockwood of Mississippi, head of the
| cChnnlittt of d. sign, a change was
made The picture of Mr.. Davis, as he
WA; accustomed to Arncar at his hCme
during the latter years of his life. was
placed uuder Bcauvoir and the De Soto
! medallion was transferred to the oppo-
| sita side.
The large waiter in which the punch
| howl will be placed will bear an etcil-
| inr representing til" first French set
| Element at Biloxi in 1899. The waiter
of the water pitcher will have an ctch-
| ing representing the advent of the
American lag at NatcheI in 1877.
Another large piece, to be added to
the service will bear the etching OF the
discovery of the Mississippi. This
etching viii he q reproduction of the
large painting in the national Capitol
showing De Sofa advancing to strike
the waters with his sword.
The other pieces in the set will be
adorned with many minor designs and
cm'lrnis, some representing historical
events
IN presenting a silver service to the
Mississippi the state is following the
precedent established years ago. only
ten states have failed to present the Of
iicerS of the ships named after them
with silver service. although in many
instances the state legislatures have not
made appropriations for that purpose, as
was the case in Mississippi, but patriotic
citizens in the various commemorative
have raised large sums to buy the service.
The states which have not given ser
vices are Massachusetts. Idaho. Kansas,
Minnesota. Nebraska. New Hampshire,
New Jersey, North Carolina and West
Virginia.
The amount spent for this purpose by
to $4,000. The most costly service was
that presented by the state of Pennsyl-
vaiia whose legislature spent $4,000 for
the purpose The Maine is particularly
prold Of its service because it belonged
to the Maine that went down in Havana
harbor.
The value of the various services pre-
scented by the states or citizens to the
SHIPS III Iilt navy ~ 'iS i'iioNH.
Alabama 5000: California. 5000: Colo
RADIO, 5000: Connecticut. $5.3o; Georgia,
$40 600; Indiana. $992l: Iowa. 5000: Illinois.
$500: Kentucky. $1,000: Louisiana; $1,000;
Maine S1025: Missouri. $lo.oo0: Montana.
S55oO: New York. $4,000: oregon, Sl2S5
Ohio. 5000; Pennsylvania. $1,000; Rhode
Island. $3.50: South Dakota. 5000; Texas
sos: Tennessee, $500: Vermont. $@'2l ;
Virginia. s5OG0: Washington. $500. and
Wisconsin, $500.
From this ii will be seen that the ser
vice which the battleshin Mississippi will
possess will compare most favorably with
those to he found on any vessel in the
American navy.
Not only is the Mississippi to receive
a silver service. hut there will be present
ed to her officers two handsome silver
candelabra by the Daughters of the
American Revolution in Mississippi The
service will be accepted on behalf of the
officers of the Mississippi by Capt John
c. Fremont.
Comment has been made that it will be
the son and namesake of the first candl-
date for president of the Republican par
ty who will accept the present of the
state of Mississippi on behalf of the bat
tleship.
Silver. Sarx.icaS arc NOT only highly