The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-04-27
WASHINGTON LETTER
BY CARL scHoFIELD. Special corre-
snnndnnf-

BY CARL SCHOFiELD, special Corre-
spondent.
The District of Columbia claims tn
have the greatest collection of statues
and monuments perpetunting the men,
Ory of the nations great men. No
other city can boast of such valuable
array of marble and bronze images of
men who helped to make the United
States the leading nation of the world.
The Capitals Statues.
The total amount of money expended
for all the statues in the District is
estimated at $5,O00000. While this
sum is enormous. 1t does not adequate
ly represent the value Of the statues.
Many of them were erected by acts
of congress with money appropriated
from the United States treasury, a
large number are gifts of patriotic So
cieties, but the greatest collection Of
all is that in the national hall of fame,
in the capitol, which is composed Of
gifts from the' various states. More
than fifty statues are still to be added
to the collection in the hall of fame
by the states
Gifts From Foreign Rulers.
Twice have presents made to the
president and other officers of the
United States by foreign rulers been
the subjects Of burglary, but each time
they were recovered and are yet in
the custody of the government. The
provision of section ., article 1, of the
constitution of the United States,
which precludes the acceptance by
government officers without the con-
sent of congress of ANY present, emol-
ument, office or title of any kind what
ever from any king or prince Of any
foreign state" was an enigma to the
rulers of foreign countries who sought
to honor our country through its Off
GERS.
Many of the gifts referred to were
proffered after the conclusion of trea-
ties. They were sent to presidents,
ministers, commissioners, consuls and
officers of the navy, but the consent of
congress was obtainable in but few in
stances, and they went to the custody
of the state department, the patent
office being the repository. From the
latter some of the most valuable were
stolen more than sixty years ago, but
We're recovered and hidden away in
the treasury vaults for over thirty
years.
Some of the Treasures.
Among the presents were two mus
kets presented to President Jefferson
by the hey of Tunis, a cane sent to
John Quincy Adams made of an ele'
plants tusk and gold mounted, a
gold snuffbox with the initial A in
diamonds presented to General Jack
son by Emperor Alexander of Russia
a sword with gold scabbard and
mountings presented to Commodore
James Biddle by the vicerOy of Peru
necklaces of diamonds and pearls
cashmere shawlS, Persian rugs, Other
ornaments of pearls and a gold mount
ed sword presented to Commodore J
d. Elliot by the imaum of Muscat.
Presents From Muscat.
Later other presents We're sent b!
the imaum to President Van Burel
direct. On Christmas day, 1889, tn
ship Sultanee arrived at New Yorl
with two Arabian horses, bottle o
altar Of roses, five demijohns OF rose
water, a package of cashmere shawls
a bale of Persian rugs, box of pearls
etc, most of them for the president
but sword was for Commodore FL
liot and a shawl each for the wives o
Lieutenants w. +. Shields and A. b
Foote. The latter officer afterward be
came an admiral. The horses were sold
and the state department added tn
other articles to the collection in tn
patent office.
There was no day watchman, an
Dec. 21. 1871, in broad daylight, th
door was opened by means Of falls
KEY. and the thief carried off the snuf
box and gold scabbard. The loss wa
placed at over $4,000, and a reward
$1,000 was offered for their recover,
Little was heard of them for fe
weeks, but they were recovered
some mysterious manner in Baltimor
Soon afterward the National institu
was given charge of the articles
part of the museum, ana lhey we
placed in cases for exhibition.
Thieves Get Jewels.
AS a precaution against any attem
to carry them OFF bells We're attache
ingeniously hidden, but this did n
prevent a successful raid. The mig
of Nov. S, 1s4S, there was much e
citement in the city, for the result
the election was not then known, al
until a late hour there were lar
crowds upon the streets uncertain
to whether Taylor or Cass was ele'
ed president. The building in viii
the gifts were stored was in charge
two watchmen, and one, having ma
the rounds at l o'clock and found
safe. awoke his mate and turned
The following morning a rope W
found dangling from window
which a thief had made his esca