Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-06

strategic defense of Fort Stanwis, New
York, in LIT.
Many students of the revolution
who have thought themselves familiar
with vocations of famous men then
living read with surprise label
placed beside heavy silver soup tn
reen which states that the latter was
made by Paul Revere. He is usually
recalled as dashing madly along the
road to Concord in that never-to-be,
forgotten ride and few realize that he
must have had other occupation than
such equestrian exercise-patriotic
though it was.
In mere peaceful times he was sill
versmith and very skillful one, as
the well-moulded proportions and
clever chasing on the tureen eviden-
ces. He was selected by committee
of citizens of Concord to make 1t as
a testimonial to an officer of revolu-
tionary fame and it stands today as q
double tribute to it's designer and the
one for whom 1t was designed.
The silver and cut steel shoe and
knee buckles of Charles Carroll, Of
Carrollton, have been contributed to
Americas Revolutionary relics by the
still f1ourishing family of that name.
In addition to the dress sword blade
he used and these buckles there Is
also very exquisite walking stick
once used by him. When even some
of the brave signers Of the declaration
were hesitating to write their names
to that document of death, he bodily
put after his signature the words "of
Carrollton," adding by way OF ex-
PLANTATION that IF the enemy want me
they will know just where to find me-"
The epaulets worn by Gen. William
Smallwood when he commanded the
Maryland line Of the continental
army at the battle Of Brooklyn
Heights are treasured there. And a
large metal tray, which has descended
from father to son since the Revolu-
ton, is the chief object of interest
in one of the cases. This has dull
brown surface against which group
of hand-painted peaches still retain
their red coloring. It was once used
for serving refreshment at an import
ant gathering of continental officers
near Concord, Massachusetts, when
one of the big movements of a bat
tie were planned out.
fails to thrill over inanimate objects
wooden canteen which Is one Of the
humblest exhibits in the display. 1t
was the property of John Paulding-
one of the trio which captured Major
Andre, Of the British army.
Mute memorials to long line Of
careful housewives, as well as to the
bravery of the man on whom they
were bestowed, are the four silver
pieces presented to the museum by the
Chase family. There, is a large, squat
tall handled tea pot, cream pitcher
of the square cornered colonial tyne
now SO eagerly sought and two salt
cellars standing on claw feet. These
once formed part Of the table service
of Samuel Chase when he was ponder
inf over the dread possibilities of
the declaration or independence i
which he signed-and when he was
member of the supreme court.
Cannon balls found on revolutionary
battlefields and both exploded and
uneXploded hand grenades are dis
played at the museum. Compared with
mdoern projectiles of warfare they
seem almost like toys. but were deadly
enough in those times to the Ameri-
cans who so woefullv lacked ammuni-
ton. Everything available was melted
into bullets and more than one Brit
Usher was killed by a silver bullet
moulded from the personal ornaments
Of some patriotic maiden
mong the exhibit in a case set
a-art for the Daughters Of the Con-
federacy is a large round pewter plate
which has come down from the Revo-
luton. It is all that is left Of set
which was melted down and made into.
bullets.
Miniature pixies, fashioned from
sunken war vessel are on view and
numerous pistols Of every antique sort
are to be seen "A pair of them particu-
larly small in size, but none the
less effective for that reason, were car
ried throughout the war by some gal
liant fighter now but memory.
A full rugged model Of the United
States Constitution" always interests
Juveniles who inspect these relics. and
creates vivid realization of what the
nation has accomplished in less than
a century and half-for it is far
cry from this pride of the revolution
to our latest battleship.
Midway the rotunda Of curios there
is long, dull brass cannon carved
with royal crown and French
coat Of arms. Lafayette brought this
field piece to America with him and
it was used by the French army. At
one stage of the conflict 1t was cap
ed by the English. but the valiant
French custodians won it back again
and it now stands as a splendidly pre-
served testimonial Of their brotherly
feeling for a struggling nation.
A very rare, enlarged portrait Of
George washington loaned to the
museum shows that warrior as a
vou~- man. He is wearing the uni
form of lieutenant in the continental
army. with gun stuck under
his arm and his demeanor is
rather that of jaunty young soldier
than the sedate grave man he became
as result Of that struggle.