Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-07-02

sAsSsAA8 characterizes that day.
But more vivid than any flash of ora
tory, display of fireworks or patriotic
parade is a visit to that section of
the National museum at Washington,
D. c., where are preserved many not
abel relics of the War of 1776.
People leading nomadic lives of to-
day can scarcely realize that delicate
garments and costly laces of that
period of 1877 years ago have, been
kept through so many lifetimes with
out damage or destruction. Yet no
room for doubt is left by the anthem
tic documentary evidence accompany
ing these precious souvenirs of that
colonial struggle.
Not only is the uniform of Gen.
George Washington to be seen hang
ing there in a glass case, but nearby,
IN a similar enclosure, Is the hand
embroidered robe the Father Of His
Country wore when being chirstened.
The buff of that full dress Continental
uniform is as spotless as when the
dignified soldier wore it with such
grace, and the blue Of the coat lacks
even a suggestion of being faded.
Gazing at 1t in the position of promi-
nence it occupies at one end of the
old museum, one can picture in mem
DRY the many stirring scenes and
splendid ceremonies through which
that costume has passed. And such
material evidence of the Revolution
make it seem far more real than
could any school history or anecdote.
A reminder of days when times
were hard is a sturdy trunk-shaped
camp-chest used throughout the strug
gle by George Washington. 1t con-
tains numerous tiny compartments
and each knife, fork, spoon, medicine
bottle, cup, glass and flask is dis
played intact Even the pewter dishes
he ate from and had his cooking done
in are arranged about the chest and,
most suggestive of the whole home
ly outfit, is his little bread toaster
perched on one end of the chest as If
awaiting a long lifeless hand to lift
it into place.
Suggestive, somehow, of melancholy
evenings is the large brass candle
stick and reflector used by General
Washington in his tent and wherever
ne happened to be quartered during
the Revolution. A perpendicular brass
rod. with heavy round base, supports
two branches and back of them rises
the polished reflector BY the light
from tapers in this holder the future
first president pored over wearisome
plans for outwitting a powerful foe.
Also. its rays fell athwart the paper
on which he wrote his farewell ad-
dress to the army. Afterward it was
a cherished object at Mount Vernon
and is in a collection including the
generals arm chair and such relics.
His leather letter case is well pre-
served and proves one of the most
interesting bits of the collection to
visitors.
Aside from anything appertaining to
Washington, perhaps the most notable
Revolutionary relic is the famous John
Paul Jones flag. This has long been
a source of controversy among stu
dents of history, some of whom claim
it is the same tattered emblem of
liberty which floated from the Flagstaff
of the famous Bon Homme Richard,
while others insist the material of
which it is made was manufactured at
a later period.
The National museum authorities
have made no attempt TO wor ~ Or con
tradict its genuineness. Bu3 placed