Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-15
MANY MEDA[SOF HONOR
NOW MUSEUM DISPLAY
Notable Gifts to Distinguished
Americans Added to Ma
ti0nal Exhibit.

Several of the exhibits i'm the division
of history in the United States Natioua
Museum at Washington have recently
been rearranged in order to make room
for new and valuable additions to the
collections. Prominent i'm the recently
placed exhibits is a series of the medals
awarded by the United States govern
ment. including the naval medal OF honor
the certificate of merit badges of the
Navy and Marine Corps. the Dewey con-
Sressional medal, the West Indies naval
campaign medal. the campaign badges
oil the army and navy and the decors
tons given to tho members OF the Army
Navy and Marine Corps for proncienCN
in the pra ctice OF small arms Altogether
these twenty-forir medals make a verN
unique display. especially calculated To
attract attention on account Of their
bright colored distinguishing ribbons
Other medals of the same type are to be
seen in several Of the collections OF per
sonal relics and mementos of distin-
guished men.
The medals recently installed in the
National Museum include those Of Com
mander Matthew Fontane Msury. eminent
as a pioneer in the scientific investigation
of the currents and meteoroiogy OF the
ocean He was of a practical turn q
mind. and the main object OF his studies
was TO increase the safety OF navigation
and promote The interests of commerce
In recognition of his researches he re-
ceived orders Of knghthood from several
foreign governments, was made member
Of numerous scientific societies and WAS
presented with many degrees and medals.
The Maury Collection.
The Maury collection in the National
Museum includes nineteen of these
medals. Among them are six gold
medals presented TO him for his services
to science, follows: \ special gold
medal presented by William Ill. King
Of the Netherlands. i'm 1856: a special
gold medal conferred by the free city
of Bremen in 1e55. the Humboldt gold
.s-aaal. from the King OF Prussia in lStJ.
the Austrian great gold medal Of science.
given by Francis Joseph L of Austria Ina
lstS: a special sold medal from Napo-
leon vi of France I'm ls5? and the gold
mccall of honor of the universal expos
ZION. Paris, 1s-5 There are also thirteen
silver medals given to Commander Maury
by Plus TX In 1850, commemorative moi
able events i'm the history of the Roman
Catholic Church i'm his time. All these
memorials We're presented to the United
States government for deposit i'm the Ma
tfonal Museum by Commander MaurN's
descendants through Mrs. Mary Maury
Worth Of Richmond. Va
In the case with these medals are many
others, together with loving cups and
other notable gifts to distinguished
mentioned the gold medal presented Ia
Joseph Francis by Congress i'm 1883 for
his services TO humanity in inventins and
perfecting appliances for the saving OF
life at sea. This particular medal is very
large and heavy. being nearly three and
one-half inches in diameter and about
one-half an inch in thickness
Ii is adorned with bas-relief OF the
head of Francis, and the diverse
bears scene demonstrating the method
of life-saving advocated by him.
Famous Francis Life-Car.
The Francis life-car is pictured sus-
pended by ropes stretching from the
shore to a stranded vessel. from which
it is carrying number of passengers to
safety. The original of the car which
figures in this realistic picture is to be
| seen in the museum i'm the room devoted
to the history Of water transports ton
This was the first life-car accepted by
the government IT was invented I'm
| 1S:S, and was first used I'm 1880 when
oo0 souls were saved from the wreck Of
the Ayrshire off the New Jersey coast
Later reproductions of Francis car saved
thousands of lives from the sea. and
many of this design are still I'm use to-
day. Francis also received a decoration
from the Emperor of Austria, and took
pleasure i'm calling attention to the cir
cums.ance that Joseph Francis had re-
ceived recognition from Francis Joseph.
The memorials of these distinguished
persons have been given 10 the National
Museum either direct requests from
the owners or through their descendants.
Their patriotic acts should serve as "A
suggestion and inspiration to all those
who desire to aid i'm preserving to pos
teritv the memorials of great advances
in science and the records of their coiln-
trys history.
To the collections of the Ball family
there has lately been added "A tortoise
shell perfumery case. formerly the pro'-
erty of Mary Ball, mother OF Washing
ton. This historical object is loaned by
Mrs. Elizabeth &. Ball Lane of WASH
ington