Charlevoix county herald., 1916-04-22
G, WASHINGTON
RELICS SHOWN
COLLECTION OF MEMENToEs OF
FATHER OF COUNTRY HEART
TOUCHING DISPLAY
BIG VARIETY OF MATERIAL shown

Infant Robe Worn at Christening vles
With Old Continental Uniform
Washington, ID. C.-"Among the
many interesting objects pertaining to
the history Of this country. there is
probably nothing which touches the
hearts of true Americans more quick
ly than the relics and mementoes Of
1.-The Father of His Country" George
Washington, many of which are dis
played at the old building of the Unit
ed States National Museum in Wash
ington," says a statement issued by
the Smithsonian Institution.
"This collection consists Of var
iety of material gathered from num-
erous sources. While composed large
ly of articles of domestic and artistic
interest owned by Washington at Mt.
Vernon, the collection also includes
mementoes of his life in the field dur
ing the War of the Revolution. and
a number of other miscellaneous relics
of greater or less importance.
"The most noteworthy objects are:
Four pieces Of plaster statuary, and a
face mask; several portraits and en-
cravings; many pieces of furniture,
including Washington's easy chair, Ia
bles, chairs, mirrors, bedstead and
footstool; numerous candelabra
lamps and candlesticks; glass and
chinaware and table furnishings; as
well as many personal relics. These
latter perhaps represent more to the
visitor, since they were the individual
property of this great statesman and
warrior.
There are two interesting costumes
worn by Washington; the first an in
fant's robe of white brocade silk, lined
with old rose China silk, used on the
occasion of his christening, and the
other a continental army uniform,
worn when he resigned his commits
sion as commander in chief of the
continental army at Annapolis, Md,
December %, 1888. Representing as
these costumes do, two such separated
periods of the life, they tend to remind
the observer of the great things which
were accomplished by Washington be
tween the times these diversified cos
tunes were worn. Other articles Of
wearing apparel comprise waistcoat
and what were known as small clothes
or knee breeches.
"Three tents with poles, pegs and
pouches, mess chest, spyglass, field
glass, portable writing case and shaw
ing glass, make up the field equipment
used by Washington in his campaign.
Other relics, including an iron treas
ure chest and a either and case,
music case of mahogany, Chinese
tea chest and a gold medal commend
rating his death besides a number of
other miscellaneous articles complete
one of the most interesting collections
of historical objects in this country.
"Since many of the articles relate
so pertinently to the home of Wash
ington, a brief mention of its history
Is here made.
Mount Vernon House, historically
the most interesting of American man
sions and closely associated with near.
ly all the objects herein described,
was erected in 1743 for Lawrence
Washington, the half brother Of
George, and so named in honor of
Admiral Edward Vernon, r. NJ, under
whose command Lawrence Washing
ton had served during the British ex-
petition against Cartagena in 1741.
The property passed into the hands of
George after the death of Lawrence In
1852 and the house was later i'm
proved and enlarged.
when Mrs. Washington died in
1902, Mount Vernon became in &C.
cordance with Washington's will, the
property of his nephew, Bushrod
Washington who In turn bequeathed
it to his nephew, John Augustine
Washington, from whom 1t passed to
a son of the same name, and in 1858
was purchased from him by the Mount
Vernon Ladies' Association.
by an act of Congress, approved
June 20, 1878, the Government pur
chased a collection Of Washington rel
les from G. w. Lewis and others, the
heirs of Mrs. Lawrence Lewis, the
adopted daughter of Washington, and
the wife of his nephew, Maj. Lawrence
Lewis. After the death of Mrs. Wash.
ington, in 1902, these objects haG
passed into the hands of Mrs. Lewis.
and on her death in 1852, were re-
ceived by her heirs, who held them
until their purchase by the govern
ment in 1878, when they were depos-
tied in the United States Patent Of
flee, where they remained until
transferred to the United States Ma
tional Museum in 1888.
1.-THE objects purchased from the
Lewis heirs form the greater portion
of the Washingtoniana in the museum.
and are designated as belonging to the
Lewis collection The sources of 9th
er Washington relics received by the
museum at various times as loans or