Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-21
WASHINGTON RELICS
ARE LOANED TO NATION.
National Museum in Capital Acquires
Splendid Collection OF Walter
G.. Peter.
COMPRISES 1915 OBJECTS IN ALL
Originally Owned by Martha Custis's
Observation-Disclosures From Son of
Lafayette. Hamilton and Knox.
Pictures OF First President.

WASiINGTON. August 2o-A loan
collection Of objects of artistic and do
nestle interest once owned by Cen
eral and Mrs. Washington at Mount
Vernon. Va. has been received by tho
National Museum. This collection COM
prises 1876 objects. and includes china
and glassware. furniture. pictures.
kitchen utensils. manuscripts and let
terS. and a number of miscellaneous
articles Of historical interest. All are
loaned by Walter 6. Peter, of this city.
Mr. Peter Inherited these priceless
relies from his grandmother. Mrs.
britannia w. kcnuon, of Tudor Place.
Georgetown. daughter OF Martha Gus
tbs. VINO was tho granddaughter Of Mrs.
Washington and her first husband,
Daniel Parks Gusts. Thus coming
down through i've generations. they
have at Last been deposited. by the
great -great / grcat-grandson OF Mrs.
Washington. with the national colec-
tons.
OF especial Importance are three lot
t"rs written 10 Mrs. Washington upon
tn" death Of General Washington. They
are from George Washington Lafa-
yette, son OF the Marquis; Alexander
Hamilton. aud Henry Knox. MIR. Pc
ter has lately added four more letters
to the collection, three written by Cen
cral Washington TO Thomas Peter, the
| letter written by Thomas Peter to Cen
/ cral Washington.
/ a set Of red and white ivory chess
/ men used by the general at Mount
! Vernon is another exhibit.
| Several pictures are included. two OF
! them depicting Washington one a wa
| ter-color by William Thornton. and the
other AN engraved portrait.
BY far the most Interesting object
| in this connection is the Washington
Z r,i iaf N h.- vi II
! white porcelain II is said TO be copied
| from Peales picture OF i7iI. which
! shows Washington as a young colonial
officer. Surrounding the central me-
! dalton are tho cmhlems and Gags of
the colonies interwihed with "a floral
wreath. while below IL tho Washington
| coat Of arms.
Like the Franklin porcelain plaque.
| by the same artist. this one of Wash
ngton has history OF considerable
interest, made II was in the famous
china factory in Bristol. England. by
Richard Champion. British subject.
at the time when Washington was the
hero of the colonies.
SEVERAL. PIECES or JEwEIRY
INCLUDED IN COLLECTION
The jewclry includes a handsome gold
watch with an extra case, face and
crystal. owned by Mrs. Washington:
piece OF n pearl cuff button. and two
gold lockcts containing locks OF Cen
eral Washingtons hair. one of which
Is woven into II design forming his
coat OF arms. and was worn by Mrs.
+, Washington on a watch chain.
| Three conch she'll buttons worn by
the general have an interesting story
attached TO them. 1t is narrated that
while walking alone one day in Phila-
delphia, he was accosted by a poor
Italian, who. ignorant of his person
ality, offered some conch shells for
sale. and pressed his wares. insisting
that they comprised all ne had In the
world to sell Washington is said TO
have asked:
But. my good man. what would
do with your conch shells?'
Whercupon the insstcnt Italian sug-
rested that he use them 10 make but
tons for his coat. Pleased with the
ready answer. Washington purchased
them and had q brown velvet coat made
with buttons fashioned by his tailor
from the shells This incident is de-
scribed by William Armstrong in an
article in the Century Magazine for
May. 1890
Considerable chinaware used at
Mount Vernon is exhibited or special
interest is a bowl decorated with the in
sigma of the Society OF the Cincin-
natl Seventeen pieces OF glassware
are also 20 b. seen among these new
museum exhibits. some Of which are
cut glass, but others are Of the old
style thin pressed glass. now uncom
mon"
There Is childs French dressing
table. presented to Martha Gusts by
Marquis de- Lafayette. This is we'll
, made piece Of nne mahogany with
dainty lines and inlavins. y chest OF
drawers. Il ladder-back chair. n wooden
stool. and drawing room screen are
also on exhibition.
Other pieces came from the drawing,
bed and music rooms at Mount Vernon.
and tho Kitchen. Conspicuous in the
| latter group are pewter. copper and
| inon cooking utensils.
4 number of articles are from Mrs.
! Washincton's sewing room. and con-
sist Of embroidery from her own hand:
| a chair-Cushion done on coarse canvas
| shows a design OF shells in brown and
yellow woods. the high lights being
shaded by rold-Coored silk. This
| cushion :s said 10 he one of twelve
made by Mrs. Washington. four OF
| which she gave 20 each Of nor three
granddauchtcrs Mrs. Law. Mrs. Lewis
and Mrs Peter.
| Pieces Of Mrs Washincton's wedding
4 dress worn upon the occasion Of her
marriage 10 General Washington. arc
| also to he seen.