The Ordway new era., 1918-05-03


cious stones; queer old pins, whole
boxes of them; necklace of rupees
from India; treasures from China and
Japan.
Jotting these down at haphazard
from the open box in front of me. 1
looked up and noticed jeweler who
comes in every day to look over the
watches here. There were three soap
boxes full of them-from curious tiny
gold affairs to large solid old time
pieces of steel-a regular 'pocketful"
Of a watch. "Some of them" he said
to me, must have been made Just after
the flood" He pried into their works
and grew absorbed. He is not the
only purchaser. Dashing young movie
actresses come here to rummage
among the old bracelets and earrings
to supplement their costumes for
scenes of American days gone by.
To go on with my inventory: Here
was set Of large gold studs with
dog embossed on each. and next l took
out a garnet ring and then delicate
fan of lace. point applique. From the
wall near by hung silver guitar.
Ndo 6Ss VI oi''NA Nbb
stands from an old lady in the West.
who wrote that she had bought them
In China.
Some of these rarer articles are
sold to New York merchants. But
with the great mass of trinkets there
is no time for that. for things come in
by the hundreds a day. Over In a
corner was another box of coffin plates.
one dating back to 1864, when we had
another war on our hands with
somewhat similar aim in vew. FROM
a box nearby took out scores Of
slender. delicate gold chains and lock-
cts of gold and enamel. On the table
was a small box full of tiny gold
filings, taken from teeth all over the
land. In a corner stood whole bar
rel Of clocks. looked Into q box Of
gold spectacles. many Of them with
gold chains. And here was a silver
thimble. worn thin, which came from
an elderly lady out In North Dakota.
She had put this tiny note inside:
"I have used this thimble all my
life, and 1 never thought anything
would induce me to part with it."
tWO Y my Soiu WcooH18 HHNHo-
Around the room were pitchers and
trays of brass and pewter and copper
plate. There were heaps of silver
knives, forks and spoons and table
Of chinaware. There were three more
boxes of thimbles. And carefully
wrapped in paper were two tiny gold
wedding rings sent in by midget
couple on. vaudeville circuit some
where out West. An old gentleman
sent in heavy watch chain.
"I am so old now" he wrote. "that
guess that can take chance on not
losing my watch In the years that are
left"
Here is another letter that came
with box of Jewelry:
II am sending you today, under
separate cover. my treasures and
trinkets. For many years I was an
actress. and this collection represents
the gifts of my professional friends,
who, 1 know, would be delighted II
they could only know the final use
these were put to. May they help to
build an airship that will shine bright
er than all the footlights combined
that have ever faced. Wishing you
glorious success. We will win!"
And here is another letter:
please accept these little trifies
which have been the source of much
pleasure to me in past years. Most
of them have little romances attached
to their being given; several Of their
givers have been called home. and as
r th, trIAinn thin 7 a
able to send you feel proud indeed
to think l may do even this bit to help
the wings of the United States"
From long STOPPING over the boxes
kept looking up from time to time as
the aviation boys came into apply for
equipment. Now there came three
husky lads who were hoping to sail
that week, and they seemed crazy to
get off. One had come from Illinois,
one from Arizona, and the other one
from Vermont. let my mind travel
to their home towns and to the towns
and villages and teeming cities all
over the land. where the vision of the
people has been blasted open as In
storm-to widen out and embrace the
whole world.
On the wall I saw poster with
airplanes like flock Of geese In black
silhouette against yellow sky. and I
thought of the hopes and imaginings
that would follow these lads from all
over this land-from the people who
have sent these things. Their minds
will never be the same, for they have
gllmpsed a wide, wide world which IL
now swiftly changing.