Evening star., 1930-12-11
KING GIVES CARPET
TO SMITHSONIAN.
Was Used by Queen Victoria
at Country House-Lind-
bergh Barograph Shown.

The Smithsonian Institution has just
received, as a gift from King George of
Great Britain an administer carpet
once owned by Queen Victoria.
This carpet which is as feet long
and II feet wide, now is at the Ma
tional Museum and soon will be placed
on exhibition. It was used by Queen
Victoria at her country house, Osborne,
on the Isle of Wight
The presentation was made through
the British Anaba ssador, Sir Roland
Linsay. The carpet was made 80 years
ago by Glasgow manufacturer and is
considered a splendid specimen of the
carpet-making craft in the middle of
the last century.
This is the second carpet which has
come to the Smithsonian as a royal
gift. The first, also at the National
Museum, was a gift to President Mar
tin Van Buren from the Shah of Persia.
This is approximately of the same size
as the gift from King George and soon
VIII be placed on exhibition again.
Barograph is Loaned.
Besides this royal gift the Smith
Sonlan during the past few days has
received several other articles of great
historical Importance, including a loan
from the National Aercnautic Associ-
alton of the barog-aph used in the
spirit OF st. Louis on Gel Charles A.
Llndbergh's epochal flight from New
York to Paris three years ego.
The lines on the Paragraph tracing
Show, more clearly than could a verbal
description, the perilous progress of
the plane across the Atlantic and the
skill with which it was handled Bv
this tracing on ruled paper the posi-
ton OF the Spirit of st. Louis at any
time during the 33-hour flight can be
determined, although the lines are
more or less superimposed because the
Paragraph drum made six revolutions
during the flight.
The tracing shows the take-off and
the long, slow climb as the plane tried
to get altitude with its great weight.
Inen, at approximately the time the
hyer was over Newfoundland, there is
sharp increase in altitude This. it
was explained, represents Lindbergh's
effort to get high enough above the
clouds for the unknown and .treach-
erous air conditions which he was
likely to meet in starting over the
ocean. 1t was probably the neglect of
THIS precauticn, according to Paul E.
Garoer OF the aeronautics division. that
cost the lives Of some of the Dole
flyers from California to Hawaii.
Ups and Downs Shown.
From this point on the barograph
lines show sharp and sudden descents
due TO turbulent air conditions, lust
as sharp ascents to get above storms
and fog banks. a partial descent near
the Irish coast and the final descent
at Paris. Every moment of the flight
Is accounted fer.
Carl z. Mittman, curator of me-
chanical and mineral technology, also
ffan erTfA IS A.
key, generator and amplifying unit of
the radio set used by Comdr. Kings
ford-Smith on both his transpaciflc and
transatlantic flighte. These were re-
purchased by the manufacturer and
deposited at the Smithsonian.
The division also received from the
estate of t.le late c. F. Viebusch, Bridge
port cutlery manufacturer, a collection
OF approximately 1000 knives and
razors collected from all over the world
and throwing curious sideligfts on his
tory. Among the curiosities are several
ornately cased pocket table sets, con-
slsting of knife, fork. spoon and tooth
picks. AS late as the sixteenth century,
Mr.. Mlttman explained, providing eat
ing tools for guests was practically un-
known in Europe. When a gentleman
accepted dinner Invitation, he carried
his utensils in his pocket. He also took
oADA6 4AAS lOOt1lpACkSs n LOOLIlDlck IN
those Gays was designed TO last a good
many years. The usual eating kit. con-
tanned two, apparently made by split
ting the hoof Of a small antelope and
carving t-e two halves down to sharp
points. Each toothpick had a fur
handle.
Set Lasted Lifetime
The gentleman diner in those days
had to be prepared for any emergency.
The most elaborate of the eating sets
contained an extra blade, presumably
designed for use as a dagger, il fight
started at the table. One set was sup
posed to last a lifetime, and the pro-
fessional medieval cutters, when mot
engaged in making weapons. gave their
chief attention to hammering out
elaborate knives and forks for their
ar.stoeratic patrons.
The collection contains what Mr..
Mittman believes may have been the
beginning Of the vanity case carried by
Colonial women. This is a sewing set,
together with a vial of smelling salts,
contained in a tiny sasg-een case.
There is also real 'ponknife, used
before the invention Of the steel pen TO
make pen points out of goose ouills, and
especially manufactured for this pur-
pose.
Grewsome articles in the collection