The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-09-07

Americana
Official Safecracking


EORTY years from now there's going
to be an "official safecracking" in
the United States Capitol at Washing
ton. Thereby hangs the tale of wom-
ans dream Of doing something for pos
terity and how 1t didn't work out as
she had planned.
She was Mrs. c. r. Deihm and In
1876, when other Americans were look
ing back over 100 years of American
history, she was looking forward q
century. Her idea was to install
centennial safe" in Memorial hall at
the Philadelphia Centennial exposition
to be filled with articles which would
be interesting to Americans of 1876
when the safe would be officially
opened. But chiefly her idea was to
put in 1t great albums containing pho
tographs and autographs of celebrities
of the day. Also there was one large
| album with blank space below the
name of each person who wrote his
name in IL so that the direct lineal
descendant of the signer might record
his name below his ancestors, when
the safe was opened in 1876.
Mrs. Deihm sent leaves from this
album throughout the country and
| gained concessions from the express
companies to transport them free of
charge. She received an endorsement
of her idea from the chief justice of
the United States and other high Off
cials, who called upon all Americans
for cooperation In the plan. But for
some reason the idea was not received
as enthusiastically as Mrs. Deihm had
hoped. The safe was to have been
locked up and sealed on December 81,
1876 but when the number of sigma
lures In the albums was found TO be
far short of the number she desired,
its closing was postponed time after
time.
The scheduled "closing for 100 years"
didn't take place until 1879. Then 1t
was sent to Washington where she
hoped to have it placed in the rotunda
of the Capitol where its doors were
to be closed with great ceremony and
where il was TO remain until 1916.
The authorities, however, would not per-
NIT its installation in the rotunda but
did allow 1t to be set up in one corner
of Statuary hall, formerly the cham
Der of the house of representatives
Then the closing of the doors with
great ceremony" proved to be q dis
appointment. President Hayes. who
was expected to be present, sent his
secretary to represent him. Many 9TH
er notables also failed to appear.
short time later congress decided
that this big iron safe was out of place
lean notables and ordered its removal.
So 1t was taken TO the place where
1t now stands-a secluded spot Hndei
the great steps in the center of the
east front of the Capitol. Thousands
of tourists have passed within a few
feet of 1t without ever seeing it or
knowing its history.
Since that time the front has rusted
and one of the two handles on the out
er doors has been broken off, But 1t
makes no difference, for no one re-
members the combination to the safe,
anyway. Moreover the key to the In
ner doors of plate glass has disap-
peared, no one knows where.
So that Is why an ''official safe
cracking is due to take place in 1876.
1t will be the only way to open this
treasure house of relics. Inside one
of the outer doors is an inscription
which reads at is the wish of Mrs.
Deihm that this safe may remain closed
until 1876, to be opened by the Chief
Magistrate of the United States" One
wonders who that man will be and If
he will fulfill her wish or disappoint
her as President Hayes did.
G Western Newspaper Union.