Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1900 — WAS HIS GREATEST TREASURE. [ARTICLE]

WAS HIS GREATEST TREASURE.

Moilcat Choice Which nn American Mtulc of a t won!. Somebody wjys telliug just the other day, of a wonderful eastern relic, which is in the possession of an ex-minister to Siam, says the Washington Post. It was when the ex-minister was a fullfledged representative of the majesty of a free people that lie was invited out of his legation to visit a prince, or a subking. or some other provincial ruler under tlie dominion of the king of Slant. He was right royally entertained, and when the time for his departure drew near his host desired to load him down with costly presents. The American minister refused, again and ngaln, to take the valuable gifts pressed upon him, but nt last, seeing thut to go away empty handed would be mortally to Insult bis princely host, he decided to take the smallest aud least valuable of ull the things shown him. He looked about the treasure room and saw hanging on one wall a perfectly plain oltl sword. Its scabbard was uot Jewelled, and Its hilt was quite plain. Surely ho might take so small a gift as that. He signified his desire to possess the weapon, and it was given him. When ho went back to tbe capital his majesty expressed a royal curiosity to know what the prince itud given him. The swoid was shown him. His majesty fairly bubbled with excitement. That sword! Why, he had been trying for years and years to get possession of It. He had offered the prince Its weight and double Its weight In gold and precious stones, but the prince had always refused to part with It. It was a historic sword, a sacred sword, and scarcely less precious to the prince than his crown Itself. It wns hundreds of years old ,aud the king would have given his eye teeth for It. The American had asked for something vastly more precious than any of the gorgeous Jewels tie hail refused to accept, aud Oriental pulitracsa had gran tod his request. He hail brought, away. urtth JjJm sotufthinff that ah thej I>ower of .the, mighty, rnuan rch himself 1 had not been able to obtain. Houses were first nuinliered in Philadelphia In 1811.