begins with wide flutings between the tops of whieh 

 are shells and seaweed. These are surrounded by a 

 ring of marine cable. On the Iront, a scene represents 

 the lifesavers at work. In perspective some distance 

 out, where the sea rises in mountainous waves, there 

 is a wrecked vessel, and in the foreground lifesa\ers 

 are carrying the rescued to the beach. The ornamen- 

 tation that covers the top of the body of the vase 

 consists of a cable net in which are starfish, seaweed, 

 and other marine flora and fauna. A ledge formed by 

 a ship's chain surmounts the net, and above this is a 

 profile of Mr. Cox circled with laurel. A lifebuoy 

 crossed with a boat hook and oar ornaments the other 

 side. Handles at the sides are two mermaids who with 

 bowed heads and curved bodies hold in their upraised 

 hands sea plants growing from the side of the top of the 

 vase. The mermaids are the only portion of the 

 ornamentation that was cast. 

 The vase is inscribed as follows: 



This Memorial Vase is presented to Airs. Samuel S. Cox 

 by the members of The Lije-Saving Service of the United States 

 in Grateful Remembrance of the tireless and successful 

 efforts of her Distinguished husband The Honorable Samuel 

 Sullivan Cox to promote the interests and advance the effi- 

 ciency and glory of the Life-Saving Service. 



He was its early and constant friend; Its earnest and eloquent 

 advocate; Its fearless and faitliful Champion. 



I have spent the best part of my life in the public service; 

 most of it has been like writing in water. The reminiscences 

 of party wrangling and political strife seem to me like 

 nebulae of the past, without form and almost void. But 

 what little I have accomplished in connection with this 

 Life-Saving Service is compensation "sweeter than the 

 honey in the honeycomb." It is its own exceeding great 

 reward.-* 



* * * 



Tangible evidence of the increased role that the 

 United States was beginning to play in international 

 affairs is a silver pitcher and salver -^ presented to 

 Judge George S. Batcheller in appreciation of his serv- 

 ices as president of the International Postal Congress, 

 which was held in Washington, D.C., in 1897. Judge 

 Batcheller's international career began when President 

 Ulysses Grant appointed him as the U.S. judge in the 

 newly created International Tribunal for legal admin- 

 istration of Egypt. The Tribunal had jurisdiction in 



^' From a speech by Cox delivered in the House of Repre- 

 sentatives, April 24, 1888. 



25 Gift of Katherine Batcheller (ace. 112477, cat 36871), 

 Division of Political History, USNM. 



cases between foreigners of different nationalities and 

 also in cases of foreigners versus Egyptians. Batcheller 

 later served as minister to Portugal arid then as mana- 

 ger of European interests for various American com- 

 panies. 



The International Postal Congixss presented Judge 

 Batcheller, its presiding officer, with a handsome urn- 

 shaped pitcher with the following inscription engraved 

 on the center front: 



Le Congres postal de Washington a son President le General 

 George S. Batcheller Juin 1897. 



The pitcher, 14'^ inches high, is marked inside the base 

 "Gait & Bros., Sterling, 925 - - 1879, 277, 1% pts." 

 The "925" is circled, and the date is boxed. Accom- 

 panying the pitcher is a silver tray with the monogram 

 "G S B" in script in the center. The tray is marked 

 on the back with an eagle in a circle to the left, an "A" 

 in a shield in the center, and a hammer and sickle in 

 a circle to the right (an unidentified mark). 



20th-century Pieces 



FOR SERVICE IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 



One of the most controversial figures of the Spanish- 

 American War is represented in the Museum's 

 collection by some of the silver that was presented to 

 Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley.^" Schley became 

 a national hero primarily because of his genial per- 

 sonality, and he was acclaimed and supported by 

 the masses of the American public even while his 

 claims to fame were being challenged by his colleagues. 



Admiral Schley had already had a long and illus- 

 trious naval career before the outbreak of the war 

 with Spain. After his graduation from the Naval 

 Academy in 1860, he served on board the frigate 

 Niagara when it was detailed to bring to the United 

 States the first representatives from Japan to this 

 country. As a junior naval officer he took part in 

 the Civil War engagements leading up to the capture 

 of Port Hudson. Then follow^ed a period with sea 

 duty and alternate posts ashore at the Naval Acad- 

 emy and elsewhere. During this period he took part 

 in the capture of some Korean forts in 1871, and 

 later he commanded the relief expedition that rescued 

 the Arctic explorer Lieutenant Adolphus \\'. Greeley 

 and six of his companions near Cape Sabine, when they 



=« Collection gift of Mrs. R. S. VVortley (ace. 136891), 

 Division of Naval History, UNSM. 



PAPER 4 7 : PRESENTATION PIECES 



99 



