Paul Jones' Gold Sword

Carefnilv treasured in the libraxy al swellknown Philadelphian is a long (■ase of red leather, heavily padded and strongly secured. Inslde this case resta a scabbard containing a sword whlch Louis X VI. of France presented to l'aul iími..s after the latter had causedthe Serapis to !;m] down her !'. i by a tremendous Oght with dis trigate the Bonhomme Richard. 'J'hat battle, vrhifj liist irlaas say was one of the most bitter naval encountera ever recorded, occurred September 22, 1779, c.tr Plamboroogh, on the oortheaat coast of England. Boon after the sun went down that evening the Bonhomme Richard sighted a strange frigate bearing down apon lier. h. tlio.se days the naval eommander had to be readj for action ut any moment; so when the stranger hailed the I5onhomme Richard Patd Jones' crew were prepared. Thy waited until the newcomer was withm half a pistol shot. and then discovered her to be the Serapis. Then and not until then the American commander ordered a broadside. It was retnrned, and before the smoke cleared away the Seraphis was hopeleasly entangled in the Bonhomme Sichard'a rigging. Hut I'aul Jones was in for a fiyht and he ordered lus men to grapple to the Serapis. liy the time this was aceomplished the vessels had drifted alonsside each otber, and there they lay, their cannons' mouths touching each other, as the calm moon looked down and saw the men fig-htintr with broadaworda and pistols, mai-linspikes and muskets, while the cannon belehed, the wounded shrieked, the üying groaned. Uut on went theflg-ht, the sea sucktng in the lifc-blood , that trickled into it. Oh! it was horrible! And at last, when eleven o'clock had nearly come, the Serapis hauled down her colors. Paul Jones was viutorious in one of the inost dreadful of naval encounters. News of the great strugg-le quikly sped far away, and, shortly after tha victor reached Kranee, he recoived word that King Louis XVI. had heard with wouder and admiration of his deeds. The whole land was of him, praising1 or cursinp aecording to eaeh one's opinión. But on a certain day those Frenchmen, who cursed Jones and called him a pírate, held their tongues, for Louis XVI. himself selected a mag-nifleent sword, and sent it personally to the Yankee Commodore with expressions of admiration and wi-ll wishes. Paul Jones received before and afterward many gifts from tho.se high up in the world'.s affairs, but none of them did he valué more than this sword, which is preserved here in Philadelphia. Upon his death it was given to Robert Morris, who in turn beque;ithed it to Commodore Barry. The latter gave it to the present owner's grandiather, who was Paul Jones' lieutenant in tliat terrific naval enoounter. The sword is long md keen, of exquisite workiiuinslnp. The upper half of the blade is heavily enameled and chased, and upon it are engraven two legends. One reads: Vive te Boy] And thi; other, whlch is just umlerthe hilt, is as follows: Lon xvi., Rewïirder oi the VaKant Defender of tbe Frecdora út ib Bea The hilt itsclf is of solid gold, a mass of intricate engTaving and ehasing-.- Philadelphia Press.