GIFT TO SOLDIER IS OF WONDERFUL ART

The Pershing Gold Sword Brought to Local Notice By a Once Well Known Citizen of Norwich

   Mr. and Mrs. Alva Babcock, who came to Norwich and took up their residence about ten years ago, had resided in Kansas City, Mo., for some years.  Mr. Babcock came here for the purpose of entering the firm of L. A. Babcock, musical instrument dealers.  The company was organized many years ago by Linn Babcock, Mus. Dr., a famous pianist and a native of the little village of South New Berlin.  He had been organist and teacher of music in Colgate university for several years and had received the doctorate from that university.  The business grew rapidly and became very well known in all this section of the state.  His brother Adrian became a partner and the firm name of L. & A. Babcock gained a great reputation for good business ability and strictly fair dealing.

   In 1901 the head of the firm. Dr. Linn Babcock died and in 1904 his cousin, Alva Babcock, removed from Kansas City and entered the business, the brother Adrian becoming the head of the firm and the name remaining the same.  In 1918 Adrian also died and Alva Babcock became the manager of the business and the name became "The L. & A. Babcock Co., Inc."

   Mr. Babcock has made a place for himself in the business circles of Norwich, and himself and his estimable wife in the social life of the city, and are highly esteemed in a wide circle of friends and are both enthusiastic citizens of Norwich.  They are affiliated with the Baptist church.

   A few days ago Mrs. Babcock placed in my hands a letter and other papers received from a friend, who for a long time has been a resident of Kansas City, Mo., but who was for several years in the 50's and 60s a resident of Norwich.  At that time her name was Miss Ella M. Bavin, a daughter of Thomas Bavin, who moved from South New Berlin to Norwich, about 1856 and engaged in the marble business in the store in the north end of "The Arcade" block, running from Mechanic street and North Broad, south to Lock street, now Lackawanna avenue.  This block was burned Oct. 22, 1863.  In 1862 Mr. Bavin's home was on Hayes street, where now is No. 40, the residence of M. M. Blakeley.  Dec. 1, 1859, he and his brother George bought of George L. Rider, the Mammoth Store lot which was at the corner of South Broad and American avenue (on which is now the shoe store of J. M. Lucas).  The Mammoth Store was burned Jan. 24, 1855, with the residence of J. M. D. Carr next south, with a space of not more than three feet between them.

   George Bavin came to Norwich from Oxford about 1859.  He was a tinsmith and entered the shop of Ralph Johnson and remained there two or three years, when he became a partner with his brother in the marble business, which they moved to the location above mentioned, where had been built a substantial building, which still is standing.  George also bought a house on Hayes street, and adjoining that of his brother and they lived there until April, 1865, when Thomas sold his Hayes street house to Elizur H. Prindle, and in May, 1866, George sold his house and lot to Dennis Conway.  Jan 1, 1867, the firm of T. & G. Bavin sold the marble business to George R. Day and Henry M. Ashcraft.

   Both families soon left Norwich, and I cannot remember where they went.  The daughter of Thomas later married a Mr. Ziegler and they made their home in Kansas City, Mo., where he died some years ago, and his wife has remained in that city.  Her address is 1309 East 9th street, where she would be much pleased to hear form any of the friends in Norwich "of ye olden time," who may remember Ella M. Bavin.  She has many pleasant remembrances of Norwich.

   With the letter to Mrs. Babcock she sends a large memorial card and picture, done in natural colors, of the magnificently jeweled gold sword which the state of Missouri will soon present to Gen. John J. Pershing, as a token of the regard the citizens of his home state have for her distinguished son, who, it is not too much to say, won the world war and brought the Huns to their knees, and ended the Hohenzollern despotism.

   The card on which is the picture, carried the following description:

"The Pershing Sword--

Both from Missouri."

   "The people of the state of Missouri, upon learning that congress had failed to honor Gen. John J. Pershing, leader of the American Expeditionary forces in the World War, by presenting him with a sword, immediately decided, in appreciation of this Missourian's great victory to present him with a gold sword.  The presentation was made possible through the auspices and by the Kansas City Post newspaper efforts, and the sum raised to buy the sword was solicited only by popular subscription.

   The scabbard is 18-karat green gold, engrossed with laurel wreaths, signifying victory and clemency, encircle with bands of 18-karat gold, on which is inscribed Gen. John J. Pershing's complete military record.  The inscription plate bearing the words, "General John J. Pershing, from his friends in Old Missouri," is engraved and encrusted with diamonds.  Only the finest of materials and workmanship were used in making the sword.  Pershing's four stars, denoting his rank of general, are wrought upon the wreath of laurel in platinum and encrusted with blue-white diamonds.  The great seal of Missouri, in several colored gold, representative of his friends by whom this sword is given, is laid upon the scabbard.  The jeweled hilt is of 18-karat gold, hand-chased, engraved and studded with rubies and multi-colored sapphires.  In the hilt base is set a large blue sapphire, Pershing's birthstone.  On both sides of the end of the scabbard the American eagle is raised in yellow gold, representing the ever watchful guarding of American liberty.  Engraved on one side of the handle are the famous words spoken at the tomb of LaFayette, "LaFayette, we are here," and on the reverse, Pershing's foreign service stripes.  The steel blade is profusely etched with emblems typical of the war, with "U. S." on the center of the side and on the reverse the American eagle.

   "The sword weighs six troy pounds.  There are 83 stones set in the sword.  The blade is thirty-two inches long.  The services of twelve men at the Cady and Olmstead shop were used in making, covering a period of two months.  Each contributor to the fund will receive a portion of the gold shavings which dropped from the engraving.

   "Pershing's brother and the artists who have examined this wonderful sword, proclaim it to be a sword 'beautiful beyond description.'  The sword is to be painted in the wonderful world war picture, Phantan de la Guerre, at Paris, France.  It is affirmed to be the finest sword ever presented to a military commander."

   Cady & Olmstead Jewelry Company, 1009-1011 Walnut street, Kansas City Mo, make the following announcement:

   "On account of the constant demand, we are making a limited number of Pershing sword souvenir spoons in sterling silver.  A permanent and beautiful souvenir; $2.25 in silver gray finish, and $2.50 in gold finish.  The spoon is an exact replica of the sword which will be presented to Gen. Pershing--the gift of the people of his native state."

   The cost of this elaborate memento is not stated, nor is it definitely known, but has been estimated by capable judges to have been not far from $40,000; and from the description given it would seem to be a reasonable estimate, and it cannot be questioned as an evidence of the loyalty of the citizens of Missouri to the country, to the state and to the great personality whom the state claims as a son and citizen; but one cannot help thinking that the gift brings with it a great responsibility; for it must be protected from criminality in almost endless forms, and from deterioration, accident or injury and destruction which "the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft a gley," and it cannot be put to any use except on rare occasions of dress parade and on such occasions the multitude could not distinguish it from a brass weapon.  Had the money it cost been given him in government bonds, they would produce something of value, which could be put to some useful purpose, but the sword must be protected and cared for and will not produce one dollar of income to lessen the expense of its protection or relieve the constant worry over its probable loss or destruction, which is liable to come at any moment.  In view of all this it would seem to be a great error in judgement on the part of the donors, and really something of a calamity to impost it upon Gen. Pershing, for we cannot but be sure that it will proved to be the biggest kind of "a white elephant" to him for the rest of his life; and we cannot think that he, had he been consulted, would have chosen this sword as a suitable token of loyalty and love of his fellow citizens for him.  He is too practical and level-headed an American for that.  However, as I have no idea that this argument will have any effect whatever on the case, I will call it off; but it is the truth just the same.

                                        C. R. Johnson