Museum Collections

Mark: along upper half of bottom, TIFFANY & CO./21445Y MAKERS 3931/STERLING SILVER/925-1000/M; along lower half of bottom: SPECIAL HAND WORK Engraving: Body of box and handles are engraved, chased, and etched across surface. Inscription: Lock plate located at center front of lid is inscribed in block letters: OUR / AL Inscription: Underside of lid has engraved plate taken from published 1828 newspaper editorial from the Brooklyn, New York Standard Union. Inscription is rendered in block letters and reads: WELCOME HOME GOVERNOR SMITH. WE IN NEW YORK KNOW YOU AND HAVE KNOWN YOU FOR MANY YEARS, AND ADMIRE YOU MORE AND MORE AS WE KNOW YOU LONGER, WELCOME YOUR RETURN HOME TO-DAY TO YOUR OWN PEOPLE, YOUR FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS OF A LIFETIME. WE HAVE FOLLOWED YOU WITH FASCINATION IN YOUR TOUR AROUND THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE REJOICED WITH YOU IN THE RECEPTIONS YOU HAVE RECEIVED IN OTHER CITIES OF THE NATION, AND WE HAVE WISHED THAT OTHER PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY KNEW YOU AS YOUR NEIGHBORS HERE IN NEW YORK KNOW YOU. FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD THEN KNOW THE ALFRED E. SMITH WHOSE PROGRESS WE HAVE WATCHED FROM THE FISH STAND IN FULTON MARKET WHERE YOU WENT AS A BOY TO HELP YOUR WIDOWED MOTHER UNTIL YOU REACHED THE POSITION WHERE THE DEMOCRACY OF THIS COUNTRY CHOSE YOU AS THEIR CANDIDATE FOR TH MOST EXALTED POSITION WITHIN THE GIFT OF YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. IF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES KNEW YOU AS WE KNOW YOU, THEY WOULD KNOW THE AL SMITH WHOSE CAREER IS AN INSPIRATION TO EVERY TRUE AMERICAN, WHOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE A TRIBUTE TO AMERICAN IDEALISM AND WHOSE SUCCESS IS A PROOF OF AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY. tHEY WOULD KNOW THE BOY WHO ENCOUNTERED BUT OVERCAME MANY HARDSHIPS, AND THEY WOULD KNOW THE MAN WHO LATER DEDICATED HIS EVERY EFFORT TO ALLEVIATE THE HARDSHIPS OF OTHERS. THEY WOULD KNOW THE HUSBAND AND FATHER IN A FAMILY WHOSE HAPPINESS REVEALS MORE ELOQUENTLY AND MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN WORDS CAN DESCRIBE THE FINENESS OF YOUR PERSONAL CHARACTER. THEY WOULD KNOW THE SIMPLICITY, THE HONESTY, THE STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS OF YOUR LIFE. THEY WOULD FEEL THE SINCERE RELIGIOUSNESS OF YOUR SPIRIT, A RELIGIOIUSNESS SO REAL THAT IT WOULD TRULY MAKE FOR A BROTHERHOOD OF MAN; AND THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WONDER HOW ANY MAN'S RELIGION CAN BE QUESTIONED BY ANY OTHER MAN. (cont'd) Inscription (cont'd): THEY WOULD KNOW THE CHARITABLENESS OF YOUR NATURE: AND THEY WOULD SEE WHY, EVEN THOUGH YOU DETEST CANT AND HYPOCRISY AND DECEIT, YOU FEEL NO RANCOR IN YOUR HEART AGAINST THE MISGUIDED MEN GIVEN TO SUCH PRACTICES. THEY WOULD KNOW OF THE FORESIGHT AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HAVE CHARACTERIZED YOUR EVERY ACT. THEY WOULD KNOW OF THE ABILITY AND THE INTEGRITY YOU HAVE EMPLOYED TO ADMINISTER THE LAWS WHICH YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR STATESMANSHIP, YOUR VISION AND YOUR EFFORTS HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR STATE, SO THAT WORK MIGHT BE DONE BETTER, THAT REST MIGHT BE EASIER AND THAT CHILDREN MIGHT HAVE ASSURED TO THEM A BRIGHTER FUTURE THAT YOU HAD AS A BOY ON THE SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK. SO, WELCOME HOME, AL-HOME, WHERE WE ARE PROUD TO CALL YOU OUR FIRST CITIZEN, WHERE WE ARE DEVOTED TO YOU, NOT BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN OUR GOVERNOR FOR FOUR TERMS, NOT BECAUSE YOU MAY BE OUR NEXT PRESIDENT, BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE AL SMITH. Inscriber: Paul Block, publisher Description: copy of editorial published in New York Newspapers, November, Second, 1928.