The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-10
too.1rsposDrscr or THE HrrvnlIc.J
Iifornians-Far of the american Iastitale-ihs
)pera and the Ballst--Jenny Lind's Ikensss-Po.


Opera and the Baliet-Jenny Lind's Rkenea-PO
HticaI.
New YoBK, October 3, 1850
The bright and beautiful weather of October ha,
cheerful effect upon Streets and an exhilarat
ing influence on business generally. Broadway
never more brilliant at noon, nor Wall stree
more busy, than at the present time. The late ar
rivals from Chagres have brought not only
good many big Jumps of gold and bags of dust
but hundreds Of bearded Californians, who are a,
plentiful, in all public places, as claim-a gents in
Washington They go from home with pale, smooth
faces, and return, like the grim lord Of Lady obi
va, with "beards a foot in front, and hair yard
behind" looking as brown Indians and swag-
gering like pirates. But, after few days. the
change of civilized life comes over them; they ex-
change their gold for bank paper, submit their
heads to the barber, and put on embroidered
vest in place of grizzly bearskin. The gold goes
TO the mint for awhile, over the Camden and Am
boy railroad, to be coined, instead of remaining
here and under going the change from dust to coin,
as it should do, when it is first landed. But are
living in the hope of a mint by and by
The great point of attraction just now, for amuse-
ment seekers is the great fair of the American In
sttute. at Castle Garden, which has been open a
week. The exhibition is, doubtless, the BEST most
extensive, and most satisfactory, every way, that
y .
Every thing about the show has vigorous look,
from the monster pumpkins down to the wax ba-
bios il ia the toy house of young giant Natu-
rally small objects are here Of wonderful d.
mansions, while such great objects as steamships,
engines, rail-cars, and churches, exhibited as
toy like models. The articles of domestic man
ufacture, whose value chiefly depends upon their
artistic elegance, such shawls, vestings, mousse
line de lanes, and printed calicoes, are of much
better quality than have been before exhibited and
show that the arts of design, without which no
amount of protective duty can enable us to compete
with the manufacturers of Europe, have not been
neglected by our people.
The Fair of the American Institute is not prop
place for the exhibition Of the higher order of
works of art; such productions are seen in the gal
leries of the Art Union and of the National Acad-
envy; but there is hardly any article of manufacture
which does not require, and receive higher value
from the derivativc taste and knowledge of the art
ist; that the taste displayed in even the
articles and fabrics for daily is pretty good
criterion for judging of the progress Of the nation
high art One OF the most effective Of protect
ing and fostering our own manufactures would be
the passage of an international law, extending the
right of property in their artistic designs that
now may be secured for their inventions in ma
chinery. This would compel US to the exercise of
our artistic faculties which are doubtless equal to
those of any other people, by preventing the sys
TEN Of copying every thing European that we need
for the purposes OF ornamentation. There some
very beautiful specimens of painted porcelain, such
vases, flower stands, &C., executed in this
try, in the Fair; but, with the exception of por
trait OF Calhoun, painted flower vase, they are
all copied from French and English examples.
When Birmingham manufacturer wants to get up
fi~l~ hrh 10 arfi, ~ toy al~aa
design for him, which then becomes his property;
30 with Manchester calico printer, who cannot
put new stripe upon his goods without calling
the aid of an artist, for he could no more rob a
neighboring manufacturer OF spring for his mus
Inns than he could go into his neighbours parks and
cut down his trees. We manage things differently
here and borrow whatever we want in the way of
decorative designs, and, in consequence, rather
behind the rest of the world in artistic Development
Our manufacturers have, heretofore, strongly op-
posed an International copyright Of any kind, pre-
ferrng the Algerine system Of robbing foreigners,
instead of encouraging their countrymen to minis
ter to their wants in the higher walks of art.
II is to be hoped that by andby they will view the
matter in its true light and discover that honesty
towards foreigners, pays best in the long run
The Fair is peculiarly rich this year in its pomo-
logical and floral displays; the dahias and roses
prodigiously fine, and the fruits of the highest
excellence. The grapes aud pears especially are
in immense quantities, and some Of the specimens
rewhat may be called without hyperboe, splendid.
Those wonders of the domestic circles in which
they are laboiously made up, patchwork quilt, the
pride and glory OF old ladies and young maidens,
are generally rather too prominently displayed at
similar shows, but am glad to perceive that there
is decided falling off in this particular branch of
American industry. Patchwork quilts never struck
the proper kind Of articles to be exhibited on
such occasions, but the gallantry of the officers of
the Institute has not heretofore permitted their
cluson.
Castle Garden lie constantly crowded with visit-
ers, and ms there is band of music in the evening.
and chime Of church bells at the entrance con-
stantly jangling and changing during the day, you
may be sure it is very lively place; and good
many hirtations take place behind pyramids of
crook nccked .quashes and in the shadow of large
cooking stoves
Among the means provided for the Amusement
ofour restless people until the music hall shall be
ready for Jenny Lind TO sing in a French Bal
let Comparatively big -noscd Israelites, and a
Franco-ltslian Opera Company-st the Astor Place
Opera House. Madam De Yries, the prina donna
as'oiufa Of the latter from New Orleans, makes her
debut to night, in the character Of Norma, so that
musical connoisscurs will have an opportunity
of comparing her Casta Diva with Jenny's. By
the way, speaking Of Jenny, let me caution you all
not to put the least faith in any Of the published
hkenesscs Of the peerless queen of song. Not one
of them gives her expression, and the most de-
ceptive of all are tho daguerrcotypes. That which
is exhibited at ono Of your book stores in Wash
ington is hardly caricature. Jenny has a sweet
mouth and most expressive smile when she
speaks; but that has the look of a vinegar toned
virago, and resembles her no more than President
Fillmore resembles President Tyler who arc mar
velousy alike in two things, viz: they were both
elected Vice President by the whigs, aud both be-
came President by the death Of their superior but
what difference VIC discover when attempt to
follow the parallel So, Jcnnys portraits are like
her in two things-tbey give the shape Of her face
and the style of her dress but all the rest IL want
ing.
Poiiicai.-The friends Of the Administration arc
not ncgecting their duties in this city, nor in the
country either, for that matter. Measures have
been taken 10 have every district in the Sate fully
represented at the Utica convention the 18th, and
n free and unbiased expression rycn 10 the popular