Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-05
DAILY EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTEbLIGENCE,

paid visit yesterday evening, to the rooms Of
the Metropolitan Mechanics Institute, On
Pennsylvania avenue, for the purpose of see-
ing the method Of instruction adopted by its
Professor OF Drawing with his classes, and must
confess that We were highly grati6ed at the
performances of the pupils. These classes have
now been in operation for four months. and the
number of students whose names are enrolled
on the books, Is lib; the average attendance
each evening of instruction, the classes being
held three times per week, being 81. The
method OF instruction adopted is exeellentlv
suited for the purpose, and is what NAV be
called entirely inventive ut the commence
ment, no copying of any kind being allowed.
The pupils are after this instructed in a course
OF model drawing, applied to the various prac-
teal necessities of each. For this purpose
the rooms are well supplied with casts and
modeis oil various kinds, aud we noticed among
these' as conspicuous objects, two full sized
plaster casts of the celebrated statue of the
venus de Medici. They were presented to
the Institute by Mr.. Clark Mills, the sculptor
and are, perhaps, the only two of the kind in
the United States. The moulds were taken
from the original, which is preserved at the
ducal Petit palace in Florence. The present
course will terminate on Friday, when a meet
ing of the pupils and friends Of the Institute
will be held. There will be a vacation of six
weeks, when the studies will be resumed, and
the next course will he practical studies in
architectural, mechanical and ornamental
drawing.
The Metropolitan Mechanics Institute will
not have an annual exhibition this year.
although they will probably have one on the
ensuing year. For this purpose they have been
al the expense Of having a new die. for the
prize medal made. 1t has been done nv
Mitchell OF Boston, and cost the society S256
The desls IS very neat, having on one side a
profile OF Washington, in bold relief, which is
capItally executed; and on the reverse, a
medallion surrounded by a scroll. with the
following words: Presented by the Metro
politan Mechanics Institute
NATIONAL THEArRE-That ACCOMPLISHED
and versatile actress, Miss Agnes Robertson.
who has been lately playing at the National
Theatre. draws nightly crowded houses. Las,
night, large and enthusiastic audience greet
ed this lady with laughter, smiles, and tears.
as she excited their sympathies. Her acting.
Ike the wand OF an enchantress, performing
wonders, in bending their iaclinations to her
VIII. 10 give criticism upon her style of
acting now, would be too Iate-she has already
been rigidly scrutinized, and has passed
through the fiery ordeal. stamped with the
mark OF popular appreciation. An actress of
her peculiar fo1e is an uncommon instance
For do we know of any ON the stage at the
present time that can be placed in comparison
In her style OF acting, she resembles two cele-
brated actresses of former period-Madame
EeStris and Miss Foot, afterwards Countess of
harrington, end possesses both the archness OF
the one and the grace of the other Her per-
formance, last night of Master Bob Nettles, in
the conlc drama of that name, was a most
amusing illustration of the spoiled petted
good-natured, mischievous urchin at school
who, under the mask of frivolity and needless
ness, hides thousand noble qualities His
companion school-boy, the big, lubberly Mas
ter Waddelowe, was capitally performed by
Mr. Hale, and Mr.. Winning represented the
Partisan usher, Monsieur Tourbillon, with ex.
cellent effect The other characters. Mr..
Swish, Master of Jubilee House Select Acad-
envy, Mary Swish, his daughter. and Virginia.
the daughter of Monsieur Tourbillon were
performed with much spirit by Mr.. McKeon,
Miss Fielding, and Mrs. Ada King. At the
conclusion of the piece, there were loud calls
for Miss Robertson, who appeared before the
curtain, led on by Mr.. Makeon, and was re-
celved With tumultuous applause. Tonight,
she appears again in the same piece, as we'll
as in others.
FRAScONI'S HIPPoDRoME.-The whole of
this establishment, we understand, such as it
Is IN New York, will take part in their forth
coming representations. There are attached
to 1t company of nearly one hundred per-
formers, stud of seventy splendid horses,
many of them thorough bred, with ponies,
stays, apes, ostriches, rein deer &C. The
wardrobe of the performers and the trappings
of the horses are Of the most gorgeous descrip-
ton, and the mzterisb includes a large num-
Der of costly chariOts and cars used in the per-
formsnces. The entertainments given at tie
hlppodrome are Of the most animated and ex-
citing character, while they are quite unlike
anything ever previously presented in this
country The arrangements for its opening in
this city are going on with great rapidity, and
the date Of its first representation will very
shortly be announced, with full particulars a.
to the attractions which will be offered. 1t
should be mentioned that Mons Franconi will
personally superintend the performances of
his troupe. A success of no ordinary descrip-
ton may be anticipated here
MoRSE'S TELEGRAPH.-A lecture on the
magnetic telegraph, commonly known as
Norses Telegraph, was delivered on M,nday
night by DIR. Hay, of Illinois, at the rooms of
the Metropolitan Mechanics Institute. before
a large audience. The lecture was devoted to
an explanation of the principles on which this
telegraph Is worked, and was highly instruc-
i've, giving many present information upon q
subject with which they were unacquainted,
although now in common use. Lectures of
this description, upon the principles and
HecAdnlsm OF tue sclenJlnc operations tnat are
nov carried on almost in our houses, are highly
useful, and when Of such a nature, are certain
Vt receiving public patronage. At the conclu-
sion # his lecture, DIR. Hay performed several
experiments with the galyanic battery and
with the electrical machine. One of the audi
ence, after having been electrified, was SO
charged with the fluid, that be was enabled to
light lamp tn his finger.
REAL ESTATE.-A farm of lib acres on the
turnpike road from Georgetown to Rockville,
situated about five miles from the former place
and belonging to Mr. Somers, has been sold to
Mr.. Curtiss of n. Y, for Sl1, 900. Another,
OF 100 or loo acres, belonging to Bladen For
rest, and which is likewise situated about five
miles from Georgetown, has been sold to DIR.
Hedges of Marlboro, Prince Georges county,
for $4,000.
Yesterday, sale Of real estate, consisting
OF building lots near the railroad depot, took
place by auction, Messrs. Green & Scott, auc-
uoneers. Rudolph Buchly bought lot,
fronting % feet on New Jersey avenue, con-
tanning 2,930 feet, at 81 cents, and James
Crutchett, a lot fronting % feet on the same
avenue, containing 1855 feet a, 30 cents.
An ODD WAY OF DOING Ir.-Passing along
the Avenue this morning, our attention was
called to a bakers boy who distributed his
bread in nearly the same manner that a news
boy would his papers; the only difference
consisting in the fact that where the newsbOy
fails Of gaining admission he winds the paper
about the door knob, bat the bakers boy de-