Washington sentinel., 1854-06-30
4ofaI anS Aersanal.

school Of Art and Design.--W were graft
fed the other evening by visit TO the School Of
Art and Design, established in connexion with
the Metropolitan Mechanics Institution, in the
large room, Parker's building, opposite Browns
Pennsylvania avenue.
Professor Whitaker, the able and efficient mas
ter ofthc school, is embellishing the room with
variety Of works ofart, both in painting and scuo
ture He very politely showed US, in addition TO
the objects which we could examine ourselves in
every part Of the room, variety of specimens Of
design, executed by his pupils, which display
much originality of conception and cultivated
taste.
We were afterwards highly entertained by a
lecture on foliage" when the professor explained,
with surprising tact, the principles which guide
artists in forming the foliage of trees so even
in small sketch to indicate the character of the
tree, NOT only by its outline, but by the manner in
which the leaves themselves are represented
To make these clear to the uniniiated, the use Of
the chalk and blackboard was resorted to with
almost magic effect.
term in the institution has recently COM
menced, al very popular rates, SO as TO place the
cultivation of art within the reach Of all.
We happen 10 know Of many instances in
which the pupils Of Professor Whitaker have
made good practical use Of their instructions
One young lady is now in the receipt Of twelve
hundred dollars year as designer 10 prints
works, after receiving twelve months instructions,
which cost her about twenty dollars. She GER
.ainIy may be called dsssxnimg young lady.
As an additional feature Of interest in this in
sltuiion, we may meniiou that the other pro-
fessor is Miss Webb, an accomplished New Eng
land lady, who enters with great spirit into the
excellent system Of teaching, which has been so
successfully sdopted by Professor Whitaker.
Metropolitan Railroad. The board Of direct
ors at their recent annual meeting, adopted a
route for the Metropolitan railroad It will com
mence near Prospect street, Georgetown, thence
by way Of Drovers Rest, and other intermediate
places, 10 Frederick, distance Of thirty-seven
miles, and thence from Frederick to Hagerstown.
This road, il is estimated, will cost million and a
half of dollars. We believe that upwards of five
hundred thousand dollars have already been sub
scribed towards the commencement of the work,
which is of so much importance 70 the welfare Of
the District of Columbia. Now that rhe route has
been determined upon, we may anticipate an early
commencement of actual practical, railroad oper
ations.
Criminal Court. The petty Jurors were yes
terday discharged till Monday, there being no
cases ready for trial. The grand jury, however,
by that time, well cut out some work for them.
From present appearances, the term Of the
court will be q short one There are cases Of
particular interest to be tried tho jail docket be-
ing made Of assaults and batteries, riotings, and
the like, with few cases Of larceny by way Of va
riety. Some of them Of TOO trifling character
for dignifed tribunal, and which could more APP
propriately and cheaply be disposed of by magis-
trates court, if we had one.
A Disappointment.--The forty or fifty Odd
Fellows Of the District Of Columbia who purposed
spending the fourth of July with their brethren Of
Rockville. Maryland, by invitation, have reluc-
tanlly been compelled to abandon the trip, not be-
ing able 10 procure omnibuses from Mr.. Wander
wercken 10 convey them thiiher. He has the
monopoly in those vehicles.