Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-02


To ADVERTISER. The daily ejaculation Of ths o..
0sa Is far greater than that Of any paper in the city
with one exception and the weakly circulation, which
already reaches nine thousand, ID increasing at the
rate Of twenty live hundred month II has inOreas
ed at this rate with remarkable regularity, from the
first month Of its publication. Advertisers who wish
70 give their advertisements wide circulation, should
bear these facts in mind. TAe daily O1yaa ID dstrib
nted chiefly in Washington, Georgetown, Alexandria,
Fredericksburg, Richmond. Norfolk, Portsmouth, and
Baltimore The weekly Organ is sent to every quar-
tar Of the Union.
ScnooL or DEsraN.-The closing exercises OF
the winter term Of Metropolitan Mechanics School
of Art and Design took place last Friday evening.
A large number Of persons were present. and q
highly entertaining address delivered by the prin-
cipal of the school, Prof. Whitaker.
He first spoke Of the relation which he had sus-
tanned to the school, and of his pleasant connex-
ion withthe pupils, and said that, though the at.
tendance had been less than during the winter
term of the preceding year, yet the result had
been Of highly satisfactory character, dispa wing
great progress, and in many instances much pro-
fciency in persons hitherto ignorant of its first
principles. sa
lie next spoke Of the relation of art to science,
and Of their mutual dependence, and said, that
though science may make deep researches, may
develop hidden MYSTERIES and solve difficult prob
lems yet when she wished to delneate these facts,
she must call to her aid the manifestations of art
must borrow the pencil and the brush, fully to
make known her ideas. On the other hand art
Is dependent upon science for the preparation of
color, and for the manufacture of suitable instru
ments for performing her work. In short, they
were twin children of the same parent, and mutu-
ally dependent upon each other for growth and de-
velopment ~
-. IL.
and OF the great desire to obtain the works of the
Old Masters, he said--that the productions of the
past were not adapted to the wants of the present
time, nasmuch as we live under different govern
ment, and in widely different circumstances. The
works Of the past, said he, had their USE they per-
formed their mission, and should now be works for
study rather than for imitation Then, art was for
the aristocracy only, and artists few and con-
fined to men Of genius. For modern times, and for
this country especially, it must be for the people,
and Of a purely democratic character II is ne
eessary in every department of life we need it
alike in the Workshop, in the factory, in the
church, in our halls of legislation, and particularly
in our homes. How much more valuable become
even the commonest things of use, when art with
her magic wand invests them with new beauty.
How much more delightful arc those homes where
taste and beauty grace even the commGnest thing
How powerful the influence of picture, to soothe
the passions and quiet the disturbed spirit, and
how often Is the gloom of our minds dissipated by
the picture of some loved fried, or scene of some
dear spot.
He was not afraid of making art too common
The people should be educated in it, it should be-
come regular branch of study in our school rooms
and then the tastes of the people would be inn
proved, and we should find the artist properly en-
couaged and supported, he would meet with gym
pathy, such as all men of genius need, his works
would be appreciated, and he would become great
and noble through his works
In speaking of the geniuses, he most happily
alluded to Clark Mills, of our city, as example
of what may be done by perseverance combined
with genius. Here was man in humble life who,
from the obscurity of his profession had stepped
forth and solved problem which for ages had
been contested, whether sclfsupporting statue
might be erected. This he has done, and the past
has found an answer in the present. This is but
one example of what may be done by our age
He closed by urging upon his pupils careful
attention to the elements of art and greater pro-
fcency in every department, rather than to cult
vate desire for large pictures.
After the lecture, distribution of awards from
the principal took place. Specimens Of the work
of the pupils were exhibited invarious parts of the
room, and certainly told well for the school. To
Miss Lydia Kelsey, for water colored painting Ca
nova's Graees. To Master John Key, for drawing
from the model, Raphaels Head Of Christ. To
Master David Barr, for drawings from the model
and pencillings, 'Ciark's Drawing and Painting
To Master Eugene b. Burr, for pencilling, Rolo
bottoms Stretching from Nature. To John Hagan,
for water color paintings and crayons Raphaefs
Head of Christ. To Mr.. Curtis, for architectural
designs, RaphaeIs Head of Christ. To Mr. Miller
for design of church, Colored Engraving. To Gil
bert Towles, for designs Houses Of Parliament and
Crystal Palace, In oil prints and 10 Slas Moore,
for designs, Colored Engravings.
AccrDESr.-Yesterlay afternoon as the hose
reel Of the Franklin Company was returning from
the fire at the Penitentiary wharf, when near the
corner Of Virginia avenue and Ia street, boy
named Conner FELL and the reel passed over both
his legs. For time Il was thought they were
both broken, but upon examination it was found
the flesh was only severely bruised and somewhat
Inangled He was kindly placed upon the engine
of that company and thus carried home.
We have had law upon law enacted to prevent
minors from running with FIRE apparatus, but Ike
a hundred other laws, were only passed to make up
q code Of respectable size, without ever being en-
forced We think it safe to assert that one-third
Of the municipal enac.ments are but paper laws,
and'we shah, at the proper time, publish list Of
such laws as havo been dead letters upon the
statutes from their birth and then we shall en-
deavor to show in what department the fault lies.
APPLICANTS TOk DOUkTt bAhDS.-0 eiehTH lrOu
the chief clerk of this Office, Mr. Cole, that there
is not the slightest diminution in the number Of
daily applications under the new bounty-land act.
Since Monday last siztcen thousand Mx hundred
additional applications have been made under the
act Of March 8, 1855.
FIRK.-Ye yesterday afternoon about three o'clock
the Penitentiary wharf was discovered TO be on
fire. The engines FASTENED TO the spot, but could
not be Of much service, the wind being so high
and the flames had obtained such Roadway. The
wharf which faced the river was an old diapidated
wooden structure, aud the loss IN but trihing.
BLows AsHoRE.--The steamer George Page,
while backing from her wharf at Alexandra, yes
terday morning, was blown out upon the fats by
the tremendous wind at that time prevailing, and
was unable to get off during the whole day. As
the Yind lulled during the night the tide probably
came up, and enabled her to resume her regular
trips between the two cities.
THE LATE POISONING CAsE.-Eleven Of the jury
in the poisoning case lately before the criminal
court, were discharged by the court Saturday
morning, the twelfth having vacated the premises
without the knowledge Of the court or his associ-
ates. Consequently another trial must be had at