Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-02-09
STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Smithsonian OuliQluy 10 witness the formal
or.aing Of the second exhibition of the Me-
,Iopolitan Mechanics Institute. The follow.
ipe are the names Of the officers of the Insti-
tute:
President-Jos. Henry. Vice Presidents
W B Todd, C F. Wood F Mohun Cores.
rouding Secretary-J. G. Brent. Recording
secretsry-P NJ. Pearson. Financial Secre-
tsry-W III Ward. Treasury-Joseph Bryan.
Librarisn-HOlis Amidon. Directors-Geo
II Plant z. NJ. P. King, Thos. Creaser, Jas
ONeill, +. Y. Naylor, W. Ashdewn, William
Dougherty, H. N Easily, Jas A TAFT, JOS n,
Bradley Z MattingIy. III. Polkinhorn, w. ID
Breckenridge, David Hepburn, John Sesssord.
u William II. Baldwin, Thos B. Entwisle
Martin Buell., W. F. Bsyly, Chas Edmonston
Almon Baldwin, and John Clarke.
The following is the committee Of arrange.
mens:
Messrs Mohun, Pearson, Bryan, Amidon.
Plant, King, Cresser, 0'Neill, Naylor, Ash
down, Dougherty, Easily, TAFT. Bradley. Mat.
tinglI, PolkiOhorn, Breckenridge, Hepburn,
Sessford, ST.. Baldwin EntwisIe, and Buell..
j. n Bradley, Esq, wss the orator on this
occasion, who was Introduced by the president,
Professor Henry. We give the following ab.
s,ract of his address:
He commenced by saying, that considerin 2
the inclemency Of the weather the opening Of
the second exhibition was very auspicious
He alluded to the appropriateness of the first
exhibition being held in the Patent Office, and
thought the present site was no less appropri-
ate, held as II was In the building donsted n
the United States by man whose life was
devoted to sciences, and at whose death the
bequest was made which will render the name
Of snithson ever green in the memories of
American men of scieace
We live IN an age of progress; science is no
longer confined to the clOister, nor is thought
longer aLlstocratlc; both are open to all, and
all men ieel that they may contribute their
mite to the store Of general knowledge
Man Is now taking bis true place in the
world; though wealth and birth may assist
him, be will ultimately find his true level he
Il high OF low Is has already become a pro-
verb that fortune never descended to a
third generation" and we frequently see the
hardworking mechanic, after years of toll.
sDd himself rich at the close of life. In most
cares, man Is unprepared for this TO make
him able to rise above the effect Of tho.
changes, Is one object of this society.
The position that woman occupies is another
reason Of the progress Of this age. We accord
10 ner more oil her true position than has any
previous age, and its effects are seen in her
children, her brothers, and those of our sex
VINO are her associates. Her lips teach us.
her eye watches US, her hands guide as and
protect Us from evil and when the sngel of
death rs lowering over our sick couch. she
wards on his dart, or if her care cannot save
US, points with the q ger of faith to the world
above AS no man is raised in the scale of
I've: 80 viii man be elevated above the changes
Of fortune.
To accomplish this few concocted the plan
u come togetner and try mutualeupport, try
TO raise the common stock of knowledge. not
only has man contributed to this general
stock, but woman has nobly come up TO it's
support, and has done her share toward bring
ing about the ends we seek.
lne design OF this society is TO form a
library, where our mechanics can find anv
book they wish, from the simple horn book to
the most abstruse treatise on mathematics
where tney can find the principles of science
Prac'lc lIy applied. We wish to collect
models OF all kirds Of tools and Of everything
mat Will be useful to Us. We wish TO e.tab.
hsn a museum, and to decorate It's walls with
SUCH sta'uary and paintings as shall serve TO
instruct those who see them, both as models
and guides to history. We wish to establish
schools IN every branch of science as we bav.
already commenced in ose branch-the school
Of design.
The masses Of society are composed of those
VINO toll for their daily bread, as farmers.
necnahics, or labOrers; and in this country,
nneIe RANKS are continually changing, the
child of wealth should be fitted for this chang.
oy practical knowledge OF some means Of i've
nhood while the child Of the humble laborer
should be so instructed as to fill higher sta .
uOn In lie 10 bring about these results is
INC sum total Of our endeavo-s; and the
chances OF our success will turn on the enconr
sgemept We meet among our fellow citizens.
MI bradley now depicted a scene around
me cneerless hre-side Of the drunken laborer.
WIN ms quaIrelsome children and sloye1ly
"ne' Iroin Tnom ne Is driven to seek the com
Pahy oi boon companions in the grog shOp
He changed the picture to that of a comfort
aole little cottage, with a smilipe wife and a
cneruo child In her arms, and clean rosv
checked children gathered round the cheerful
neaIth, step, heavy but firm is heard and
the Children, with shout Of jOy- crowd 10 me
door to welcome their father from mis- daily
toh. Ihey gather round the frugal board AID
discuss me events Of the day, and after the
younger children are asleep, they 90 to TIE
.tct"s, ana on their return interchange
thoughts, and thus add TO their common stock
OF kno"lcdge. The children brought up in
TINS family Imbibe from their parents love of
ieaihlng, and become much better citizens.
we cannot cultivate this Hye of learning n
'ne masses single handed. All labor saving
Asenlnes are applications Of science to d. ac J.
cal lie. In this society we offer you the great
aoVrsavlng machine Of the age, by which. if
we can but concentrate the sipgle-handed
power e1erted TO raise the masses, we shall &C.
complish our designs
AS one OF the products Of the society, You
see what has been done by the school of de-
sign 10 the exhi bition rooms Won will see
designs and drawings by boys ndyet fifteen,
,nat are truly astonishing There are eighty
Ooys IN attendance on this school, who are not
only learning what will furnish them with the
comforts, but also the necessities of life
we wish to establish such a school for girls
tney are better adapted to this work than
ys-tne hands are more steady, the eye more
uue, the delicacy Of touch more apparent,
Snu they are more easily trained than boys
10 not design making them sculptors or
isintera, but this can open to them the field
preparing designs for wall paper, calico
Psinnng ornamental china, &c, and thus by
ssuordlng another means of livelihood. make
Vel er more Independent. Man can hew out for
.Inseh path In life; but to do women the
neatest favor possible We should open to her
more enlarged field Of labor
Many strangers visit this city, who, after
accomplishment of their business, look
nOund Tor mental food. To the man of scienc
-.