The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-10-26
LOCAL MATTERS.

LOCAL MAJIERa
hechdrics' Fair.-The second animal exhibition
Oh tne virginia Mechanics Institute commenced
last night In the magnificent Hall over the frst mar
KeI ana was largely attended by citizens and stran.
gers, all OF whom expressed themselves most agree
ably surprised at the grand display of Southern
mechanism and art arrayed before them THE
opening address, by Rev DR. BURROWS. was a
chaste and elegant affair, and the subject matter
admirably adapted to the occasion In the 'iadies'
department the display far surpasses every thing
OF the kind we have ever witnessed The embroi,
oefy. tapestry, croteheting, patchwork knitting
wonsn pa,mns % craving, etc. etc, by our fair country
women, would do credit to the females of Paris
VINO live by their skilful handiwork 75I'-
Ihe Fair viii be continued for fifteen or t,yentv
the days, and we sincerely trust that it NAV he
means of infusing new Life into the mechanics
aud artisans of Virginia, who, until with a short
time past, have seemed content to stand sill in
their vocations, while the remainder of the world
were hurrying onward to prosperity.
Peintings.-Among the great variety of superb
paintings now being exhibited at the fair room OF
the virginia Mechanics Institute, the ono sent
there by Miss Mamie Norton proved most attrac.
tive TO us, and will doubtless prove so to hundreds
of others who visit the hail. The picture to which
we allude is the first large that attracts the
eye OF the visitor on the west side of the room as
he enters it, the
Charity Scsne"-This picture was brought to
this country during the revolutionary war, by the
grandfather of the late DIR. Norton of this city II
represents q Charity Scene" and seems to have
been taken from the 18th chapter of St Matthew.
For l was hungered, and ye gave me meat:
thirsty, and ye gave me drink / was a stranger.
and ye took me in naked, and ye clothed me: /
was sick, and ye visited me l was in prison aud
ye came unto NE"
Each of these scenes is spread before the eve.
with tue addition OF the sad which closes the
last office that charity can pay to humanity The.
tableau, III fact, consists of seven Compartments
which, though distinct in themselves gracefully and
naturally melt INTO each other
In the foreground ot the piece is the scene of
Jesd'ny 1te haHgfg" This is evidently the favor
ite part with the Painter. The guers are large the
coors tiner, and the genius of his is principally
executed III bringing forth and touching off the
beautiful conceptions of his imagination An al
noner for the dispensation of the bread stands at
table where the loaves are piled up in heap. On
his left Is beautiful female appearing in the act of
distributing ducats from jar These two appear
to be original portraits The lady is evidently
daHe B0teyn, the fair but unfortunate wife of Hen
ny VIII Her companion is admirably drawn, and
is supposed to be the celebrated Erasmus the init
mate friend of HGnS H0lbein In the front Of these
is large groupe of figures, which are asking or
expecting aid from the bounty of him who gives
bread; Some OF these are master pieces. The
little boy is a "cheffauure." The old man who ap-
| pears with all the marks of famine-the woman
with the infant in her arms-the cripple in his tub
the pilgrim with his scrip and scallap shells i'm
pressed upon his cap are all admirably drawn and
executed Every attention is paid to the nceties of
| the cOstume-the tattered garments and the rags,
and the very Schs The hues of the dresses are va
rious yet in exquisite unison and the coors appear
almost as fresh if but lately laid on, vet the
painting is 300 years old.
TO the right of the hungry scene is one which
represents the giving of drink. Higher up the eye
is led by flight of stairs, to scenes where the
naked are clothed and the sick visited To the
right, and more in the back ground are those
which are descriptive of taking in the stranger and
| visiting the prisoner; and last Of all, funeral
procession to distant church yard, which il
l and tfc oy,1,
| stones. The whole is noble specimen of the ar
| from which it emanated. s..s s-
| This magnificent picture is attributed to the
pencil of Haas HOlbein, who hOurished in the
reign of Henry WILL He was native of Switzcr
| land, and was induced to visit England where he
executed all his masterpieces. The painting is on
| English oak, which accounts for the brliancy OF
| its colorng and the excellence of its preserva
| ton.
| Gen. Hashiagton-iressed in continental cos.
tune, mounted on his favorite charger and bearing
aloft the stars and stripes of his country-as en-
broidered by Miss Rachel Semon of this city, and
now on exhibition at the Mechanics Fair is of
the most admirable specimens of needle work that
we have ever seen If there were nothing else in
| the Fair room, this picture alone would well repay
| the price of admission.
Brass W0rk.-Mr. Joseph Arnold, of this city, has
on exhibition at the Fair ROOM specimens of brass
and copper work that cannet be excelled in any
city In the Union. We had idea before that any
such work could be turned out in Richmond and
felt really gratiied seeing that Mr. A. was able
to compete with all other establishments in his par
ticular line.
r. L. Blues.-Election of Obtcers-At a meet
ing OF this old and favorite corps, held on Wednes-
day night last the following gentlemen were elect.
ed to the offices named: Ro. l.. Dickinson Junior
I'd Lieutenant; A. A. Krischmann, Color Sergeant;
DR. e. w. Briggs, Surgeon; Thos. Dodamead Quar-
,ermasaeT; Mrass1 W Mm H. Fry Is. Sergeant; Thos
Maule, 4th do; Thos. p Baxter, 5th do; Miles c.
Macon, lst Corporal; D. b. Bridgeford, I'd do; Da.
vid Wright, Sd do; Fred. Carter, 4th do Sol b.
Jacobs, 9Th do; Nimrod b. Dickinson, 9th do E. G.
rawlings, Treasurer; Geo G. Wilde, Secretary
Jno s. Rady, Assistant Secretary. and A. s. Nc;
Near, Armorer The Blues, we pleased to learn
are in fiourishing condition.
Serious Assauh.-Last "Wednesday afternoon
Spencer slave to j. X. Anderson made most yio
lent assault on Frank, slave to Charles Y. Morris
which may possibly result in his death. Spencer
has been arrested and committed to Jail until Mon
day next, at which time he will be brought before
the Mayor for examination.
For the Fair.-Wright, the proprietor of the line
of omnibusses, has determined run those vehi-
cles from Brook Avenue to the fair room, every
night, to accommodate persons who do not feel dis
posed to walk to and from the exhibition. This will
prov great eonveniecne to the residents of Shoe
koe Hill, all of whom should turn out each evening
and feast their eyes on the thousands of beautiful
articles there to be seen.
A. -TSeA-We are grained TO learn that this
gentleman, who was seriously injured by the
falling of a chimney, the morning of the 18th
inst. is improving, and strong hopes are now en-.
tertained of his ultimate recovery BY the fire on
that morning Mr. Arsell had his shop burned and
nearly all his stock and tools destroyed and as he
poor man, and now, no doubt, cripple for life,
the loss falls heavily on him.
The Bust of Mrs. Madison, taken a few wears be
fore her deaf, will prove most attractive feature
in the Mechanics Fair, being held in the hall OF
the first market 1t is said to be an admirable like
ness of that remarkable lady.
La Fdyefte-on canvass, as large as life, and
the immortal Harrington, occupy prominent posi-
tions in the Mechanics Fair room.
| Stone Rammer-Maste er j. II. Grafton has invent
ed a machine for "ramming pavements," which is
quite an ingenious affair and viii attract great
ntion during the exhibition Of the Mechanics In
| sttute. af tss
The Rmggles's Card Press in the exhibition room
Ii continually surrounded by hundreds Of persons
an xious to understand how it can print cards 80
rapidly and yet so neatly.
Ca5iae Work-The Messrs. Habliston have on
exhibition at the fair room of the Mechanics Insti
| tute Wardrobe and Cabinet manufactured in
L e al - 4 hAa H..