The Washington union., 1857-04-17
LOCAL NEW 8.

SgArrARY roR THE CApIroL-we find in the Journal
published at Syracuse New York detailed description
Of the design for the east pedm,nt of the Capitol exen
son which has been ntrsted to that eminent American
artist Mr.. Palmer. II Is said that when dagueneotype
pictures of of this gentleman works shown
to Hiram Powers, with the remark, He has never been
abroad, that distinguished sculptor replied " He
need come !! The account of his design shows that
artists possess originality of talent and boldness of
coseepon which only needs encouragement to develope
It, 1t represents at Plymouth, in Massachusetts,
just after the landing of the Purtans. Several of the
figures colossal statues and upon the marble back
ground Indians wolves, trees &c. to be executed in
basreief forming novel representation of reality
without any =" classical adjuncts
'.The form of the pediment, of course renders il
that the figures the ends should be lower than
those in the centre But this instead of being defect
is happily turned into an advantage While it gives
unity and expression to the group it permits the artist
to symbolicay arrange his figures in the ascending scale
of intellectual development Lowest of all is the savage
life typifed by the Indian and his dog Then the do
mestc affections of civilized life indicated by the
mother and child Then the restless spirit of American
enterprise by the young man looking eagerly around
him. Then the stern energy OF early colonial times by
the figure of Miles Standish. LASTLY the kneelng form
Of Rose and the Elder absorbed in prayer typy religion
the erownng glory of civilization. So, too the
left of the group the figures each expressive of
phase of American life and growth. The energetic
open Bible need no explanation. !"
Works OF Some effective pictures executed in
pastelle temporarily exhibition at the hat store of
W. NJ. S. Hopkins, corner of Sixth street and Pennsyl
vania avenue.
ELECTION. Metropolitan Mechanics Institute, at its
annual meeting held Wednesday evening elected the
following officers, w. w Corcoran, esq having first been
elected president and declined T. u Walter, president
j. H. Bradley, c. f. Wood, John P Pepper, and Charles
P. Wannal vice presidents Thomas Rich, correspond
ing secretary j. G. Magruder recording secretary; Henry
Janncy, financial secretary; VIM +. Bayy, treasurer ;
VIM. Wurdeman, librarian Chas f. Stansbury, chair
man of the board of directors The institute
bers GAG senior and l79 junior members and in -four
ishing condition The receipts from the exhibition just
closed were So, ,Ol0 s2
TIE JAMESTOWN CELEBRATION. The celebration of the
fifth semi centennial anniversary of the landing of the
earliest colonists of Virginia. the 18th of next month
bids fair to be unusually interesting The first celebra
ton at this time-hallowed spot was in 1907, when a
prayer offered by the venerable Bishop Madison, ora
ons were delivered by Brsooe G. Baldwin and John
Madison then students Of William and Mary and odes
were recited by c. X. Blanchard and Leroy Anderson
Captain Nestes company of artlleriss, from Norfolk
fired the salutes and there was large audience nclu
ding some four hundred ladies'
We learn from the Virginia Sentinel that frstclass
steamer with band of music, will leave Washington
the evening of Monday, May ii, at O'clock touching
at Alexandria at halfpast l. Returning from jamestown
it will reach Washington Thursday afternoon. The boat
will stop for several hours at Norfolk and Old Point Com
fort.
VOTERS IN WASHINGTON. The following is corrected
enumeration of the voters of the different wards of this
city