The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-21

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committee public schools.
Mr.. MnLER from the committee ON improvements re-
ported resolution nstructing the committee of the
councils 10 urge upon Congress the improvement of
street north passed
Nh DuRNINaros from the police committee reported
substitute for the bin regulating the rates Of hackney
fares passed.
Mn. d.. leave introduced joint resolution asking
from Congress increase of powers 10 enable the corpo
rate authorities TO control and tax any railroad rail
roads that may hereafter be constructed within tho city
passed
Mr.. Bnowx from the committee on claims reported a
bill for the relief of William Ellis Bro. which
passed
Mr. DuNSINGToS from the school committee, reported
the bill referred in the early part of the meeting for the
establishment OF nght-school in the third district
passed.
Mr.. MoonE from the committee on the asylum, re-
ported bill providing for the purchase of wagon and
passed.
bill from the lower board asking Congress to light
with the streets running through the Mall and TO
move the therefrom, WINS taken up and passed
after which the board adjourned.
Board Of Common Council Mr. MuLLoY from the police
committee reported resolution nsructng the council
committees before Congress against the
passage of any city railroad bill unless the power to tax
aud control such railroad at the time vested in
the corporation which passed.
A bill from the Board of Aldermen to furnish the
Washington Asylum taken up and passed
Also joint resolution from the upper board author
market in the Seventh ward which adopted.
Also, bill providing for additional night school in
the third district passed.
Also, joint resolution relative to permanent in
crease of the auxiliary guard passed
Several of the members having left the room
Mr., JOKES moved that the roll he called and the alb
sentees fined two dollars each; which passed.
And the board then adjourned
SMITHSONIAN LECTURES. An overlooking audience
greeted John g. Sake the ballad poet at the nstitu-
ton last evening. Previous to the lecture mani
festations of impotence the part of those present
drew Prof Henry to the stand who reminded them that
these lectures gratuty to the citizens of Washing
ton, and that such demonstrations very annoying
to the government, who at little trouble to
gage lecturers.
Mr.. SAKE began by explaining why many eminent men
in all ages have condemned poetry If not the result of
ignorance cynicism their antipathy to song might
generally be traced to their deficiency in that
spect Meaphysicnns and poets have alike been puzzled
to define poetry The best definition he believed to be-
Beautiful thoughts, in musical words"
As an art poetry the gift Of but few-as a sent
ment it almost universal the human mind
Grief had sobbed in its mounful cadencejoy had sung
her raptures in its strains lit the language Of love
The poet and his readers differed only in this that while
both possess the poetic feeling the latter alone give
it tunefu utterance. The American people were, he
said the most poetic and imaginative the globe
and, in this connection, he depIored the immense
amount of time and stationery consumed in vain by the
would be poets Of land Poetry wasthe oldest of the
fine 1t had preceded history in letters, music in
melody and painting in description II transcended all
forms of composition in harmony beauty and grandeur
of style Nedocrty in verse intoleabe 1t must be
decidedly good, pnequivopally had. lie repudia-
ted the doctrine that poets were goddess pe citing
the spotess character of many Of the foremost British and
American bards in proof of his position Poetry was
essentially moral, Leaving the actual for the possible
il brought all beauty and loveliness to mans earthly
tabernacle. The lecture throughout repete with
humorous anecdotes, illusions and comparisons Az
ter short pause the lecturer rected portion of his
poem love" which received with hearty APP
plausc by his hearers. Mr.. SAKE evidently possesses
discriminating TASTE and his remarks combined much of
the instructive with the amusing and entertaining.
SALE oP PAINTINGS. Although the weather was de- |
cidedIy unpleasant last evening there was good at
tendance mt the hall Of the Washington Art Association
The paintings to be sold appeared great advantage by
the strong light; and Alderman Fisher by persuasive
yet knock down arguments, blamed very fair prices
''7ae PIONEER purchased Col Pitchlin s.TAe Last
Of their Race by Gov Stevens who also bid off sever,
Rocky mountain pictures .7he 7rappers (s, or the dis
puted shot," by w w. Coreoran, esq Innman's
Mood cteeh,' by Mr.. a. B. Claxton &c, SC The
PRICES ranged from ten to two HUNDRED dollars the
frames not being INCLUDED,
LlFE lSsuRASQn Among advertisements to-day |
our readers will find card of the British Commercial
Life Insurance Company Of London and New York which |
has opened an agency In this city. This company has
been established thirtyeght years. and shows an abun
dant capital and here endorsed by highly re-
spectacle bard of reference in New York whore we
understand the company has invested Sl00 900 Of eap.
tai Dr. VIM. p Iohnson has accepted Inc me-
amRershp for Washington, ~-'ca' eS-
s0V "A letter received in this city from Forest civ
Minnesota, states that the mercury In the Thermometer
there stood at hirytwo degrees below zero at o'clock
a M on December sth, and at thirty-fye degrees be-
low zero at the same hour on the 9th
The Hon, Mn PRESTON, minister to Madrid has been |
the recipient Of many hospitable attentions during his
present visit to the metropolis On Saturday he was the
guest of Governor Floyd the Secretary of War at din
ner with the Vice President Hon. John Letcher and
other distinguished gentlemen.
IaE FAIR at Mess Calls old stand suffered yesterday
for the lack Of fair weather 1t bright and cheerful
within DOORS however and it is evident that our citizens
and the strangers within gates bear in mind the en-
treaty OF the great Apostle "Help those Women"
1in HnHSa OF SERVANTS at Fairfax Court House win |