The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-11


by Jswett s. Co.. and for sale by J. +. Philip. Ia this
volume six leading clerxynen, of ~ many different de
nominations discuss the question why from love to
God and man. they whatever form OF belief they
profess. Epscopalan Baptist Methodist Uniyersaliss,
Congregaonalist and Unitarian here found present
ing for their peculiar views. Each champion
seems perfectly fearless and yet entirely courteous ana
Is difficult to conceive Of useful compendium OF
wide dyerities of religious opinion than gathered into
this volume. Leaving the walks OF literature, the Mid
die aged Man wishes to introduce
An Obscure Genius.
Like all midde-aged men, am much given to solitary
rambles and frequently leave the crowded avenue for
obscure and therefore quiet streets During
the week, in one of these humble peregrinations,
stumbled upon obscure genius who may yet make
stir in the artistic world. In an alley, Immediately
in the of the residence of John Purdey, esd,
that is to say between First and Second streets, and
directly adjoining the back yards of the houses on
Pennsylvania avenue, young man, who Is by trade
journeyman stonecuttor is chsclling bust of Web
ser which would do credit to almost any artist of estab
lished reputation The young man, whose name am
unacquainted with felt the stirring of his genius
six months since, and first attempted bust of Washing
ton but, becoming discouraged he abandoned that and
commenced his present work. Prompted by that bencv
oence which Is characteristic Of middle aged who
have accomplished little Tor themselves, urged the
young sculptor to exhibit his production when finished
which will be week ten days hence in the Fine Art
Gallery OF Mr.. Philip, where the Sleeping Beatrice is
now on exhibition, and he has promised to do So
He is only very pl lin, unlcttered mechanic
but If the Mddle-sged Man wealthy
of the readers of the Union, this who gives
such good evidence OF art inspiration should In few
years do honor to Washington by rivalling the self
taught but wonderfully endowed sculptors that have In
like sprung up and been fosered In other cities
of our country and yet the dlettant say 'What has
America done for Art? Well,I think Nicholas Long
worth, and certain white Crow in St Louis OF whom Miss
Hosmer and know something, have done than the
critics.
should be glad to close the musings of this week with
due obedience to the Of rhetoric which requires
the orator and writer to leave pleasant impression upon
his audience by his closing Words but withheld by
the following instance of
The PeriIs of Fun.
Boston, albeit remarkably straight in its creed and
very crooked in its ways, has produced few good
things, amongst which do not include the law that
mpsons ragged little boys for selling newspapers with
out license but the best of Its good things Is Oliver
Wendell Holiness who narrowly escaped coat of tar and
feathers for his naughty speech about the aboltonists
at the Pilgrim dinner two years since Holmes has
mmortalxed himself by extravaganza, the burden Of
which u.s. that since he nearly killed his by
very funny poem he has dared to be as funny
az he can. Fun is always dangerous plaything !;
when you intend only very pleasant wit, ten to
one you will give mortal offence to the bosom friend
for whose dull jokes you have been the bntt for
months The love of fun is inherent in human nature
but its struggles for expression often very painful to
the spectators. know man in whom the making of
bad puns has become chronic disease and whose the
ology comprised in single article the belief of future
pun shment In free country the greatest dangers
of fun subjective You may annoy Others exceedingly
but there statute against the vice Of punning and
penalty for torung your neighbor by bad practices
on the piano the most that may Of It quarrel
or possibly duel; but In Washington duel s ia
personal danger, only about equal to q walk after
dark from the Capitol to the White House In either case
You n,sy go unframed, and you may he shot. But
abroad the powers thatbe will tolerate fun that has not
the stamp of the authorized buoon and court fools are
always stupid. In Prussia for instance the civil tribu
nal Of Berlin has recently been much exercised about the
unlicensed laughter of the Berlin Punch over very fool
sh circular of the municipal authorities of Legnz in
Slesa requiring the propietors Of houses In that town
to make up list of all male persons born in 1898
and to send them in but the circular was SO loosely
worded that in reality 1t required the persons and
not the lists to be sent in. Whereupon the Klader
adatsch published humorous notice of this ungram
NAUTICAL biundor, and asked the municipal authorities
sin their profound wisdom to explain how .the male
persons born in 1882 at Legnz to be sent In and
indulging in more pleasantres, closed by ntima
ting that lessons in literary composition might be OBJ
tanned at reasonable prices in Berlin This article gave
great offence to the authorities who caused M Dom the
responsible editor of the Ktadaddsch to he prosecuted
for it, charging him with what the law defines as insut
TO public authorities M. Dohm argued that the circu
Jar proved the propricy of his recommendation to its
authors to take lessons and that in speaking of their
"profound WISDOM, which they regarded as especially
offensive, he committed offence at all for they were
'wondrous wise and he prepared to prove it, The
defence caused shouts Of laughter in which the court
joined but the editor compelled to pay for his fun by
fine of ten thaersa warning it is hoped to all fun
ny disposed persons at least it admonshes me that
not "be funny as can, but repress for the pres
the brilliant but somewhat satirica wittcsm with
which intended to close this weeks musng and con-
tinue to be u very sober and discreet
MIDDLE-AGED MAN
| wv ASHINGTON THEATRE--TTALIAN OPERA.
wv Mr. STUART has the pleasure that
| cluded engagement with the renowned director,
. MAX MARETZEK