The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-12

THE wAsHINaroN aRr ASSOCIATION.

IlE WASHINGTON ART ASSOCIATION
The rooms Of the Art Association were last evening
thronged with ladies and gentlemen whS had assembled
TO listen 20 the hlst lecture OF the delivered
before that body. After some time spent in the in
speclion OF the rich aud collection OF paintings that
have for the past few weeks formed the attraction OF the
gallery the company took seats aud the president a the
association Dr. Stone, addressed them in few happy
remarks. He said that ID had been his purpose be-
fore introducing the honorable gentleman who was
TO appear before them, 10 have said something in
relation 70 the Association and its purposes but
lac had been much engaged during the ,ay that
lac feared he should hardly now e able 10 throw his
voice TO the limits OF the la snswer then 10 the
query that might be made why We need speak on ant In
the presence Of its beautiful productions he would only
say that long moral excellence and beauty of
character asped toso long as patriotism is esteeeg
virtue, and the examples Of the hero and statesman
ship of nations deemed worthy of being recorded and
Perpatuatedso long will art and its various mnistra
tions be needed and appropriate themes of dis
course This exhibition has significance beyond the
silent eoquence OF the works themselves For the reason
that We have great nation which we love- and which
we would like TO adorned have they been brought
together the sign and promise the capacity of the
artists of the nation to begin the work Of commemor
tion, demanded of the age. In concluding, he would
have the honor and the great pleasure Of introducing to
ANNtuicg vouh NochIAtlc, Oh new
York.
Mr. Cochrane said that he had come before them to saw
few words under very peculiar circumstances alludin
to the disappointment which lac had unayoidably oeca
stoned on previous evening He artist but
he lover Of art, and he trusted most his hearers
were the same. Ii pleasant for time to be freed
from the turmoil of business and to speak Familiarity
his friends and neighbors. 1t his intention to
make elaborate and he hoped that he should be
heard with indulgence The word art apt to be
construed ia its limited significant alone of pcto
rial aclieyementas culptured excellence. IL true
that by understanding the fine arts comprehend
ed the results of professional application exhibited tie
andn the marble but art by restrict
ed to the studio IL lived elsewhere than the easel
o, in the chisel it was goddess to whom was paid
the devotion of Others besides the artist the asp
ton of nations and BY its condition il defined the civil
condition of people.
The acts of life indicated the progress which that life
had made towards its perfect stages 1t was in
this that art conprehensiy of systems OF edu
cation IL was upon the commemorative powers of its
arts that people must depend for the transmission of its
existence through future ages Indeed nation without
arts could not be said to have entered upon the precincts
of history, while it equally true that committed
the nation possessing it to undying fame. Ancient
Egypt the mother of mysteries lived only in the monu
menis of her arts. desert-waste all her borders
her greatness still survived in the agmenary records OF
her past The mural ruins her hundred gated Thebcs
called the sad memories of magncence that has passed
away. The pyramids told of millions who had toled in
their erection, and brought back to the reflective mind
the power and wealth that dwelt upon the banks Of
the Nile.
And 5, of Greece which lived only in the records Of
her Her poets, her orators and her historians
h ID done to perpctuate her than had the
remnants of her arts that have survived the wreck of
time The greatness of Olympus still fingered around
the Jove of Phas the refinement of her people could be
traccd in Il G columns OF the Acropos And where
listed the impressive witnesses Of oines departed
grandeur if not in the crumbng pile and falling ruin
And would be useless to multiply instances to show
that the fine arts, the sculpture the paintings the arch
lecture of any age the sentnels of the refinement
which they represented while they guarded. The clos
tered abbey and the solemn minister, the muloned win
dow and the ctted roof each conveyed their lesson
Among savages there yesges of the arts and if
we revered the memory Of the nations of this continent
have long ago passed away, respect only at
| tributable 10 the relics of their architecture.
1t was then important to encourage and foster the arts
And surely America which advancing in all else
such railroad speed, would not be left behind in this
There those in Italy who vndcatng, and nobly
too our national capacities for the culture Of the arts
There were those home who striving to arouse
1
/ past These were the men whom must rely
] These were they who ,adeemng character In
the eyes OF mankind and who bringing step by
step nearer TO our God.
After the close of the lecture, which warmly APP
plauded the audience continued their inspection of the
beautiful works OF with which the hall il decorated
and did not dspeTse until late hour
SMITHSONIAN LECTURES "A very large audience of gen
temen comprising most OF the medical faculty of the
metropolis assembled last night in the lecture hall OF
the Institution behold the wonderful and unique phe-
nomenon exhibited in the person of NJ Groux, OF Ham
burg He was born the 10th of January 1881, The
anatomical peculiarly of his formation is assure of the
sernnm breast bone which did not excite much atten
ton until he attacked with cholera while residing In
London. lie attended by respectable German ply
scan whom he communicated the fact Of the singular
maliormation. His physician the to under
stand and appreciate the value of the case and through
his fundamentally he presented TO the most emf
nent physicians OF London. He returned to Hamburg
and entered well known mercantile house of that city
4 His health became affected, and he was advised to
travel for its benefit From that time he has been tray
Cling In various parts OF Europe lie has visited nearly