Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-03-07
LOCAL NEWS.
Anr.xnRNfa To-NlAHi,


Tony PASTOR, the Leoni Pantomime Company and
Canterbury Minstrels, with q huge bill OF cho-
ruses, songs, ballads, ballet, burlesdue, comic,
ludicrous pantomime, The Rose Of Sharon"
Look out for the grand matinee Tor ladies' ana
families, TO- morrow afternoon, and the distIiou-
lion Of valuable gifts-smong them an elegant
silk dress.
SMITHSONIAN by Rev John 8. @. Abb
bott, before the Washington Lecture Association,
upon the subject Of american and European
Mobility"
Opp FzLIows' HALL Second night Of San
ford famous opera troupe, in capital programme
Of songs, ballads, dances, choruses, burlesque,
&C, concluding with the burlesque opera Of La
somnambula. In consequence Of some delay
Last nigh In getting their stage properties on for
their opening, the performances ran to q later
hour than Will be the case now that everything
10 In applepie order.
wuLARp's HALL Second and last concert Of
l.. M. Gottschelk, assisted by Miss Hinkley,
Brignoli, Susini, and other musical talent, under
the supervision Of Max Maretzek. An entertain
ment Of unusual atnactveness to the Washing
ton public.
PHILHARMONIC HALL An original programme
Of dances, songs, ballads, and burlesques by the
entire Campbell Minstrel Troupe of sixteen star
performers, together with Barnum's wonderful
"What 10 it'' and the Albno family, the latter on
exhibition all day. Matinee tomorrow afternoon
for ladies and children.
MAGICAL ILLUSIONS and grand phantasmagoria
views Of the war, at the Rooms Of the Young
MEMS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, fenn6ylvdQld ave
nue., opposite the Metropolitan Hotel. An In
structive and amusing entertainment.
ACADEMY OF MusIc.-Pehnsylvania avenue, be-
tween Ninth and Tenth sts. Pree concerts at
O'Clock, good music, excellent refreshments, &c.
Hall open all day.
MUSICAL HALL, corner Of Pennsylvania avenue
and Sixth reet.-Open all day, with attractive
free concerts at O'Clock, superior refreshments,
Re, &c.
TEMPERANCE HALL, street, between Ninth
and Tenth streets.-Grand soiree Of Prof. c. F.
Barnes. capital time IL In anticipation.
SMITHSONIAN LKcruRE-Last night, Rev. w.
A. p. Martin lectured at the Smithsonian. upon
the subject Of China and the Chinese. In 1850 the
The immense magnitude Of China was owing to
the character Of her geographical boundaries and
her peculiar civilization, which had In many
respects attained to q high degree, as was demon
strsted by her early Invention Of gunpowder, and
the compass the disco very Of chemistry, her silk,
porcelain, and literature. Among the amusing
contrarieties Of tie Chinese are the practices Of
shaving the head Instead Of the face wearing the
jacket Outside the coat and their pockets In their
boots; Of shaking their fists at each other a
sslutation and insisting that the magnetic needle
points to the South instead of the North. In
noticing their character the lecturer regarded
them a. the " wisest, brightest, meanest Of man.
kind"
Their Government has always been an absolute
monarchy, the peculiar title Of their emperor
Tient- sien, the son Of Heaven-indicatinR their
idea Of his divine origin and supremacy. China
Las Dccu SOscIncu IOf Zl1 years Dy only seven
sovereigns, none Of whom perished by violence
Among the superstitons OF the people are the
ideas that when dense foes arise from the earth,
Of the Sassd ~ female
indicate that his mind 10 clouded. Earthquakes
are regarded a. evidence or the instability Of the
empire, and comets as indications Of a change Of
rulers. AFFECT worship 10 required by the emperor
Of his subjects, none Of whom can approach him
without ceremonial Of three meetings and nine
prcstrations. Widows, orphans, the forsaken,
- .A.NA- ID 81
able beings In China; and during q sojourn of
ten years In that empire, the lecturer never saw
bat one old maid, who was regarded as q curl
0dty.
There IL no such thing as birthright to the
throne, the Emperor selecting his successor often
from distant part Of the empire, and the right
Of rebellion is secured to the people In the max
inns Of their sages, recorded for the study Of all.
The mandarins are branches Of the root Of impe-
rial power, Of two classes, civil and military,
selected only on the score Of merit. The civil
elan 10 founded on literary distinction, compe-
Htlon being open to all. One in q hundred eI-
amined with critical severity Is admitted to the
nrst degree. Every three years these graduates
contend for a second degree, one In q hundred
Obtaining II; third degree emitting one to Office
In the government. This incites to literary pur.
suits aud strengthens the government In some
obnins even the second degree; and the third
degree 10 so guarded that officials have been put
TO death for selling academic honors.
In private life the grandsre Is the sovereign,
often welding the power Of life and death. The
sentiment Of flial piety 10 universal, and several
generations frequently live In the same house In
the most perfect harmony. Brothers are not on
an equal footing, but each older brother exerts
authority over the younger. Vows Of brother
hood are taken In the bonds Of friendship, and In
addressing each other II Is the custom to extol the
following colloquy:-"where 10 your palatial
nansiou," Answer-"My straw howell IL down
by the river" "What Is the number Of your
young noblemen!" 'I have four little puppies"
HHOW A vfrtn0na yVife7D atn nj HON
bush IL well )" &c.
There 10 not the slightest variety In the female
dress which Is contracted to the smallest limits,
and In noticing which the speaker gloried In the
I" full oSbed expanse Of the American costumen
The women are subjected to extremely Ill usage,
and be had seen as many a. thousand female
Buhddists In q single temple praying to be IN
sexed In their next state Of being, 90 that they
might enjoy the privilege Of lording Il over Gre
alton.
In conclusion, the lecturer revie wed the style of
their literature, their religion and the progress Of
christian civilization among them, and urged that
The United States form league with France and
Russia for the purpose OF compelling England to
cease from the forcible introduction Of opium into
China.
MYSTERY CLEARED UP -Pedestrians who
passed through the circle In the First Ward, yes-
tsfday morning, Were shocked at observing a
large pool Of blood on the gravel walk near the
western gate Of the Enclosure story was speedily
circulated to the effect that person had entered
barroom In the vicinity, and on leaving was
iolloWed oy several soldiers, who killed and
robbed him.
The facts In the ease seem 10 be, that sergeant
ofvolunteers lefea bar room In the vicinity Of the
new bridge across Rock creek, In company with
two or three rough s, between 70 and O'Clock on
Wednesday night In the Circle the party-all
somewhat lntoxicated-met two soldiers and ran
up against them. The two soldiers turned upon
their assailants and speedily put them to flight
all except the sergeant, who had been knocked
down with q stone In the melee He was found
shortly Afterwards, his head bleeding profusely
by q patrolman, who took him 10 the Circle Hos
pital, where he II said to be recovering.
SMALL NorKs II THE DIsrRIcT.-The follow
lag letter addressed to the chairman Of the Senate
Committee on the District Of Columbia win ex-
plain itself:
CRIMINAL CoURT RooM, March 6, 1862.
Hon J0ka W. Grimes
Sir; take the liberty to call your attention to
the act OF Congress bearing date uly z, 1858, In
reference TO passing small notes In the District of
Columbia IL Is practically dead letter upon
the statute books, from the necessity Of using
such currency In the present state of afY,irs I
respectfully suggest the propIiety Of repeating the