Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-07-17

School EXAMINATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS.
On wednesday last the Fourth District
County Primary School, held Its examina-
nation. The roll OF the scasol numbered
seventy. six scholars, Of whom seventy one
were present at the examination, and the re-
maining five only absent on account of sick
ness. 1t Is due to the teacher and cholars
that we should state that this school has oely
been operation since last February year ago,
at which time many of the scholars had never
been to any school, and had only received such
crude Instructions rs could be given in the few
leisure moments Of parents, who had to work
hard for their daily bread. Or course with
such an element it was very difficult to make
any classification; but not.Eithstanding, MT
keeBe, the teacher, has worked wonders.
The discipline is very good, and the general
behavior Of the scholars in and ont of school
courteous and refined. At the examination
conducted by the Snb-board of the District,
Quilted themselves well, particularly in geo.
graphy. They answered all the questions put
to them promptly and correctly, and the ex.
animation was alike creditable to teacher and
pupils.
Thursday morning, the colored school Of the
Fourth District had its examination. Mr..
VOORHEES,, the teacher. seems to have paid great
attention to his scholars, as some of them did
aIkably well; but the school is small, only
numbering eighteen scholars. Thursday night,
quite large audience was assembled at the
exhibition OF the white school. This we learn
WIS entirely voluntary on the part of the
scholars, and. so far as we have heard, none
Of the other county schools have had one
The children have acquitted themselves even
more credltably than ut the examination The
speaking was all very good considering the
fact that none OF the children had ever at
tempted anything OF the kind before. During
the exhibition we were favored with quite q
number OF songs from all of the children, and
also some two or three solos and Duets MI
h+ene deserves much credit for his musical
instruction, all given out OF school hours
After the speeches, premiums were distributed
to the pupils by one OF the trustees.
Friday, the children had a pic mic in the
woods OF the Soldiers Home, adjoining the
school house, by permission of Gen Dimmick,
and enjoye ed Themselves finely, notwithstaud-
ing shower Of rain interfere with their
pleasure.
THE JAPAN.-The steamer Japan, formerly
the Confederate ram Stonewall, recently sold
TO the japanese embassy. is now being rap
idly ntted for sea preparatory TO being deliv.
cred to the Japanese authoritie and it is ex-
pected that she will be ready fer sea possibly
by the Isl, and not later certainly than the 10Th
OF next month. She will 60 to Japan by way
OF the Straits of Magellan, and will be com.
manded by Commander George Brown, an
officer of the regular navy, who has been on
duty at the Washington navy yard for two
years past. and who has recently received a
leave Of absence to enable him to take her out
Mr. T. b Dubois, who was during The war a
lieutenant commander in the navy, Is tn ex-
ecutive ofacer, and Mr. Learvthorn, formerly
volunteer lieutenant, one Of the m ates Her
engines. which are Of the oscihatiug pattern,
y.
OF the navy, now in charge of the iron -ciads at
the navy yara, assisted by Charles A. Stuart
Jas. W. Milstead. Samuel Ellis and Andrew
}. Potter, all OF whom were engineers in our
1t is the intention to ship a crew OF about Is
men, and the officers are overwhelmed with
applications. Already a number have been
eEgaged-frst-c class representative seamen-
and IL is the intention of the officers to ship he
ful crew on Monday next. The officers will
be well paid for taxing her out, and the crew
VIII receive an advance Oh the wages paid to
seamen In the merchant service; pay 10 con-
rinue until they return to New York
ibe armament which was on board when
she fell INFO the hands Of the Government
Including the splendid 3U0-pounGer French
gnn-Wlll be sent ont in her, and she Will be in
prime order III every branch OF work, the
workmen doing their ssleyel best
The price PAID by the Japanese is Si5aOO9,
which is said to be very low, the engines being
estimated at about one-half that sum, but
even II the vessel had been given to the japa-
nese II would no doubt have been an adyap-
taseous arrangement for this country in view
OF the commercial facilities and increase Of
1Tade IL is likely to bring us.
BEFORE sne leaves II is the Intention of the
officers TO open her for the inspectloa OF the
public.
BULL ON THE RAMPAGE.-Monday after.
neon, a large bull, which for some months has
been Kept in the Monument enclosure, Jumped
Ihe fence. and started off towards the Navy
Yard, taking the centre OF Virginia avenue
Two men from the ommissary's depot in the
Monument grounds. mounted horses and
tarted in pursuit of the animal, but did not sue.
coed in beading him off, but on the other hand
cansed him 10 increase his speed. As he was
running towards Eight street east citizen
attempted TO head him off, and was Knocked
down Another man working on Virginia
avenue, attempted to strike him in the head
with pick ak, but was 'shisted'' about Is feet,
but not much hurt. A boy on Eleventh streer.
was also knocked down aud some what
bruised Near the Eastern Market, two bows
w. RrOWn, Attemntpd n hQ
animal, and one Of them was knocked down
an emban kment and badly injured. AT last
accounts, the bull was following the left bank
OF the Anacostia. and had not been captured
BEAUTIFUL PHRNoMEEoN.-The brilliant
solar halo visible here yesterday morning
about ten O'Clock, was not only remarkable,
on account OF the purity and clearnesa of the
pIlsmatic colors, bat because such pnenome-
non seldom occurs except in cold weather,
heing caused by the refraction of the SUMS
light in passing through frozen vapor, which
toIm two circles around that lumlnary-one
at 23H degrees, the other A. degrees. The COL
ors of the inner circle yesterday were as bright
and well defined as in the RAINBOW, while the
outer circle was also very brilliant. Aitogeth-
er the appearance was most BEAUTIFUL, and
was witnessed by thousands of our citizens.
whose eyes were. strong enough to bear the
strong light of the parhelia or mock suns,
which was so dazzling as to be some what try
ing to weak optics. gls a..fl.e4 - i,.
CoLoRED SCHOOL ExAMINATIoN-Ou Fri
day last, Rev. John KimbalI, Mr. D. B. Gar
penter, and MIR. McCheeney examined the col.
ored primary school In the third district OF the
county, at BriRhtwood, TAUGHT by Mr.. Harry
Smith The school numbers 46, all Of whom
were present, and in the only book used they
were well yersed, spelling and reading quite |
fiuently., They had also made cons iderable |
progress in arithmetic and geography, not
withdrawing there were NO books IN those |
studies used. The progress of the school un. /
der the circumstances was very surprising.
The house In which the school is taught is q
neat frame. in an enclosurel Of halt an acre,
com mmissioner. Mr.. Carpenter. There was |
quite a number Of the parents and friends of |
the pupils present. IS, |
CONTRACTS AwARDED.-Maior c.. Bell,
Commissary Of Subsistence, department Of |
Washington, yeste rday opened bids and ward /
ed the COP tracts for furnishing four to the fol-
le wing Iislnrd parties. w. d. Macy, Baltmore, |
ltO barrels -four at $14.9g, and 50 barrels ct |
Sis III; a. Ross. Ray & Brother, Georgetown. |
saHI ha rres at &f3 95, and 300 barrels at Si4.9
Proposals were also opened At the Bure au Of |
Provisions and Clofhing in the Navy Depart |
ment yesterday. TO furnish 10000 plain blue |
satinet trousers and lU.0OO blue fannel over. |
shirts, to be delivered at New York and Bos-
ton. The lowest bidder being VIM Ma:thews |
Of Now York City, the contract was awarded |
70 him. .ss.l,. ~
BENHING's BRIDGR-This bridge across the |
Anacestia or Eastern Branch, has been entire
u torn away 10 make pisce for a new and |
gu stantiai structure. the erection OF which. |
under Gen. Michler. in charge of the public |
and grounds, 10 supertntended by |