The national Republican., 1869-06-30

benches, extending the whole length Of the
western extremity OF the capaclous hall,
were ranged tho batteries, Instruments, and
almost lnnumerablep paraphernalis necessary
TO exhibit electro-dynamics. These were,
notwithstanding their intricacy,. and, in
many instances, the circumspection neces-
sary 10 handle them, employed by the stu
dents with an case and freedom almost as
tonlshlng. And not the least remarkable
part Of this highly interesting entertainment
was the evident familiarity OF the young
gentlemen with the intrlcacies Of science,
and the self-possession with which they
elucldated their lectures.
The Yoltalc pile was lumlnously explained
BY Mr.. Mallory, and the effects Of the cleo |
trio current were exhibited In q very crafty |
Ing manner by Mr.. Russell, who, bringing |
magnetic substances and metallic wires In |
contact with the battery, demonstrated the
power Of electricity on platinum, copper, |
steel, iron and other hard substances, caus-
Ing them In an instant TO dissolve by the
heat generated from the battery. Mr.. Wal
ters displayed to the great qualification Of
all present. the chemical, physiological,
thermal and luminous effects Of the electric
current by means Of the positive and mega
tive conductors, showing the chemical effects
OF each through screen on the precious
metals and various ores. In this connection
the electric drummond and other lights were
produced with dazzling brilliancy. But by
far the most interesting, and certainly the
most novel part Of the entertainment was
the part played by fountain Of water.
| This consisted In the emission by chemical
process from q battery OF a continuous
stream, which by turns assumed every con-
celvable huc-purple, azure, pink, yellow,
| orange, crimson, &c. The Western World,
we understand, can boast Of no similar ap-
paratus, 1t having only very recently been
introduced here from one Of the Oldest uni
vcrsites Of Europe.
We regret the lateness Of the hour at
which We write, and our consequent iuabil-
ity to do this subject justice, but II we fall
to convey to our readers an adequate idea OF
the excellence Of this scientific exhibition,
we feel at least that those OF the rising gen.
Grafton whose education may be conflded to
the Jesuit Fathers, will have all their facul-
ties fully developed at Georgetown College.
CONTEST IN ELocUTIoS.
The contest for the Davis prize medals
first and second-by the students Of Column
bla College commenced last night at the
Thirteenth Street Baptist church. There
was q good attendance, the ladies, as usual,
being largely In the majority. The contest
ants arc Mcssrs. b. A. Williamson, W. ii.
Finckel, Z. D. Leech, F. r. Boston and @.
V. Coffin, Of the District Of Columbia, and
J. W. Bidgood, z. 7. Sewers and J. Howard
Kcrfoot, OF Virginia. The oratlons OF
Mcssrs. Lcech, Boston and Coffin will form
part Of the commencement exercises to-day
The others were delivered last night, as were
: also orations by Messrs. l.. F. Ward, OF
PENNSYLVANIA, and A. 7. Stuart, OF the Dis
! trict, who were not contestants. The con-
testants and the other orators acquitted them.
: selves with high credit to themselves and TO
the institution they so handsomely repre-
sent.
r 1t might not be proper to anticipate the
! decision OF the judges, but as Mr.. Stuart was
not Of the number, we may with property
c say that his composition was logical and
clear, and enunciated with a distinct and
. .. we'll modulated voice, and peculiarly easy
grace and dignity Of manner. The Judges
Messrs. William Stlckney and J. .. wilson
Q Of this city, and Mr.. Willie J. Palmer, o.
: North Carolina, will compare their notes
and make the award of the two prizes at the
close of the commencement exercises to
day.
5 In awarding the prizes, the questions oI
!, composition and delivery arc both to be con
! sidered.
4 The programme of exercises, which com
9 mence at II a. m. to-day at the same place
G are as follows: Music; prayer; Latin Saluta
tory, by +. o. Leech, b. c.; oration, by 7
c Franklin, D. c.; oratlon by T. X. Boston
Nd; music; oration by Z. o. Leech, maste
o of arts, oratiou by s. 8. Peasants, D. G.
p music; Grafton by G. V. Coffin, d. c.; tn
$ Alumni grafton, by Prof. w. l.. Wilson, o
the class OF 1896, and yaledlctory address, b.
@. V. Coffin.
s The exercises sIil close with the award o
Il medals and the comforting Of degrees. Il
. our notices Of the prizes awarded to the pre-
+ paratory class at the Z street church, o.
i Monday night, we inadvertently omitted tn
8 name Of y. b. Eaton, as the recipient OF on
y OF the first prizes In the second class.
c The following Of the same class receive
W certificates to college: l.. 7. Cowlc, }. II
IT Edwards, G. II. Falconer, ii. G. Fuller, J
,e G. Harbaugh, 4. B. Hay, G. NJ. Hendley, {
IL NJ. Lewis, g. w. Little, Q. 8. Lusk, J. l.W
s. Marriott, G. W. Mccullough, II. s. Nymar
nr P. Parker Phillips, s. s. Shedd, c. +. Row,
n Conway, Robinson, and g. A. sponord.
n, A YousG PIcKPocKET-AS ARGUNEN
n FoR A HOUSE OF CoRRECTIoS.-Willy Fit
nc gerald, youth Of 10 years, whose pictul
70 now adorns the rogues gallery at polio
~ headquarters, was arrested by Detective
" Coomes and Miller on Monday evening, .
ca the Seyenth-street railroad junction, whi
u actively engaged In plying his vocation as
~. piekpocket. Willy is well known to Il
IN police as M adept In ''going through" Il
pockets of ladies, that being his speciallt
ot At the time of his arrest, although he hi
nd searched the pockets OF two or three ladic
no he had not been successful In "taking
nd trick, :" therefore the officers could make
positive charges against him. He W
'ke locked up for time at police headquartcr
,ur and finally dismissed with q severe lectu
in- by Justice Walter, who was 10th to send
'ur young q child TO Jail. Is not this and q
all hundreds of similar arrests Of young vag
lor bonds monthly made by the police, a sui
'ur cient incentive to urge forward a movemc
by which house Of correction for juyen
hall ha dal In trii
As 1t Is now the magistrates do not care
US; send the young scamps TO prison where tn
pal will probably be more liable to contamin
IN tion among older thieves than II running
.N, he, large Oh the streets.
ard ALARMS OF FIRE. = There were thr
my alarms Of fire yesterday morning, as follow
70 About O o'clock, caused by the burning
INK some rubbish In an unoccupled house, !
,ol- 4sS Twelfth street, between and f. /
yer tinguished without damage.
'ss- About 7i45 o'clock an alarm was III
from box No. 81 for fire In the stable
sor DR.. J. r. Piper, No. 425 Twelfth street, ne
to II, which was damaged to the amount
$500. Tho 1re department was promp
out, and rendered good service.
:, The alarm about o'clock was occasion
ilh- by the burning Of n feather bed In the TIL
oh story Of the house occupied by Madal
yd, Marquerlot, on the south side Of Penns
loi- vania avenue, between Tenth and Eleyor
-, streets. The bed was set FIRE to Academia
gu, by sick child who was playing "
ana matches. No damage.
l.; About $50 o'clock last evening an ala
1iu nN OF fire was sounded from box 10, caused
De fire being discovered In brick house
), OF Third street, near Virginia avenue, occup
mp as a grocery store by James Rossiter, a
owned by James Fowler. The first was
ana casioned by colored man throwing llgh
nee match In fireplace, which contained a {
, laht of lamp-oil. Damage about $50.
anu % ORGANIZATION OF Boat CLUB IN GEoR
iIsS TowS.-0n Monday evening number
"N' gentlemen met at the rooms OF Colo
Ala, seligson, In Lang's hotel, Georgetown,
'na. 'a' the purpose of organizing boat club. tt
,eeT ~ elected Colonel Frank Jones, president;
To ro'i John Z. Waters, secretary, and Mr.. JC
~ d. Donnelly, treasurer.
ino- i.o A committee was appointed to procur
hH.