The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-02-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
) From our regular washington corrcspoadea,,
wAmlsaros .. {. FOB !. ls.s.

ton Of the Fine Arts al the National Capital.
Previous to that tune. Congress was sort OF
dry nurse to aspiring artists, md the Capitol
m.educational establishment. where the
Knights Of the palette could 90 and study
not Turner aud Van Dyck, ii is true, but
Trumball and Yanderlyu, whose paintings
have adorned the rotunda, 10 this many a
year! Now the Coreoan Art Gallery, which
is free aud open to the public three days ia
the week, yies with the Capitol; and success
fully, too, for while il has no painting on the
magnificent scale Of Powell's Battle ON Lake
Ere, it has a good many that are q great
deal smaller and u great deal better too and
then il has, besides, the advantage, that poll
ties never enter into the consideration when
a picture is to be bargained for, which is
much more than can be said, truthfully, of the
National Picture Gallery at the Capitol, where
the political standing oil an artist DESTROYS Of
obtaining Commission ia often inquired into
with greater care than his professional stand
lug as an artist.
was led to these reflections because just
now, art matters form the chief topic OF con.
versation and discussion, among the better
class of society, whose sole ambition is not TO
override and out.dress their fellow-men and
women at public balls and receptions For.
AhhhAtlf " Atnhku Ntii-uitu WIN
"shoddy," has fair ballast of people who
combine wealth with good taste and good
sense and very different in their tenor are
the latter circles as compared with the for.
mer Hon. George Bancroft. the eminent
historian, stands at the head (now when the
inimitable carl Benson has passed away
Of a ootesfe of most delightful people, without
whom those of us who, once in o while. do get
tired of receptions germans, aud pudding
lunches, would pass but sorry existence
their homes are refreshing GASES in the Sa.
hara Of politics, intrigue, and gayeiy that
rules Washington, and one breathes freer and
thinks better OF the world for their presence
among us.
Besides the works OF art now in the Capitol,
several will shortly be placed outside OF it,
aud among these pair OF magnificent bronze
vases, measuring, each, six feet by ten their
upper edges standing about twelve feet above
the toot.paths which lead due east from the
main portieG of the Capitol. One of these
vases, which is now in position and will be
unveiled in few days, | had peep at yes.
terday. 1t is oblong in shape, elaborately
decorated with leaves and other appropriate
designs, aud has been finished with the great.
est care aud nicely. When filled las it is in
tended to bel with Towering and trailing
plants, It will. with its mate opposite, form
one Of the most beautiful features in any of
the public grounds, aud will be great i'm
proyement 10 the approaches to the Capitol.
from the east. The cost ofthese two vases is
about six thousand dollars each, which is
considerably less than the cost of the famous
bronze doors, that also are among the attrac.
tons of the Capitol, one of which cost one
hundred thousand dollars, and the other ifty.
hve thousand. The eutire value of the oh.
Jects OF art, in and about the Capitol, is be.
tween two and three millions of dollars but
II should be remembered that many of these
objects, now placed in the old Hall of Repre-.
seniatiyes, are the gifts Of several of the
States New York having recently contribu.
ted two, VIZ: bronze statues, of heroic size.
of Clinton and Livington.
a most Interesting place to visit in Wash.
ington, just now, is the so.called Stevenson
collection of paintings and statuary, which
open to the public every day in the week ex.
cept Sunday. Mr.. Stevenson. who died in
Paris IN December last, was Envoy Extraor.
binary and Minister Penipotentary of the
monarchies Of Sweden and Norway TO this
country; and during his long residence
abroad, previous TO his appointment to this
country, he accumulated one of the largest
and hnest private galleries of pictures and
statuary TO be found in the United States
his paintings, which are now on exhibition
and offered for sale, attract large crowds daily.
and connoisseurS are here from Chicago, Bos.
ton, Philadelphia and New York, with a view
to investment. Nearly every one ofthe pain,
ings is by iamous master, and rarely, in.
deed, has such galaxy of real works Of ar.
beer collected together. Among recent pur.
ehasers Of paintings from the collection are
Senator Edmonds, Of Vermont, Judge Adds.
OF New Hampshire, and j. D. i.athrop, Esq,
81 Chicago. Many visitors have come 10 |
Washington from distant parts of the country |
expressly TO examine this collection, winch !
cost, when purchased, between forty and filv |
thousand dollars, and is now offered, singly. /
~ prices less tsan one third of the original \
cost. Among the paintings is view of Mt. |
Adams, oregon, at Sunrise, by Bierstadt. |
which cost 81 900, aud is now offered for 500.
On Tuesday night last, Washington was 4
startled by big blow, which played sad havoc 4
with awnings, chimneys, fences, and especi. I
ally with the tall spire of the Metropolitan NJ. |
Il. Church. The steeple swayed to and fro. |
and on the following day the streets LEADING /
past the Church we're blocked, by order Of |
The police, to prevent accidents if the spire |
should tall, as was momentarily expected A 1
large crowd had assembled in the neiobhor. |
hood, watching the tott ring structure. which |
after all, disappointed the lockers. on and aid |
not topple over. There she goesr' cried
one, as a heavy gust Of the hurricane swayed /
NE top OF the spire at least six feet out of the
perpendicular; but "she" did not 20. nj. |
though she came very near ii, aud extensive
repairs will have to be made to make tho |
sieeple, which is two hundred and thirty feet |
nigh, IN safe condition again.
The hurricane did considerable damage IN
property, both in Washington and Georye.
own but, fortunately, no lives were lost.
had the sieeple fallen, it would have crushed
n the roofs of the houses opposite, which,
anticipating the probability of such an event.
iad been temporarily vacated by order of the
police. " '"'
Society has, during the past week. been rs
'ay, u not gayer, than Ger, and there has
careely been a night Q; -est The parties
rNeh oy ex-governor Shepherd, Minister
thornton, and Hon. Fernando Wood, were
l9h,nsh not brilliant; il is diilicult TO say
Which was the most so. A soiree dansaate.
'wen on tuesday evening, by Mrs Bayard,
VIE OF the Senator from Delaware, in honor
II the debut Of their daughter, wa IS n most de.
lghttul affair and this week, Mr.. Barthold;
he French Minister, is to give large dinner
'arty; Justice and Mrs. Swayne have issued
invitations for grand ball tomorrow even.
ng and state sociable,u an institution
'ecuiiar to Washington, is looked for every
night in the week, Three weeks more of his
ontlnual flying around, and then comes Lent.
'ri,nglngswth it req. and repose-for awhile.
i least s'
a large number Of the young ladies. com.
losing our very best society, have determined
o take advantage of the privilege granted by
cap year, and treat their gentlemen friend.
large Herman. sometime during the lat.
er part OF the month Accordingly, a notice
vas secretly % sent TO all our bellies, reoaest.
ne their attendance at the residence of Miss
ewel, daughter of the Postmaster General
Q talk over the matter. The meeting took
lace, and the pretty hostess was elected pres.
dent by reclamation. Upon assuming the
hair, she stated the object Of the meeting.
nd nominated Miss Wainwright. another
Dung and pretty lady, and great iayorite In
oeiety here, for secretary. She also. was
'romptly elected by reclamation and Il was
ecided to give the German at Marine Hall.
n Friday evening, the 18th inst. Secretary
tooeson has been invited and will reeeiyethe
uests, and, with the assistance of Secretary
'ish, will distribute the fayors. It's the in.
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