Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-10-02
The PATENT OFFICE FrRE.-Generai NJ.

z. Metgs, Mr.. Edward Clark, architect OF the
Capitol, and Mr.. Adolf Cluss have been APP
pointed by Secretary SchurZ a commission
10 examine into the condition of the PA'ent
ONCE building, and report what temporary
measures should be taken IL necessary 10 Sc
cure the walls from further damage. They
viii also examine the roof of the south and
east wings 10 see whether II is safe, and Will
al make suggestions regarding the Te5u Id
l O. The burnt portion aid the condition OF
The walls OF the same. The commission
was engaged to-day in examining the
walls OF the Patent Office to test their Sc
curity. 1t is understo ID that the com mis-
sion Will report that the walls are safe and
10 good coalition.
The commission appointed % inquire into
the origin OF The recent fire at the Patent
Office is still engaged taking testimony, and
NJ report will be made for a day or two.
.CoRCoRAN GALLERY OF ART-Bough,os'
Netc Picttee.-The public has now an oppor-
tunity of seeing at the COrcorau Gallery the
new picture by George III. Boughton tust re
ceived from England, about which there mas
been so much interest excited by the com
mehdatory notices In the papers OF BIltt-
more, where II was first seen at tue custom
house. The subject, The Edict of William
the TeSiy,' viii be at once understood hy the
following extract from kuickerbOcker's his
tory of New York by Washington Irving
which IL illustrates: FINALLY, he William
The TeSty) issued an edtct FROM biting tue
smoking OF tobacco throughout the New
NETHERLANDS. The immediate effect
of the edicJ was a popular cOmmotfOn.
vast multitude, armed with pes aud tobac-
co-boXes and an immense supply of ammuni-
ton, sal themselves down befOrt. the govern
ors house aud fell To smoking with tremend-
ous violence. Tue testy William issued forth
like wra'nful spider demanding the reason
OF this laWleSs fuml cation. The sturdy riot
ers replied by lOlling back in their seats and
puffirg away with redOubled fury"
Before seeing tue picture one is apt 10 have
mlsgiYingS "a to The treatmeDt of subject
so essentially ridiculous ami farcical. Asin-
gle glance will show how happily the artist
has avoided the danger OF caricature, aud
given the scene with an unctuous Dutch
gravity, full of humor but dignIfied in its
drolleTy. Here We have street scene in
Manhattan, the irate governor issuing from
his house, and threatening with upliftei
cane the circle of seditious solemn smok-
e s, who, seated upon benches boxes aud
baskets, with imperturbable gravity, receive
MS Cenunclatlons with cOntempJuOus
streams Of smoke. Behind him ia the door
stands bis hard featured wife, and at her feet
is pug whose angry look completes the
pugnaclous expression of the besieged. The
principal group OF smokers is varied in form,
features and dress, and presents SCI eral
no'ahles that figure in the history. Nearer
the governor sits Brinkerhoff, leader In TIE
clam and onion war with the Yankees, with
his thsmbs stuck in the belt that girds his
corpulent form. He hardly deigns TO
glance at the governor, but smokes his
pIpe-the very impersoaatiOl of a clam-
piOn OF reserved rights Near him two
lsnthorn. jawed Yankees, in puritan garb
and high crowned hats, fix their gaze uppl
the testy official. Close BY, in gold laced scar
let r. gimentals, Tolls back the black bearded
trumpeter Antony Van Corlear, and other
rebelliOus Vans. In the central foreground is
seated on an inverted basket sturdy crafts
man with sleeves rolled up. This is the
strongest marked head in the whole picture
In the saucy, piggish eye, and perkei up
nose, and general altitude, there is an active
defiance, not displayed by his compa mons,
which seems 10 say. "Welli what are YOU
going to do about il ~ la The middle ground
is crowd of lads and matdens, the former
smoking, and all of them survey ing the scene
WIN seriousness WORTH OF theii seditipus
elders. Here tlge artist might have intensified
the humOr Of toe foreground group, aud re-
lleved The HOMOGENEOUS gravity of the pic
ture, by representing ripple OF half sur
pressed mlrth lI the faces Of the young folks
As ii Is The only sign Of fun among all tn
Characters, Is seen in the old man In The left
background, who mas tn ken his pipe from his
mout to indulge in hearty laugh. Beyond
lhls is the village street, where, ri the win
dow OF a shop bearing the date OF I-}9 some
nynheers are buying Tobacco and lads are
huirylng with fresh supplies OF pipes TO the
SMOKERS in front.
With a few exceptions. the details of this
fine picture are rendered I'm reals ic way
10 sustain The success of it's general cnaTac-
ter The faces, dress, the style of the houses
the blush green aoOp OF the governors
house completely satisfy ones conception of
he incident as told by Irving. TIE airy
ehect OF the village street itself is particu-
larly pleasing. The color throughout is sub
dutd and harmonious, and the handling of
the work, so apparently coarse and careless
when seen near, assumes a wonderful sofC-
ness and finish when viewed at proper dis
lance. The subject of the picture is of a
lower order than those which have made
BOughton's genius famous for its refined SEN
timent-just as the fun of "Kulckerbocker
History" is below the graces OF The Pride
OF The Village" but ii is fully up to the level
OF lrving's description, and canno: fail TO be
very popular-perhaps more SO than in any
OF mis- other pictures.
The picture was painted TO order for the
COrcoran Gallery OF Art. It's size is about
five feet and half ia length, by three feet
and half in height.