National Republican., 1878-05-25
The PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Exhibition Of Drawings at Franklin
and Sumner Buildings.
Seven Thousand Specimens Of the Pupils
Skill - Distribution Of Medals aud
Prizes An Interesting Ad-
dress by Curator Mcleod.

The annual drawing and penmanship exhi-
bition of the public schools was commenced
yesterday. at one o'clock in the franklin and
Sumner School buildings The exhibits far sur.
passed those Of the previous years. Over 1000
specimens Of almost every class and variety.
including drawings Of maps, scenery, original
designs, dictations both on paper and the
blackboard, were exhibited also innumerable
specimens Of penmanship, which were of
very high order. The attendance was large,
and those who dbl not get tho opportunity to
visit the buildings yesterday may do so to-day.
as they will be kept open. There were about
1000 specimens at the Franklin building.
These were arranged about the hall and several
school.rooms, mingled with flowers, presenting
very attractive appearance, Tho work re-
hcctcd much credit on Mr.. Fuller aud Miss
| Wilson, teachers.
About three o'clock the examination of the
work performed by the special classes was
commenced in the male grammar school. The
judges were Lieutenant Hoxic, Miss Winnie
Ream, Mrs. Fassc;t, Architect Cluss, and Mr.
SchulZe. There were three gold medals and q
number of certificates awarded. After long
and close examination Of the drawings, the
judges awarded medal to J. L. Spindle, male
grammar school, first division, for the best
original design. C. L. Kern, sosond division
received honorable mention. They also
u inttlil 10 T.. y. y letCher, second Ill
vision, for the best drawing Oh the blackboard
from dictation W. W. Mortimer third division
receiving honorable mention; to J. 7. Ran
dOlph. second division, for the best drawing
book w. E. Reynolds, advanced grammar
school for boys, receiving honorable mention
Miss Winnie Ream presented the medals.
Second.class prizes were awarded TO the fol-
| lowing III. X. Seldcn, male grammar school,
first division, course of lessons in model aud
cast drawing, received for best model draw
ing, +. Griffin. advanced grammar school for
boys, receiving honorable mention to A. r
Gregory, advanced grammar school for boys
course Of lessons Ia mechanical drawing, re-.
cciyed for the best gcomctrical drawing; T.
Mcllvanc advanced grammar school for boys,
receiving honorable mention; 4. T. Hrnsey,
advanced grammar school for boys, q parallel
of historical ornament received for the best
design, Il. Is. Clarkson receiving honorable
| mention.
DIR. Reyburn, chairman Of the drawing COM
mittcc, presented tho prizes. The best origi-
nal design, drawn by Scaforl, advanced
grammar school for boys, was counted out en-
tircly on some excuse. This action caused
considerable dissatisfaction, IA ScGfords draw
ing would undoubtedly have taken the medal.
ADDRESS By Mr.. N'LEoD.
Mr.. William Mcleod, curator of the Corco-
ran Art Gallery, delivered an address on the
Gallery of Art, its history and present COndi-
tiOn. lie first made n few commcndatory re-
marks on tho drawings. Proceeding, he said
that portrait painting was the pioneer Of art
In 1857 u national art school was established ;
but when the civil war was raging ii was soon
dissolved. In 1873 the COrcoran Gallery was
completely organized. Early in ls1I II was
opened for private exhibition, and Mr.. Corco-
ran received many hearty congratulations
from his friends. Later IN 1874 it was
opened to the public. Al this time the cata-
loguc only comprised 4 pages now it com.
prses 60. In 1854 there were only ~
paintings; now there are li5. In 1s1i there
were only marble statues; now there are 20.
There arc now 1is casts, 100 pure bronze
pieces 81 Britannia pieces, besides other art
objects. lie stated that the collection is not
surpassed in any country in point of selection,
&c. Some years ago we had only an indistinrt
idea of art, paintings, &c, aud were totally un.
familiar with Raphael, Michael Angelo, aud
other great artists, except by hearsay, but
within the last few years the clouds have van
ished, and all had been accomplished by one
person. He said that foreign art Is encouraged
too much and not enough attention given to
the endeavOrs OF our countrymCn. lie ALSO
stated that the trustees Of the gallery now
allow amateurs to visit it six days in
a week and copy the paintings. That the
reputation Of the gallery was steadily increas-
ing as has been demonstrated. In 1873 there
were only few thousand visitors; In 1877
year there were ll1,OO or more; that the
cost Of the building, grounds, &C., was $3.50
600, the cost Of the pictures Sl09,330, marble
statuRry s22,29l, imported casts S3,3l6, the
expenses s4JO.OOO. exclusive of regular cx-
penses, &c; that the endowment is 81 900 ,O02,
yielding All annual income of from $600jO to
$4,000 lie also stated that its future career
would be greater and more glorious than the
past that a free school will soon rise for the
further promotion of art that the gallery
stands like an oasis in this great metropolis,
where the public may enter aud refresh their
minds At the conclusion of his remarks Mr.
Mcleod paid u high tribute of praise and re-
spcct to Mr. COrcOran.
Commissioner Bryan also made some re-
marks.
AT THE SUMNER BUILDING
there were three thousand specimens. Tho
exhibit occupied ten rooms and the hall, each
room representing grade. Special mention
is deserved by the eighth grade Jacob Stratbcr
and Ella p. Lee, for the excellence of their
drawings. There were two new features dis
played here, one being the beautiful industrial
drawing, which should be seen to be Gppreci.
atcd, aud the other, original composition Of
music, of which there are 700 specimens,
which speaks well for Professor Esputa. To
see the industrial drawings taught by
+. W. lunster is alone worth trip
to the building. Thirty pupils of both sexes
form the class which was organized the LIST OF
January last. Among the drawings which at
tracted considerable attention were two crayon
drawinG,-onc Of Trustee johnson and the
other of Superintendent Cook. One motto.
abe feature was the marked improvement in
the drawing Of the eighth grade and intcrInc-
diGte grades On those of the first grade. There
were five gold medals exhibited which will bt
presented to the fortunate winners at the High
School entertainment, Sumner building, June
g. The medals will be given for the five best
original drawings,