Evening star., 1936-04-05

fast sailing clipper which became a
SLAYER and was captured by the Sara
toga, Is the subject of hooked rug.
The merchant ship before clipper
days Is not as much in evidence.
although among the models are a
charming representation of the West
Wind. her white sails spread; the ship
Neptune, furnished with brown sails
carved of wood, ard the bark Mary.
the last constructed about 1927 by
Capt. Isaac Delano Of Marion, Mass.
Neither Is the whaler stressed, its
only representation being a color print
of Destruction Of Whale Ships On
Cape Thaddeus, Arctic Ocean, 1865,
by Confederate S. S. Shenandoah"
which explains why the whaling in
dustry was hard hit during the Civil
War, even before the introduction Of
steam driven vessels put an end to it.
Obviously. the United States Frigate
Constitution has large place in this
exhibition. The place OF honor IN
the center of the main gallery Is given
to a beautiful model of "Old Ironsides"
made in the Washington Navy Yard
shortly after the War of 1912. De-
scending from its first owner. Surg.
Baily Washington, to the Davidge
family Of this city. it was discovered
in the attic Of the Davidge house,
H and Seventeenth streets, when this
family residence was abandoned some
years ago, and was later purchased by
President Roosevelt. OF the Consti-
tuition there are 8 or 10 excellent oil
paintings and prints. some very old.
Many Made From Drawings.
It is interesting to note in this con-
nection that quite a number of the
pictures Of naval ships and events are
prints made from drawings by naval
officers done on the spot by an eye
Witness" etc. In two or more in
stances these drawings were by en-
listed men. Obviously. those who made
these drawings lay no claim to being
artists. They had no idea that they
were producing works of art, but they
had learned to draw with accuracy,
and in some instances with distinction.
and thereby possessed an additional
and valuable medium of expression.
Noteworthy also is the fact that
some of the prints Of American naval
vessels and exploits were made in
France-especially those of the time
of the War of 1912, giving indication
of French sympathy. Also quite a
number, and of very excellent quality,
were made in Rio de Janeiro.
There are not in this notable COL
lection many portraits of naval heroes
or of famous seafaring men. Out
standing are two prints portraying
the intrepid John Paul Jones, one
very rare and inscribed after his
name Com. of Squadron Thirteen
United States Of North America, 1779."
The other, of later date, was drawn
by Notte and engraved by Gutenberg,
as on the deck of the Bon Homme
Richard just before the engagement
with the Serapis' OF the Bon Homme
Richard there is color print of very
recent date and hence no great sig
niflcance. There are engravings of
Commodores Richard Dale and Charles
Stewart and lithograph of Admiral
Farragut. A Currier print Of 1874
pictures the disaster of the explosion
of the gun Peace Maker on board the
steam frigate Princeton. including in
the group, with attempt at portraiture,
those who thereby lost their lives,
among whom were the Secretaries of
State and Navy and Comdr. Kennon
Of Tudor place. Georgetown.
Many Victims Of Storms.
That the sea is not always smooth
sailing is graphically shown by pic
torial works in this exhibition of YES
sells in squalls, line storms. typhoons
and other dirty weather." which
bring to mind the fact that about
80 per cent of the ships, so we'll
built and so gallant under sail, found
eventually a resting place in "Davy
Jones locker" But, after all, such !
end was kinder on the whole than to |
rot in harbor or be converted into coal
barges.
A note Of humor is given this exhi-
bition by group of Autographs made
as covers for sheet music published be-
tween 1874 and 1850. One song, ar
ranged with guitar accompaniment, is