The Portland daily press., 1884-02-19
its epigram and ''paganism" will Gull the fol

Its epigram and organism" will Gull the fol-
lowing:
at is not what we have done which swakens
our deepest self-scorn; it is the fact that We
were this which made it possible for US to do
it,"
"He was intoxicated with himself, and few
draughts are more daDeerous'
!" There is no art in this country. New YORK
is the home of barbarism and Boston OF PhiliGv
lnism, while Cincinnati is chrome imitation
of BOTH"
''I do hate Carlyle. I've lain awake nights
thinking how I'd like to pound his head. The
self-conceited, self-ceDtred, self-adoriDg old
numougl be was the sham par e1cellence OF
the nineteenth century, this century of shams."
The price OF growth is always to outgrow"
The reader can see from the above some
thing of how the dialogue runs,-its snap and
audacity. The young artist Fent N does a
great deal of this audacions talking. AS the
author says oil him; "He delighted in present
ing hall truths in forcible phraseology, RELISH
ing the taste of an epigram quite without ref
er nce 10 its verify From Fenton and his
conventional wife to Helen Greyson and her
noble lover and the girl Militia, the charac-
tiers are certainly out of the ordinary range of
novelistic heroes and heroiaes, and their COZ
versstion and action will cali forth storm of
criticism. The st. Botolph club is pictured
here aud there, aud certain famous Boston
studio is accurately described. Altogether this
novel, brief as it is, will cause commotion
here in Boston. 1t will have no faint praises.
People will like or dislike it with vehemence.
Already have heard notes OF the battle.
In the art world there is great connection
just now about the buying or not buying for
the Art Museum Henri Regnault's .'Autome-
dan" The daily prints are full of the oontro-
versy, one declaring that it is vicously untrue
painting to put before the growing youth, and
another that the Museum was not designed pri-
marily as school for art students. and that the
Dictnra Ia snParh So the contestants 20 on.
AS even its sharpest critic allows that "the fig
ure 10 perfect, that "the lines and brushing
are mssterly," the &c neral public, who like to
become acquainted with the works of famous
modern painters. are getting to have through
this very contest and what Is admitted by the
ADVERSE critics, strong desire to have long
look at this picture, and growing hope that
the museum will buy ii. Henri Regnault was
one of the most promising painters Of France,
ard acknowledged as such. His industry and
skill kept pace with his inspiration, and one
may perhaps respect his methods and believe
that he knew what he was about when he
painted this figure that critic calls "a medern
horse tanner" The same critic compared the
"Automedan" to Bastieh LIE Pages sJoan of
Arc. to the latter's discredit, and those who
dsliked Ls Pages "Joan:" began to believe
still more in Regnault's "Automedan."
In other directions art takes its way here in
dustriously and sometimes with that eccentric
ity that belongs to the present fashion. OF this
last was the show room of the Whistler etch-
ings. The etchings themselves were exquisite,
bat the glazing yellow flannel drapery or back
ground to set them off, set ones teeth on edge.
1t was through the direction of Mr.. Whistler
himself that this mustard color Haunted and
fiourished, and through Mr.. Whistler's direc-
ton, no doubt, that the pale and thin young
man who presided as watch and guard, should
ciothe himself in yellow livery and knee
breaches; but it was pitiful ridiculous sight,
and brought cut from feminine observer
travesty which dare say my readers have
heard OF by this time, "a greenery, yallery,
Whistler gallery, fcot-n-the-grave young man y
In amusements there are the Boston Sym
phony concerts, which people are never tired
of, and princess Ida" at the Museum for the
last new sensation. The first performance of
this was given Monday night. AS it was the
first performance in the United States there
was a crowded house. It is travesty on Ten
nyson'e "Priucess." Mr. Gilbert, one of the
author says it is a respectful travesty. The
libretto is very much criticised, but the music
has great deal. it not all OF the Gilbert aud
Sullivan merry and musical reel and roll of
fup. and by AID by it will be whistled and sung
and hammered out upon planes, as Patience"
has been for the last two years.
The coming of Irving and Terry and Booth
will divide donors, SO far as full houses go,
with this last sensation. But Gilbert and
Sullivan opera never lacked auditors in Boston
yet, and this respectful travesty of Lord
Tennyson's Princess will not make an ex-
ception. NORA PERRY