The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-10
BY TIE WAY.
DGing q RamhIGT'S Observation on Things
in General
Artists and Feasting-A Hypoorite and De.
haGchee EXPOS sd-Musiclans and
Their Critics.
Written for THE MoRNING Gail

An artists dinner Oh the eve of opening
an annual exhibition is function so appro-
pirate that the wonder is this idea did not
occur long ago to the brush and palette
brotherhood of San Francisco. The august
event has been duly celebrated at the Pal
zee, and we must conclude, in the Interest
of art. that it is but the f0rerunner OF many
such JOYOUS gatherings. 1t Is apparent
from the list Of names that there were many
more guests at the tables Than artists
many more good people who profess
to take an interest in art than
professional men and women who struggle
TO earn a livelihood by their alluring call
ing-aIluring. but often Disappointing
Quite number Of artists whose names
stand hign are not mentioned. Can it be
that they were not quite in the mood to
dine? Was there something in the pro-
gramme not to their taste? Ii there was
any as0n in the nature Of pique or
jealousy for their absence it is a pity
il should find vent in this form. 1t is not
easy 10 see how you can object TO dinner
on the ground Of principle, and much good
may result from an artists dinner. 1t
would be an Improvement 10 have the feast
in She exhibitors rooms, where the invited
guests could, between the courses, enjoy a
study OF pictures AMI statuary. A lover Of art
is never III a better mood TO purchase than
when he has comf0Tted and eXhlaTated the
inner man in good company. Nor should
there be anything Sordid in this association
Of gustatiye indulgence with esthetic con-
temptation. 1t is feast Of taste, and if in
the promotion Of gOod-feilowship headache
racks the brain, the blame can be bestowed
with impartiallty, not on the wines, which
are usually responsible, but on the hanging
committee or the dreadful conceptions OF
some Of the canvases. The artists of San
Francisco are not, however, in the position
TO play the part Of hosts. They have no
fund upon which to draw for this purpose,
like the Royal AcademicianS of Eng
land, and many of them are so poor
as not to see many dinners ahead
Ter themselves. Therefore, the guests
who come to q Pacific Coast Academy
banquet must pay for their own footing, and
LOOK pleasant and exert them selves TO say
pleasant things. May the good time come
when tGe artists will have home OF their
own ard a handso bauqueting hall, and a
choice cellar Their invitations Will then
be IN demand,
It is a very difficult matter to get an invi-
tation to the banquet of the Royal Acad-
envy, which precedes the opening of the
annual exhibition 4 May. All is done at
that stately assemblage Of the cultured in a
fixed manner, not inferior in rigidity OF
precedent 10 a court ceremony. 1t might
lie imagined that the Lord Chamber
lain lad given the behelit of his wis
dom in preparing for the occasion,
bat is only according 10 the dining ritual
Of years that the solemn event is regulated
TIE dinner takes p ace invariably on a Sat
urday night and the exhibition opens IN
the following week. The invitations vary
little i'm number. and most of them 20
10 distinguished persons who cannot be
omitted. Members Of the royal family are
there. including the Prince Of Wales,
who, although fond of horses and baccarat,
has a good eye for pictures; and it is i'm
p0ss BILE TO omit her MajeSty's Ministers,
her Majesty's Opposition aud a few other
prominent men in Parliament. besides her
Maj-sty's judges, and a few Bishops not
afraid TO study a nude bY the president in
the hope OF finding some redeeming quality
besides drapery. Also there are few
literary men at peace; a few scientific
lights not supposed 10 Interfere with one
another across the table; a few foreigners
renowned for something that the English
appreciate; and few wealthy men who
show their faith IN pictures by buying them
and are consequently patrons Of art,
perhaps with depraved taste, as
the public occasionally discover with the
aucti0neer's assistance. Then there are
the AcademlclanS and associates who
are presumed to be happy because un-
der their own rules none Of their pictures
can be rejected or skied, but must be hung
on the line for the jadicious criticism of an
intelligent public. There are also a few
other artists who have not risen to the
fame Of adding r. A. or 4. r A. to
their names. Lastly there is Times
reporter-he alone from the press of
the mighty metropolis who takes his
soup ana knows that he has got to work
after@ard IN reproducing the ornate speeches
which are presumed TO enliven the proceed
ings. The toasts do not vary, and tie
speeches very little. CHESTS accustomed to
the symposium know the t0asts and NAV
anticipate the oratory. Sir T. Leighton
finishes a speech with the delicaey he be-
slows on flesh TINT and even the Prince of
Wales tries TO utter platitudes thought
fully, knowing that any efforts at original
ity or foIee would De injurious 30 the royal
reputation for neutrality in public utter
anceS.
Ladies do not dine with the Royal Acade-
micians. The reason is not known. Per-
haps the attention bestowed upon the fair
sex would divert attention from the lovely
works Of art On the walls and bring about a
pernicious rivalry Of attractions, wholly
due to art in one case and not wholly
devoid Of art in the other. Yet Angelica
kaufman was a Royal Academician, and
would be entitled to assert her privileges in
doing the hOnors of the Academy were she
living to-day. From the fact that there are
no ihuieS In TIE sacred circle oil the Academy
we are forced 10 conclude that there are
none among the hundreds of lady artists
eligible for the distinction. Surely it cannot
be jealousy that keeps them out. Art
is supposed to be above these con-
templibie weaknesses, and to be superior
to the ordinary feelings Of human
nature. Ladies, we may be certain, will
have their fair share of honors In the Pacific
Coast Academy when it is established
They were present at the Palace banquet in
overwhelming proportion, and no doubt
contributed much TO the harmony of the
occasion. On their merits, too, several
ladies' who follow paths in art are in tile
front rank for ability of high order
What is the inner meaning Of the new W ord
''tibdinous"3 Ii the word adds intensity