New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-24

AZ. ,es NOT quite the same horror CT
Inc costume. 1--WE are not all he added.
n,,sptIv fortunate TO be the Chancellor OF
,...~s,tv" This was reference to Professor
Ss,o,rers portrait OF Lord Salisbury in his
- which hangs in one corner OF the large
u.rv where this dinner was given. But will
man say ne thinks Professor Herkomer has
70. happy use OF these robes? In them
- they are well; in the picture they do not
10 for the want Of distinction which Is the
.saracter!stic OF the picture as whole Pro-
s.ssor Uerkomer IS young man IN hurry.
80 Rosebery was careful to say that his COM
~, about portraits had no reference to the
p' ",n,srs Of them That Is a Renaissance Of his
s,1~,or,atc days. lie would hardly deny else
tars that the dignity of portrait depends far
70 On the artist than on his sitter, or on the
',o,nss which the sitter wears. And with some
s"norable but not numerous exceptions the Acad
~ artists are not they who paint por~
.-,,,s Of dignity and distinction
NC nractice in public speaking has taught
- rr,rca Of Wales that frankness is often best.
80 g nothing an audience likes better than
urrass II II be good numored. The Prince
.,d himself In a difficulty, and he confessed 1t.
- Academy Banquet occurs once a year. and
80. wear. or nearly SO, the Prince of Wales
he Is almost always guest-has TO respond
-. toast 10 his own health and to that OF the
r~,ncsss and the rest Of the royal family. L
-. Nth considerable difficulty to respond to IT,"
Ia the Prince: 1T Is difficult from year TO year
:. and something new to say on the subject.
r,a more so, perhaps. since he is expected TO
-, .be ,ictures lie so far fulfilled this ex
F,,.tion as 10 say that he had found many
t.,,,f,,l works In the galleries, and he was sure
~. exhibition would crafty the public for many
.,bs n come Undoubtedly 1t will and would
moro deficient IN interest than 1t Is. The
,-.,sh public takes a confding view of art.
,1,s.,over Is presented by the Royal Academy for
No. osniratjon it admires. II may not, with all
~ ood will succeed in admiring every picture,
So, :, admires the exhibition as whole, and
uu' W. tho galleries so long as they are open.
:, &c touching TO see the father Of family con-
,...,ns hts offspring. catalogue in hand. on his
yearly art pilgrimage, and trying 10 persuade
80, that he cares for art, and for these mani
festations OF art
8. .o,d Of the Presidents? Sir Frederic Leigh
an has TO make each year not one speech. but a
avon and always on the same or similar topics.
ryo must find each year something new and apt
1, nronos,ng the heal:hs of his chief
r,ss,s individually, royalties included. Of tho
pArs Minister Of the Army and Navy, of Lit
..atura and Science. Of the Lord Mayor. Of the
~,os,s as q body; and finally 20 respond in the
go NJ tho Academy 10 the concluding toast
n.o,osed IN honor Of that illustrious body. 1t is
no,hsne 70 saw he acquits himself well. He goes
,,rough his list yearly with variety OF happy
Illusions with an aptness an adroitness, I'M
,.hsd snendor Of rhetoric. which yearly chal-
,.rss the admiration of his guests and of his
rs,dsrs II is altogether a quite astonishing
,sa, and suppose II has never been performed
with ANYTHING like such continuous brilliancy as
by Sir Frederic Leighton
The orator OF Literature was Mr.. Andrew
Lang whose title to answer for 1t VIII be as
nu,ed by nobody who sets a due value upon IN
exhaustible versatility and copiousness HIS
tone was one Of unusual humility; mock humility
M doubt but too likely 10 be mistaken for rea;
humility. Literature is but a very insgnih-
cant fake on the foam Of the wave Of the world
and "the good-humored contempt Of the general
pubic keeps US Tttery gents in our proper place
and frame Of mind If Mr.. Lang had ever
heard Of the late Senator Chandler OF Michigan
and his dam literary fellers." him Also fear
he would have quoted. Yet he must know tha'
Of all rhetorical exercises irony is the least APP
pretended and most dangerous. To the generai
bubble savs Mr. Lang. literature means fiction.
ana ne mOurnS over the NeOdNNA-~~ -
Education and tho craze for actually are pay
ing havoc with IT, "Novels are becoming tracts
on parish councils free love. and other inham-
matory topics, and the reason OF this ruin IS
that the vast and the naturally non-hterary
majority can now read and Of course. can only
read about the actual about the noisy. wrangine
moment" And he becomes even more personal
when he says:
THE thrifty plan Of giving US sermons ponucs'
fiction. all in one stodgy sandwich, produces no
permanent literature produces but temporary
tracts for the times" But he praises. by way
OF set-off TO all this. Mr.. Kpng. Mr.. Barrie,
Mr. Conan Doyle. Mr. Stanley Weyman. Mr..
Stevenson. and others. And he ends with the
statement Of the law that pleasure. not ediilca-s
ton, Is the end Of all art; which probably dis
turbed the digestion Of some Of his hearers,
Truths ought not TO be told at all times; per-
haps never after dinner. G. w. >.