The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-05
MAsoUE OF THE ART WORKERS.
Novel Entertainment to BE Given by the
Members of a Guild in london.

Novel Entertainment to BE Given by the
Members of a Guild in n
LONDON. Feb. 1S.-One OF the events OF this
week was the Shrove Tuesday dinner and
jollincation INDUCED in at the quaint old hall
OF Clifford's I'm. Just off Fleet street. BY the
Art Workers Guild and their friends. But
before telling Of the happenings there some
thing should be said Of the Art Workers Guild
and its mission. 1t Is a body which during its
few years OF existence has gathered into 1t
most OF the leading artists OF England. BY
artists are meant not merely the painters.
sculptors. architects and engravers to whom
alone the Royal Academy would. seen to as
sign the designation. Tho guild recognizes as
possible for membership any one whose daily
work ia to produce beautiful things. In addi-
ton to the four branches above indicated 1t
finds room therefore for workers 10 metal. for
enamelleIs. for printers. for jewellers. for sill
versmiths. forsmosaicists. for c~abinetmakers
and even for a basketmaker. Its members
follow. as IL were. on the lines OF the famous
Arts and Crafts Society. but they have a much
wider purpose than that body. They take
upon themselves to speak moro emphatically
than the older bodies. such as the Royal Acad-
envy. for the real art workers OF England.
They also have succeeded as nobody else yet
has succeeded in cultiyating f%raternal rela-
lions among the. pursuers Of the various
arts aud crafts. At regular intervals they
meet on Friday evenings in the quaint old hall
and listen TO papers. often accompanied by
practical demonstrations on some artistic sub
Ject, They have. without ostentation or SELF
advertisement. made themselves a power in
the land. and It is considered an extra jewel In
any art workers cap Of fame to be able to
write the letters "A. W. G." after his name.
Well. on Tuesday they met together 70 have
their annual romp and playing Of the fool and
ayoaIIapflv UalI did thav plnv n Altar n 0ood
dinner had been disposed OF and the tables
were cleared away q mock court was formed
with its Judges. sheriff. judges clerk and 80
forth. q jury OF members and their guests were
impanelled. the past masters. Of whom one is
elected annually. were placed in one corner as
defendants. and the mock trial OF Mrs. Grupdy
against the Art Workers Guild was proceeded
with. Mrs. Grundy was represented by O. +.
A. Voysey. the leading designer Of the new
school. who was realistically made up for the
part. and she accused. through her counsel. the
guild Of having attempted to lead the people Of
England away from the paths Of conventional
ism and Phillstinism. Witnesses were called
on both sides who varied their evidence by
singing comic and sentimental songs. %recitinG
and otherwise amusing the audience. Before
its conclusion the trial was broken up by the
savage onslaught made on the bench by Walter
Crane: who b2mbarded 1t vigorously with mis-
more deadly than they actually were. Alto;
gether the affair was not only sumin but
But it is more with a view to, a future prcj.
ect which the Art Workers Gaild has ia hand
,prinG or early summer it intends to p%resentt to
London an, artistic entertainments which 80
i revival NaS Of f" what n9 f e4raeiet H Was a p aesf Ia 10 Eng 2s 2
fish form OF stage show II Is TO be nothing
more or less than an elaborate masque, mpdd,
colleagues were wont TO amuse royalty more
than 200 years ago; The masnue will owe its
nNnFU nnfINFn 4 n In man Inra NJ thu IiH
e cos%iHiSi Waller Hes crane cram Tc' Z. Harrison RS pp Tow m
poet and designer. and several others being re-
sponsible for the lyrics and the text: the dresses
by members, including, Alma Tademu. Il. A.,
George Fr9mpton. 4. r. Al. the sculptor. and
% %,ns the REe" ek]eeption me 81 t ReI fe an lee oG SsarS %hfeS
will be taken by their wives. sisters or other
sleeper Awakened. a .Masque Of Winter and %
Spring" and the plot concerns itself with the
fees Art. and the fierce battle OF the latter with
the dragon Of ugliRsss; Eho has had The hero;
the Knight and the, Lady. There are to be
many dances INTRODUCED which will be ar
beautiful. 4 Dance q Dead Leaves" in the
iariy attractive. There is no dialogue in the
strict sense of the term. the words. all Icing
eSst in 6sI E9et Isnits form an and t6 of : v dsser anSH IN ma \
h'a
s~pecially trained choir. An orchestra, which
1t Is hoped will be under the direction OF Nal
colin lawson. a portion being assigned to Mr..
Dolmetsch. the well.known specialist In an
tique music and Instruments. will also assist.
But this is not all. Under the direction of
Joseph Pe9ne!l 2 glorified hook Of the words
IL to Issued. This will be printed by Mr.. Ash
by-who has In a fashion succeeded the Kelm-
scott Press Of William Morris. who. by the
way. was himself one time Master OF the R2ild-
on paper specially made by another member.
and IL will be spperbly illustrated with sketches
and designs by. the members themselves:
Some OF these will be process reproduotions OF
pen and ink and pencil work some Will be
auto lithogI aphs: some will be etchings. prob:
ably printed by the etchers themselves. and
some will be color facsimlles, either In process
or lirhography. some Of the special comics may
be bound by one of the members, Altogether
this publication. IL Is expected. will he n real
treasure for the book lover. II Ia proposed to
give two performances OF the masque and an
application has beeu made TO the city author
tiles whereby IL will take place at tbs Guild:
hall, one " the most magnificent examples OF
medieval erchitect9re In London under me
: likely that this application will be refused.