New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-17
Gerault Richard,

/ in the Petite Republique," discovers that Rus
! sla made a terrible blunder in not avoiding the
war with Japan. Georges ClemeTHceau. in the
"Aurore" calls attention to the i'll luck that
1 has attended the gifts OF the religious images
and ikons to the gallant but unfortunate Ad-
! miral Nakarof The same papers publish ex-
| tracts from letters Of Russian Socialists, &C
| cording to which the war with Japan is becom-
/ ing daily more and more unpopular with the
masses OF the people, and prolonged struggle
/ will reveal the enormity Of the peculation among
officials and the widespread discomfort Of the
nation.
President Ioubet made an official visit TO the
opening OF the Salon OF the National Society OF
Fine Arts popularity known as that OF the
Champ de Mars, IN the west half Of the Grand
Palace Of the Champs Elysees and was re-
ceived at the entrance by Carolus-Duran, prest-
dent OF the Salon. radiant with the honor con-
ferred on him by his recent election TO member
ship in the Institute. Beside Carolus-Duran
stood the three vice-presidents, NM Roll. Rodin
and Besnard. President Loubet, who is capt.
tai Judge Of pictures. seemed highly pleased
with this years crop Of paintings and statuary'
and found an agreeable and timely word TO say
10 each prominent artist. The Champ de Mars
Salon. this year subjected TO more rigid seIec-
ton Of admissions than hitherto. contains alto
Setner only -N,bt nNiilptlS III bliV NHN'''o7~N'
these 324 are oil paintings. 800 pastel drawings
and water colors 800 works of sculpture, 206
encraviucs 50 architectural designs and 2l3 OBJ
iects OF art The progress Of Americans, as far
as the numbers are concerned, is indicated oy
the fact that OF the 445 artists who exhibit oil
paintings forty-two are Americans. and OF these
fourteen are women Indeed. Americans have
put their mark on this years picture Salon. for
its dominating picture is by an American. John
Sargent whose fun length portrait Of Lord Rib
besdale in riding boots and brown hunting cos
tune stands forth prominently. just in front OF
a panel Of four pictures by Whistler. which. by
the unanimous vote Of the association. are eX-
hibited in the place Of honor. in memory Of the
HIustrious American member OF the French Ma
tional Society Of Fine Arts. These Whstlers
are displayed without the minute. carefully
thought out Whistlerian preparations and &C
cessories Of gray walls, etc. that characterized
the Whistler exhibition recently seen in Bos-
ton but ;hey speak for themselves. with their
superb inequalities. their distinction. their re-
hnement and their exquisite color. The unfn-
ished fun length portrait Of woman holding an
iris flower in her raised right hand and the nude
in rose and green were greatly admired.
In the sculpture section. Robins bronze Pen
sour" a muscular. nude peasant thinking. the
duplicate OF which VIII be seen at st. Louis. is
placed on almost too high a pedestal in the
central interior courtyard At the entrance TO
the stairway is Robins marble bust ofa Ameri-
can woman. Mrs. 5. perhaps the most elab-
orately finished work Yet turned out by the
master. II is a perfect gem.
one Of the finest pictures in the Salon is
highly idealized woman. draped in white. seated
on the crystalline summit OF a mountain peak,
while the snowclad Alps and the intense blue
sky. reaching far into the distance seem to
symbolic the infinite. The head. with black
hair. is most delicately modelled The black
eyes. concentrated in a fixed expression, reveal
intensity Of thought. 1t is. indeed. the thinking
woman, and forms poignant and fascinating
contrast to the huge muscular male thinker
chiselled by Rodin in the gallery below.
Another equally fine localized picture is de-
liciously pale blue toned and exquisirely drawn
figure Of Titania vanishing through the even
ing mist-a delightful. conscientious compost
ton. that places its author, Georges Picard.
next after the late Puyis de Chavannes among
modern French" decorative artists. Carolus-
Duran's portrait OF the Countess Boni de Cas-
tellane has all the brilliance. v-S1uosty and
vigor Of this masters youthful daysl
An essentially Partisan picture 4 the Scion
Is Jean Berauds group Of elderly clubmen.
seated in red morocco easy chairs, smoking and
chatting before a genial fire in the sitting room
Of the artistic Union Club in the Rue Boissy
d'Anglas This is considered one OF Beraud's
best and most humanitarian canvases.
Jean Weber this year forsakes caricature for
portraits Of which he displays five The most
successful IS that Of Mrs. Philip Lydig, already
exhibited in New-York The portrait verges
dangerously upon caricature. 1t IS suggestive
Of some Princess Charmance of fairy tales. but
highly modernized. with a slanting black hat
and a black dress she is jauntly seated
red easy chair. with ungloved white hands
crossed on her knee.
This years Salon gives the impression on the
whole Of a more careful and intelligent selec-
ton on the part Of the jury and higher level
Of excellence than last year. There are not so
many nor striking portraits as hitherto; the
Landscapes are more numerous and finer than
before. and delightful is found in the
exceedingly clever and sympathetic pictures OF
Interiors. They give evidence altogether that it
is a highly successful Salon.
The dispatches from Syracuse received in
Paris indicate that Emperor William during his
visit and subsequent dinner with Mr.. and Mrs.
Cornelius Vanderbilt on the yacht North Star
seemed in excellent health and spirits. He con-
versed freely and vivaciously with his host and
hostess. and was much interested in examining
the details Of this fine American yacht, and
made graceful and tactful compliments TO the
Misses Vanderbilt. and expressed his admira-
ton for American young women, saying no won
der 50 many eminent European dpomatsts
become fascinated with their alert intelligence
and excellent taste, and marry them. Accord
ing to.the present arrangements, the North Star,
with Mr.. and Mrs Vanderbilt and their two
daughters on board will sail on Sunday for
Zante. on the way to Constantnople. Another
Nal win