The sun., 1908-03-24
ART CENTRE HERE PLANNED
PROJECT DISCUSSED AT DINNER
or THE MACDOWELL CLUB,

where students Might WORK and Live.
There was dinner in the Fine Arts Build
ing IN West Fiity-seventh street on Sunday
evening Of q character very unusual In
this city and significant Of a movemept
going on In New York, and indeed through
out the country, Of which little has been
heard In a public way, Although the
tables were filed with persons whose names
are prominent in the artistic literary,
musical and social worlds, no word OF the
dinner reached the newspaper offices in
advance with invitations TO send reporters
a. is customary with the large public or
semi-publio dinners with which the winter
season s plentifully sprinkled.
The galleries Of the Fine Arts Building,
adorned with the paintings and sculptures
OF the annual exhibition Of the National
Academy Of Design, which Is now being held
there, took on the aspect Of a reception
early in the evening, after which about
three hundred men and women seated
themselves ct thirty round tables which
taxed the aoor space Of the large Wander
bilt gallery. II was the third annual din
ner Of the Mcdowell Association, more
properly called the Mcdowell Club, which
s not 10 be confused with the Edward
Mcdowell Memorial Association, the latter
having in charge the Mcdowell fund,
although the two are in natural sympathy.
The club, started some time before the
composers death, has grown more rapidly
since his death, until It's president, the
portrait painter John W. Alexander. was
able 10 announce on Sunday evening that
il has now a membership Of 500, It's pur-
pose is the expression Of an aim, which
always animated Mr.. Mcdowell and now
finds many supporters, to bring into closer
contact musicians, composers, singers,
painters, sculptors. writers, actors, archi-
tects, in q word TO draw together those
interested in the arts, literature and the
drama This project has part in a general
movement now observable in America
to give art a stronger place and influence
in the common and public life, Members
Of the Mcdowell Club have been instru-
mental in organizing similar associations
in different parts Of the country and have
found a surprisingly ready field,
1t is known that Mr.. Mcdowell left his
New England country home to be used as
place Of work and rest by artists and musi-
clans, The larger project Of q Mcdowell
house in New York city where students
in the arts may find place TO work and
live under proper patronage and encour-
agemsnt, and where all those Of the classes
already spoken Of may find a nucleus for
cooperative work and closer professional
intercourse, had willing and in some in
stances earnest support among the speakers
representative Of different lines Of work who
addressed the diners on Sunday evening
Among thess were Mr.. Alexander, Fred
erick Crowninshield, Augustus Thomas,
Hamlin Garland, Daniel Frohman, Andreas
Dippel Col. G. B. NJ. Harvey, Harrison s.
Norris OF Philadelphia and Prof Honda,
who ID just now In this country represent
ing the Mikado's Government in the study
Of general education and who was brought
into the discussion on the ground Of the
mutual interest that Japan and the United
States find in each other and the intensely
artistic proclivities Of the Japanese people.
Among the others at the tables we're
Dr.. and Mrs. William 7 Bull Robert Under
wood johnson, Mr.. and Mrs Herbert
Adams. Mr. ana Mrs Edwin II. Blsshheld,
Mr. and Mrs Irving r. Wiles Ben Foster,
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick s. Delenbaugh,
Nine. Calve Enrico Caruso, Victor Maurel.
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Kahn Mr.. and Mrs.
Harry Spies Kip, Miss Letitia McKim, Miss
Lois Bangs, Mrs, j. W Alexander, Eugene
Heffley, Mr.. and Mrs Frederic r, Coudert,
~ ~ rnw Mrg ntApa1
Mrs. Maurel, Mrs. Daniel Frohman, Mrs
Haggin, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Ali Haggin, Jr.,
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hoe, Jr., Mr.. and
Mrs. viii Low, Mrs. Frank Millet, Nine.
laccaci, Mr.. and Mrs. Henry B, Smell Mrs.
lie Moyne Louis Metcalf, Miss Mary S.
Croker Mr.. and Mrs, Everett Shinn,
Horace Mann Mr.. and Mrs A. Phimster
Proctor, Mrs Charles j. Gould, Miss Hazel
Mackaye, Rupert Hughes Mr.. and Mrs.
Harry Watrous, Mrs. Percival Knauth,
David Bispham, Mr.. and Mrs E V. Rossiter,
Dr.. and Mrs Alfred Meyer, Sir Caspar
Purdon Clarke, Mr.. and Mrs. Bryson Bur
roughs, Mr.. and Mrs Frederick A. Stokes,
Mr. and Mrs, H. r. Oaparn, Paul Wayland
Bartlett, DR.. vanderpoel. Nine. Maud
Powell, Wassily Saionoh, Miss Estelle Sweet,
Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Hill, Francis c. Jones
end Frederick DiclIccn.
Prof. Honda did not propose to miss
the opportunity to have little fun with
the ladies, 80 he informed the company
that in Japan there was one language
for the men and another for the women,
which led Augustus Thomas to warn him
that II he would only pursue his studies
here little further he would find that We
too had one language for men and one
for women. That s one reason, Mr., Thomas
said that makes after dinner speaking
in q mixed company 80 difficult
Prof. Honda however had another
little joke up his sleeve. Mentioning the
Geographic character OF the woman under
q roof which the Japanese have borrowed
from the Chinese, he said that the Ameri-
cans. Of course, explained il 10 themselves
satisfactorily and characteristically by as
sumng that IL signihed that the women
run the household. But IL really means.
he said, that il you keep the women in the
house there is peace outside.
Mr., Dippel was enthusiastic for the
Mcdowell House idea. He thought Mrs.
MacDowe idea that the several States
might endow studios in 1t was a good one,
but he failed to see why some OF the rich
patrons Of music and the arts also shou Id
not aid in this project, which would tend
10 make New York the real art centre Of
the country. In France or in England all
art centred at Paris or at London. but here
II was not so and could not he until the in
ducements and facilities we're offered here.
The American student OF art or Of singing
ought TO study here. ought 10 be able TO
study here, Mr.. Dippel said Speaking i'm
mediately Of singing, he said that only in
this way could the best results be accom-
plished, for il the student went to Paris he
would hear only the French repertoire. IL
to Germany only the German, while here in
New York were assembled the Rreatast
operatic artists OF all schools and the vari-
-. $500, 49,. r,.orn.l,, ~, -, IL. MI.