The sun., 1909-11-14
WAX WORK WAR WAKES WARN
BODE JUST IGNORES AL TEE
FACTS, SAYS lucas.
The Craze for Antiquity In Art--Lenden
Managers ana Piayw rights Condemn
New Censorship sunra8ette
Nuisance Notable Detngs IN society

Special Cable Despatch 10 TEE SUN
LONDON. Nov. 1S.-The question OF
the authenticity Of the now famous
Leonardo d. vinc. wax bsist. which was
recently purchased by DR.. William Bode.
the curator OF the Kaiser Friedrich Mu-
scum at Berlin. for that Institution.
threatens to develop into bitter inter-
national quarrel. DIR. Bodies counter
attacks, in which he ascribes the English
revelations as to the authenticity OF the
bust to a malsvolent and jealous spirit.
have aroused mnch resentment here.
The Timer refuses TO retahate in the same
spirit. however. and bess DR.. Bode not
10 treat the controversy as II IL were q
matter Of International aptonr proprs.
There is sharp division Of opinion in
German art circles, and vituperative
criticism OF DR.. Bode has been confined
entirely to the Berlin press. The powerful
support which the Kaiser has given to
the director OF the museum has by no
means silenced these criticisms. Mean
time the actual facts in the case have
been largely ignored by DIR. Bode. who
confines himself to q declaration that the
bust furnishes intrinsic evidence that it
is the work Of the Leonardo da Vinci
school. II not OF Leonardo himself, and
advances the hypothesis that the figure
itself is the original which was sent to
r. @. Lucas. the Engish sculptor. to copy.
Against this is the positive evidence OF
two living witnesses. Lucas's SON and
another intimate artist friend. More
over. there ss plenty OF corroborauve
svidence tracing the history OF the bust
from is47 TO the present day. Lucas. Jr..
who explicitly denies that any other
bust was ever fn his fathers possession.
writes to-day as follows:
EvrpKN cE IosoxzD.
Il was amazed TO read the statements
IN to-day's papers an being the utterance
Of DIR. Bode. They are, 20 far as they
relate 70 the authenticity Of the bust,
absolutely uufounded. Yesterday after
noon I firmly refused admission 20 my
house 70 two gentlemen who claimed
10 have come with his authority, feeling
sure that they must have been sent not
TO ascertain the truth but 20 support
the mere assertions OF DR.. Bode.
Il appeal 10 the honor OF the German
nation for an impartial inquiry by per-
sons not connected with the Kaiser Fried
rich Museum, a. am positive that II the
statements attributed TO the German
Emperor are correctly quoted he cannot
have been fully informed OF the mass OF
evidence produoed by Cooksey. which
I confirm In every particular. as TO the
origin OF the bust
The controversy threatens TO con-
tinue indefinitely. Tho mere question
of the artistic value OF the figure itself
seems TO concern nobody. The accepted
idea seems TO be that II the bust is the
work of Lucas it is rubbish. if it In that
OF Leonardo da vinei Il is thing OF
beauty and worth a fortune. Such h
the domination Of the craze for antiquity
in the modern world OF art.
STILL KICK AT CENSOR.
The dissatisfaction OF London theatre
managers TO the proposed scheme for
the partial abolition OF the censorship is
due solely to their desire 70 escape re-
sponsibility. .They have been quite con-
tent to risk the occasional rejection Of
a plav in order to be free from interfer-
ence In the production Of all licensed
dramas. They fear freqdent prosecu-
tions by various authorities under the
arrangement now proposed. They also
resent the threatened loss Of liquor
licenses. Many London theatres make
an annual profit OF 5000 from their bars.
while music halls make fully $4,000.
George Bernard Shaw 10 one OF the
playrights who are also disseminated with
the decision OF the Parliamentary Censor
ship Committee. He says: We are
threatened with what is virtually star
chamber. The committee hit upon the
expedient Of making use OF the theatre
landlord to compel the dramatic author
so submit to e nominaily appointed censor.
In some respects the suggestion OF
legislation belongs TO the very worst
American type. II I put into a play a
Joke at the expense OF Christian Science
the Attorney General can apply to the
committee OF the Privy Council for an
order prohibiting the play FOR ten years
on the ground Of my doing violence to a
sentiment Of religious reverence
MIR. Shaw thinks the censorship In mainly
valuable as "a verdict OF guilty without
extenuating circumstances against the
Lord Chamberlain and an admission
of all contentious. II not all claims. oi
authors
STILL MoRk sUrrRAoIsTs.
The latest woman sufYragist society
k called the Younger Suffra gist Society
Members must be under 30. but the
general secretary says that in the nattei
OF age they viii not bs too inquisitorial
in the case OF application for membership
Besides the general secretary there are
six other secretaries. including Margaret
Lyttelton, q relation. OF an ex-Secretary
Of the Colonies. and Margaret Tennant
a niece Of Mrs. Asquith. Nearly all the
members are Newnham or Girton College
girls Most OF them have cultivated
the art OF public speaking. They vii
work by pacific means. pursuing only
constitutional. non-militant methods.
Christabel Pankhurst has sent letter
to c. H. Workman OF the Savoy Theatre
expressing regret that he was incon-
venienced by the action OF suffra gettet
in that place OF amusement on Thursday
night. but she urged that duty had tt
come first. and member OF the Cabinet
was present
Yesterday afternoon the Lord Chief
Justices court had to be carefully qua rdec
on account OF Mr.. Lloyd-George. Chan
cellor OF the Exchequer. being present
n