Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-20

harmony to produce a single artistic re-
suit. The theater is not commercial
venture. but has been subsidized by
group Of wealthy men DESTROYS of assist
ing the uplift and advancement OF the
drama in America. The buf ding was
designed by Messrs. Carrere and Hast,
Senate Office buildings, and is said TO
INTELLECTUALLY express most admirably
its ideal Of a civic or national institution,
giving outward signs of lofty aspirations,
dignifed purpose and vigorous determine
ton. The scenery for the first play pre-
sented, Antony and Cleopatra, was de-
signed by Jules Guerin and painted under
his supervision. and that for The Temp
est is being executed under the direction
Of Maxf1eld Parrish
A the Veerhofr galleries Monday an
"A exhibition Of paintings by William
P. Silva Will be opened. Mr.. Silva comes
from Chattanooga and has rather re-
markable history. Until three years ago
he was actively engaged in business as
a merchant On the top floor of his
store he had fitted up a studio and paint
ed during the noon hours, earnestly de-
string to give his whole attention TO art,
but meanwhile not neglecting his bust
ness In 1906 MIR. Silva spent the sum
mer at Ipswich under the tutelage or
business went to Paris and entered the
Julien Academy. The next summer he
spent sketchng in Picardy ana Nor
mandy and in 1908 he exhibited in the
Paris Salon. Last January seventy-three
of his paintings were shown In the gal
leries George Petit, fact which speaks
for itself. and within the last few weeks
he has held an exhibition In Boston. AS
an eminent critic or that city mas salu'
the extraordinary fact that man can
pursue the avocation Of merchant
until well on middle life. forsake that
business to take up the study OF art, and
in three short years be admitted to the
Paris Salon and win the almost unquai1-
fed praise of the majority of the French
critics lends singular interest to his
work, and leads to the conclusion that
he must indeed belong to that rare type,
an artist born, not made. The very fact
that Mr. Silva IS from a part of the
country presumably remote from art
influences and activities gives further
importance to his success.
TN New York this evening at the Fine
Arts Society rooms the National In
stitute Of Arts and Letters will present
its gold medal of hono-, designed by
MIR. A. A. Weinman, to Mrs. Saint Gau-
denS, as awarded to the sculpture OF
August Saint Gaudens. An address will
be made by Mr. Royal Cortissoz on THE
Influences OF Saint Gaudens." and the
medal will be presented by DR.. Henry
Van Dyke: q response will be made by
Mr. Homer Saint Gaudens. the son of
the sculptor: an ode, Saint Gaudens.
will be read by MIR. Robert Underwood
Johnson, its author. and music will be
furnished by the Kneisel Quartet. 1t is
comforting to think that the genius OF
Saint Gaudens was appreciated while he
was living and producing as well as now.
and that more than once IL took, as in
the masque given at Cornish, concrete
and tangible form.
THE National Institute OF Arts and
Letters. the Architectural League OF
America and the American Institute OF
Architects will all hold conventions or
conferences In this city next month. The