New-York tribune., 1910-04-27
SOCIETY IN DISTORTION
Here's a New Show with a Bit of
"Gizzard" in II.
TO TEST AMERICAN HUMOR
De zayas, Caricaturist. Paints
Action in Fifth Avenue
with Free Hand.

Alfred Stieglitz Is running show for
Marius de Zayas, a caricaturfst. at the
Photo-Secession Gallery. No. 2s1 Fifth
avenue. which he says will demonstrate
whether Americans have a real sense OF
humor. up and Down Fifth Avenue-A
Social Satire II is called. The stage set
ting Is that OF the avenue at seth street
In the background are the Hotel Plaza and
the Cornelius Vanderbilt house The fore
ground represents the roadway and side
walk in front of the Savoy. occupied by
painted cardboard caricatures OF men and
women prominent In the city's life to-day
Such exhibitions have been given In
Paris from time to time. Mr.. Stieslitz says.
with pronounced success. But he is slight
ly pessimistic about the American meas
uring up to the light hearted French In
depth of humor. He is not AZ all sure
whether the majority OF the men and
women portrayed by the little cardboard
exaggerations. which are six inches or 50
high, will appreciate such vivid distortions
of their own characteristics.
But there's not a touch of malice in
the entire panorama" he said yesterday.
The trouble with the American is he has
been brought up on pap, on Gibson and
the like. Now. here's something with
bit of 'gizzard' in 1t. 1t ought to make
big hit. Well see"
Mr.. Stieglitz sets good example. He
says the figure which represents his per-
son on the sidewalk is the best portrait
of him extant II is a rear view of him
that is presented and the wind has whipped
his ordinarily emotional hair into a very
passion.
The action suggestoi by this figure Is
characteristic of the whole scene. All the
pedestrians. all the vehicles and their occu-
pants, even the expressions on the vast
variety of faces, are distinctly on the
move. The avenue is alive there, as Il is
every afternoon in reality. yet the only
movement in the gallery is that of the
spectators. who walk back and forth in
front Of the stage, which is waist high.
examining the intricate details and get
ting different perspectives.
Several friends of the artist visited the
exhibition yesterday afternoon and ex-
pressed delight at the portrayal OF them
selves. among them Paul B. Haviland. who
lends a touch Of repose to the lilputian
landscape by leaning dejectedly against a
lamppost- Near hin Mrs. Russell Colt
CEthel Barrymore) is pushing a baby car
riage. Miss Maria de Acosta is there in
which she has on Ieashes. Lispenard
Stewart is bowling gallantly 20 Daniel
Frohman, who is returning the compli-
ment with int rest Winthrop Ames Is
about to trip over a messenger boy. and
Diamond Jim" Brady has his red waist
coat and his "glims" presented to the
grandstand.
Mrs. Clarence II. Mackay. who has Just
oIf Ifrb ted Iu
into William NJ. Chase. the artist. Alfred
Vanderbilt is driving his coach on the top
Of which are seated Kiss Anna Held. F.
Ziegfeld tr., Miss Lillian Lorraine, Ray
mond Hitchcock, Miss Nora Bayes, Jack
Norworth and Lew Fields John Drew IL
seen speeding past in a hanson cab. and
passing him in the opposite direction is
Reginald c. Vanderbilt, driving a trap. In
the midst of the street panorama Presi-
dent Taft can be seen lolIing in a linou-
sine. while Colonel Roosevelt Is bowling on
horseback. Magistrate Barlow. Mrs. II. p.
Whitney and Mrs. Howard Gushing. Mrs
John Jacob Astor. Mrs. o. II. P. Belmont.
]. Pierpont Morgan and the Count and
Countess Szechenyi a others among the
throng passing in vehicles
Some OF the pedestrians not already men,
toned are Marshall p. Wilder. Frederick
Townsend Martin. Mr.. and Mrs. James B.
Haggin. Creighton Webb. Sadakichi Hart
mann and Richard lie Gallienne, Andrew
Carnegie, Theodore Shonts, Thomas +.
Ryan, John Jacob Astor. Childe Hassam,
Cornelius Vanderbilt. Robert Goelet. Clar-
ence II. Mackay, Caruso. with a detective
bodyguard: Mrs. Philip Lydig Prince
Troubetzkoy and Mr.. and Mrs. Henry
Clews.