New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-09


has said that excess Is fauit
In everything On the contrary. we
proclaim that excess IN everything is n
force. the only force. The sun Is never
too ardent. the sky never too green
the distant sea never too red, obscurl'y
never too deeply black. NO more
lines. no more fluctuations. no more
meter nothing but bedazzlement!
Here. indeed. was a voice crying IN the
artistic wilderness. and curiosity as 10
whence exactly IL came and what
might be the personality OF its owner
was keenly aroused The technique OF the
picture was. moreover. entirely IN &C
cord with the doctrines enunciated by
the brilliant founder of the excessivist
school-broad bands and splashes of the
most brilliant colors alternating and
contrasting with one another to pro-
duce an effect suggestive Of the ex-
plosion Of a dynamite bomb in an aniline
dye works. A horde of interviewers
promptly Overran the Bohemian quarters
of Paris seeking for the Whereabouts OF
NJ. Boronali. and they finally ran him
in the Rue LEIPZIG. at Montmartre. which
carries the sign Of "Au Lapin Agile
THE Nimble Rabbit"
Then il was discovered that NJ. Boro-
nall was neither more nor less than
real, live-donkey. The cabaret Au
Lapin Agile" possesses an elderly. small
and unusually docile squirrel colored ass
In al 6GnkPXG
have, in addition TO their individual
name. the traditional Cognomeu OF
"Maitre AIiboron-" 1t occurred TO Ger
tain young "rapins," or struggling paint
ers living al MOntmartre, who were dis
gusted with the meretrfCiOus success OBJ
tanned bv even the most farcical repre-
sentatives Of the impressiorist school at
the Salon OF the Independents. that the
name Aliboron might be conveniently
transposed into BOrOnali. and that
"Maitre Aliboron" himself. il a brush
dipped in color were 10 be tied To his tall
and the tail made 10 dab and slap and
brush itself upon a canvas. could pro-
duCe a picture which would exceed in
originality and impudence the most
and pave the way to the foundation of
an entirely new school of technique, the
school of "excessivism." In any case, IT
would be the real work of a donkey.
Encouraged by the satirical paper Fan
tasio." the plan was promptly carried
out. notary and a photographer were
requisitioned. 'Maitre Aliboron" was
l. 81. bor At
brush was tied TO his tail; Frederic, the
host. dipped the brush into oil color. and
by dint of tempting LOlO with Jumps of
sugar caused him to make such move
ments as to daub canvas. suitably ad-
justed to the extremity of the donkey's
tail, with all sorts of multi-colored
splashes and smears. The masterpiece
had been created.
The notary drew up an authentic legal
document in due form, certifying every
detail of the scene. and the photographer
took pictures of the group. Then arose
the question Of naming the picture.
"A Cyclone" 1.-THE Tail of the Comet
Touching the Earth and Portrait
OF President Fallieres" were vari-
OuSlN suggested, OUT 1ndlly Ana
the Sun Slept on the Adriatic'' was
decided on. The humorists who have
perpetrated this mystifcatiOn, TO the
endless amusement Of the Parisians.
are hugely pleased with the success
Of their joke Frederic. the landlord
of the "Nimble Rabbit" is specially
proud of having dealt so severe a blow
to the pretentiOus charlatanism OF the
Independents. 1T is all very fine" he
remarked TO an interviewer. Ito be indie
pendent, but between the unconventional
seeker after new forms of beauty and
the Quack there is vast abysm, and
this truth my donkey, 'Maitre Aliboron.'
has successfully demonstrated The
council Of the Independents maintains,
nevertheless, an unruffied countenance
''One ass exhibits this year at the Salon
of the Independents" says NJ. Lepage. a
mouthpiece of the council but who
can count the number of asses who ex-
hibit at the other salons 1t would be
unjust 20 close the doors of our Salon to
asses when all the others are wide open
TO them" c. I. B.