New-York tribune., 1910-01-13
W.M. CHASE HONORED
ARTISTS GIVE DINNER.
Tribute Amid Reminiscent
Exhibition Of Guests Work.

Few men, perhaps except those who come
back to their own funerals have the prvi-
lege of sitting through a meeting devoted
entirely to eulogy of themselves. Such
was the distinction enjoyed last night by
William NJ. Chase, the artist whose col
leagues gave dinner in his honor at the
National Arts Club. It was ike the tribute
cf a large family to it's sire as whole heart
ediy received as given, for American ar
lists know this dean of their profession as
Father William
There were as many women as men I'm
the gathering, which filled the galleries of
the National Arts Club. at No. Is Gramercy
Park. On the walls all about the diners
vas reminiscent exhibition of Mr.
Chase's work. Before departing the guests
all signed their names to a written testi-
monial of the esteem in which they held
the master
The whole affair had that retrospective
tone which gatherings of this sort must
inevitably possess, Ii would seem. but
olhered from a symposium on the dear
departed" IN the wishes of long life and
much future fame and usefulness ex-
pressed by each speaker and by the diners
as a unit
Thirty-one years ago" began J. Car
roll Beckwith. whom John Dewitt War
ner. the toastmaster. introduced as the
hrst speaker, Chase and I landed in New
York on the same ship, I from Paris, he
from Munich, where we met: and there [
found Chase at the head of a brilliant
group of young Americans On board
ship we talked together and both realized
that we must support ourselves as rebel
members of the Society of American
Artists-we became instructors in the
Art Students League"
A Augustus Healy, president Ct the
Brooklyn Institute, said that the time was
coming when the profession of art would
rank much higher in this country than It
does at present, and that when that time
came and he could see Its approach, art
lovers would recognize the shining exam
pie set by the guest of honor in calling the
attention of the American public to the
productions of its own painters. He
thought Mr.. Chase's exhibitions had been
instrumental in making lovers of art out
of many American citizens
Alexander T. Van Laer, the landscape
painter. paraphrasing some lines written by
John Kendrick Bangs, rerna rked:
Ny ETammar's nm bad: but oh; my son.
wish I'd did what Bill Chase done
Then he described a visit 20 Mr. Chases
studio shortly after the latter's return from
Europe in the late T0s. and he thought the
inspiration so obtained had done much 10
help him his way.
After his address the diners all rose and
drank a toast to Father William which
Mr.. Warner offered in the following words:
Your place NAV be among the stars but
may the time be long before you seek it
there"
L have been made 70 feel for the first
time in thirty years" said Mr.. Chase in
reply. that | was right on an occasion
when dealer said 70 me- If you go abroad
and continue your work you will make
your mark; and I replied. No, I will stay
right here.
Il have been credited with having done
some missionary work, and l appreciate the
compliment. I am regretting that painters
who stick to Paris do not come home and
work with us. Let us do everything that
we possibly to encourage art in this
country. The time is coming yet when art
will be considered the most important ele-
nent here commercially and otherwise"
Among the artists and their guests pres
ent were Carroll Beckwith, CARL De Silver
T ". DeWing. Royal Cortissoz, Montagu
FIagg. !. William Fosdick, Charles Dana,
Gibson. Jules Guerin. the Rev. DR.. Percy
Stickney Grant, Chide Hassam, Mrs. East
man Johnson Bayard Jones' William T.
SmedIey and Miss Clara T. MacChesney