The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-08
AMERICAN IDEAS
IN PARIS HOMES
Comforts Are introduced by
Architect Duchesne
THE FAYDEAM WEDDING
Awakcns RecOllections of Drama, Art,
Literature and Love-Father Was
Author of s'rhe Girl From
Maxims"
THE FAYDEAM WEDDING

visitors as the place where Captain
Dreyfus was degraded IS years ago.
Since then it has become one of the most
fashionable residential districts of Paris.
This is largely due to the architect Du
chesne, the man who built Mr.. Clarence
Mackay's house and also planned a pal
ace for Thomas Fortune Ryan. 1t was
while doing his work for these million
aires that 1t occurred to him to introduce
American comforts in Partisan homes.
This was a happy inspiration and has met
with great success.
Machinery hall. which once occupied a
large part of the Champs de Mars has
been removed, and fashionable houses are
taking its place. In this neighborhood the
former Duchesse de Valencay, now
Madame Helen Morton, has a residence.
The Comtesse de Bearn, who recently sold
her yacht to the Austrian government
for a torpedo destroyer, also lives in this
quarter.
Occasionally trades people and cele-
brated actors break into the charmed cir
Gle. For instance, Worth, the dress
maker, has built one Of these Franco
American homes in the Champs de Mars.
Guitry, the celebrated actor, who ere
ated the role of 'Chantecler," in Ros-
tands new play, also lives here. The
neighborhood represents many millions.
The Comtesse de Bearn's income Is $1,000
a day. The Champs de Mars has now
become a favorite horseback promenade
for smart officers, SO that the Avenue des
Agasias in the Bots is deserted for the
over growing popular Champs de Mars.
The approaching marriage of pretty
Germaine Faydeau awakens recollections
of DRAMA art, literature and love. For
| her father, George Faydeau, Is the author
of THE Girl From Maxims," play out
of which 8, ew such American plays as
The Girl From Rector's," and many of
the like. When George Faydeau was
| writing 1.-The Girl From Making he used
to frequent the celebrated cafe in the
Rue Royale Naturally he wanted to give
| his play local color" His wife, how
ever, objected to this COLOR" and 1t took
| Ill the finesse of her father, the great
| painter. arolus-Duran, to bring about
recorciliation.
II literature and art can make bride
happy, then Mile Faydeau should be 4
very happy bride. indeed. Her fiance,
Georges Kahn, is a man of letters. Her
father, Georges Faydeau is one of the
best known of modern playwrights. AT
present he has a popular success running
at the Theatre des Capucines. Her
mother, who was Mile Carous-D Duran, is
Her grandmother, Madame Carolus-Du-
ran, nee Marie Pa1fline Groizette, was an
artist Her grandfather, Carolus-Duran
Is director of the famous art school, the |
Villa Medici, at Rome. For many years |
he was president of the National Salon |
Of Fine Arts, of Paris. Among his most |
celebrated works Is painting of st. |
Francis of Assist He has painted many |
PORTRAITS Of distinguished people and
among his best is that of the Duchesse
of Marlborough.
Whenever chance to meet my distin-
N H. ~.t Al.<1
versation invariably turns ON pictures, |
for Rochefort Is still the best art critic
Ia Paris. He says, when tuying an 'old
master" trace the pedigree just as you
would of a race horse. The English al
ways take great pains to do this before
purchasing a picture for the National
gallery Roohefort thinks people depend
too much upon what Is termed expert
Americans are often deceived
and cheated because they depend too
much upon their art dealers.
l asked Rochefort what he thought
about the authenticity of the much dis
cussed picture of venus at the Looking
glass" The old man shook his head.
"Its pedigree Is doubtful" he said. This
Is, of course, true. An English art critic
claims that this picture was painted by
the son-in-law of Valasquez, Baptste del
Mar. He even claims to have discovered
the painters initials on the canvas
When | called this fact to Rochefort6
attention he remarked: well, his eye
glasses must have powerful lenses
Mrs. Belmont, Mrs. Clarence Mackay
and other eminent leaders of feminism In
America will be delighted to learn that
many of our 'immortals" favor adj
mission of ladies to the academy. There
IL. however, the academy's costume to be
considered consisting OF a green coat, a
cooked hat and sword and, of course,
trousers Now. will this custom appeal to 4
the fair sex? | doubt It, even though the
trousers could be translated into the
divided skirt On the other hand there
have been academicians electedNfrom the
clergy who were not forced to don this
fantastic costume
Emile Faguet, the eminent Immortal
who made the address recently when
Reno Doumic was admitted, speaking of
the election of women, says he has long
satisfied hin}self of the intellectual quail
ity of men and women. And he Is right.
1t seems ridiculous that such women as
Madame de Sevigne, Madame de La
Fayette anu Madame de Maintenon were
not elected as membership of the acad-
envy Let us now make amends for the
past by electing Madame Dupuis-Dupont
Durand The standard of admission should
not be one of sex but intellect. Jules
Claretie, the director of the Theatre
Francois, also one of the "Immortals,"
Is strongly in favor of the election of
women; likewise Paul Herview and Eu-
gene Brieux. The academy Of the Forty
Immortals' was founded by Cardinal
Richlieu.
Mr. Charles Sedelmeyer is the old
est and most experienced art dealer
in Paris. He is now rs years of age
and attended every important art sale
for over so years. Speaking of the
prices paid at the recent Yerkes sale
in New York, he Is IT the opinion that
they were ridiculously high. He says
Yerkes bought his whole collection for
about 100000. He knew the CONNER
cial value of pictures and made hard
bargains. For instance Gorot's Rockets
and Blue Lights" This picture was
sold in Paris for $4,000 and 1t brought
$50, 900 at the Yerkes sale. Turner's
fisherman was offered by Mr.. Sedel-
MEYER to the Louvre in Paris for $685.
900. The price was considered too high
and the. picture refused. This picture
was sold at the Yerkes sale for $780,
900, Frank Hale's portrait of woman
was sold here for $4,000. Mr.. Sedel-
never declares the Yerkes sale was
not based upon the value of the paint
inRs but upon the competition Of the
millionaires.
Mrs Moore, who was formerly Kate |
Robinson of New York, received King |
Edward at her villa in Biarritz just |
before his departure and the reception
Of the kingly visitor was magnificent /
in the extreme. On his arrival q full |
orchestra played the English national |
anthem. After this the King said: |
1.-THE King Is no longer present. There |
are none here but friends" This was |
the signal for all sorts of frolics and |