New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-30
Anglo-American Memories
CXXX.
COURT OFFICIAL THREE GREAT LAWYERS,
THREE ARTISTS.
.ropyrisht 1911. George w. smaney,

AAOuSe oI commons the political grave
OF so many legal regulations: succeeds.
that is, sometimes, for not even the SIM
pllcity Of Sir Rufus's manner is always
innocent enough to convince the House
that he Is not speaking from brief.
The knighthood Of Mr. Frederick
Eaton, Secretary to the Royal Academy
might disturb the long slumber of the
departed Whistler. He was Whistler's
enemy; as was the Royal Academy it
self In him and in the Academy dwelt
the spirit of Philistnism, with which
Whistler was at lifelong war. | know Of
no reason why Mr.. Eaton should not he
a knight except that he is Secretary -
the Royal Academy; and it is because
he is Secretary To the Royal Academy
that lie is made a knight. He is the
executive officer of that singular body,
which has probably done more than al
others 10 degrade English art, TO keep
il on a low level: to repress rising genius,
10 eXalt the commonplace; to misuse its
opportunities and funds and 10 COM
mercialize the art Of Great Britain. II
contains a few good painters and one
great artist, Mr. Sargent. who is IT
was. an American. But as "a body ITS
influence has been disastrous. and -
give an honor like knighthood TO its
Secretary is 10 set the seal OF the Kings
approval on its work. True. it has of late
repented OF some of its sins. and opened
its galleries 20 examples of a modern
spirit which it long excluded. But il
remains the Royal Academy and Mr..
Eaton remains its Secretary.
A better choice is that Of Mr.. Claude
Phillips. who has done good service As
keeper of the incompatible Wallace
Collection and as ART critic of the Daily
Telegraph" with a social position 20
help him. Mr. Frank short, President
of the Royal Society Of Painter Etchers,
is another knight who has a representa-
tive place in British art; Director OF
Etching and Engraving in the Royal
School OF Art. twice gold medallist a.
Paris The phrase Painter Etcher Will
remind YOU Of Seymour Haden-I sup
pose the first etcher of his day next after
Whistler: whom Whistler, in his NOR
dant way. used 10 call the eminent sur
geon- Etcher Well. why should he not!
For Haden was an eminent surgeon AMI
an eminent etcher and the mortal enemy
Of Whistler: or Whistler was of Haden.
Art Of another kind has its recognition
in the knighthood conferred, after TOO
long delay. on Mr.. George Alexander: to
whom the English stage is deeply in
debt. alike as actor and manager.
said Of him quite lately but must say
again. that as Manager OF the 81
Jamess Theatre during tWenty-one sue
casef,.l wears he has done more TO pro-
mote dramatic progress and the inter-
ests Of living dramatic authors than any
other manager; perhaps than all other
managers together. His policy has been
70 produce living plays by living aN-
,bors. when they were TO be had. He
was also. I think. the first manager 10
restore to the stage the work OF oscar
Wilde: whose wrecked manhood wrecked
also for long time the fortunes Oh
pieces in which there was nevertheless
no faint Of vice But when the man
went down his plays had for "a time 70
90 with him. II required courage 10 re-
store them to the stage. Nh Alexander
now Sir George Alexander found the
courage and reaped the reward Que 70
e,,re managerial instinct and an accu-
rate estimate Of the period during when
the resentment or moral indignation OF
the British public might be expected 10
last.
wilde deserved his fate, but his plays
and some Of his literature deserved TO
live. and will. 1 disuked Wilde and ne
dislilked me. but I will do him the JUS
rice 70 which as poet and playwright ne
is entitled. II is not difficult. Il re-
oyjres no virtue. a journalist has TO
take things as he finds them. lie must
have an ethical standard, but he need
not be always preaching.
The kind. or one kind Of preaching for
which have a deep respect is the
nreacbirg 4 which Sir George AleNan-
der has offered us an example year by
wear for the better part Of genera
zion NV strict devotion 10 the true IN
rests and right methods Of the great
a,.r ~. practises with consummate skill
both as actor and producer OF plays.
Nor do l know why 1 may not ada tNat
LADY, Alexander has given him during
these years the benefit Of her delicate
st and sure knowledge in all that
mems the decorative side Of dramatic
art or the staging and dressing OF plays
~ what is more private, II her social
tits and position. which are not less
I,,,,f,,1 in art than in diplomacy. / say
,,o,hirg and need say nothing since
I.ador knows very well how admirable
i-o'','1.. G.. W. :.
WELSH PARTY SAILS FOR HOME