The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-07

we'll as from an artistic point OF view
the ballet is the most important func-
don OF the summer season.
This year we have had several inter
csting novelties offered to us at the
Creations" or first nights. The great
Richard Strauss has come to Paris for
the special purpose OF conducting his
much talked Of ballet La Legends dc
Joseph" the first ever written by the
musician who is. perhaps, the most dis
cussed artist In Europe.
The ballet has been. and still Is. sur
rounded by clouds OF expectation, Of
excitement, and yet 1t Is, TO some Of
us, as a dead thing. For II has lost Its
soul. am aware that I am now tread
Ing upon dangerous ground. Tho
adorers of the new star. Leonide Mas
sine, will scofr at the suggestion that
he is not capable of making US forget
Nljlnsky. But this is true vaslaw Nj
jlnsky was the soul Of the Russian bal
let. He was a strange creature of tenn
permanent, Of eccenrlcity. Of absolute
genius. As a dancer ne was. and h.
beyond compare. But I am not now
thinking OF him an a dancer. am
thinking OF him as a genius.
The opening night Of the ballet wss
superb. The opera was crowded As
for royal gala. Richard Strauss con-
Quoted. Leonide Miassine looked. acted
and danced as an ideal Joseph might
have done. The scenery was superb,
the dresses more than manihcent. The
applause was generous. And yet some-
thing vas wanting.
In that generous applause one never
once felt the mysterious thrill OF genu-
inc enthusiasm. such enthusiasm as I'M
failingly greeted Nijinsky when he
danced IN LES Sylphides," TO the cho-
pin music, when he fioated in through
a moonlit window in The Spectre Of the
Rose" above ell when he moved across
the stage with strange gestures and
amorouS animal eyes In Debussye
"L'Apres midi dun Faune."
NiJlnsl.y Is genius. The other
dancers, including the new star Mas
sine. are extraordinarily clever. There
in lies the difference. And genius. I'm
consciously arou5es real enthusiasm.
For some reason Vaslaw NijinslSy has
left the Russian ballet and has started
on his own account. And the loss to
the ballet If. in my opinion. irreparable
IN a IL 1,.S a.
oveliest gowns and the most gor-
2eous jewels shall be worn on sub
scriptlon nights at Les Ballots Russes
On reviewing these brilliant functions
one realizes with a sigh Of relief that
eccentric headdresses are things of
the past especially eccentric head
dresses which express themselves in
such colors as metallic blue. pastel pink
or emerald green hair.
on the opening night OF the Russian
ballet season there was not a colored
coiffure In the house, except one that
was born on the stage; an emerald
green. More than this, the vast major
ity of the women present wore their
hair simply dressed and In natural
colors.
There were a number Of powdered
heads, Of course, but these for the
greater part. were exploited by women
OF 40 or so and upward; very few really
young women appeared in powder and
patches. l hcralded this change some
time ago. for l saw that 1t was newt
able. We are becoming almost I'M
necessarily natural. We have already
she natural waist line. natural hair
sven. In many cases, natural COM
plexions. To look artificial nowadays
Is to label oneself "viveux jeu."
One thing specially pleased me in
connection with the smart nights a.
the Russian ballet and that was the
return of the tiara and of the tiara
comb. For important functions q
diamond tiara is the most becoming
ornament a woman can wear. The new
tiara comb Is not unduly remarkable
and can BIO worn at any time.
On several subscription nights I
noticed that the two most DISTINGUISHED
looking woman in the opera house were
simply gowned in black chiffon; half
mourning dresses which were not
specially decollete. These two ladies
were the Grand Duchess Vladimir of
Russia and her daughter-in- law, the
Grand Duchess Cyril. Both ladies wore
Russian tiaras composed OF magnificent
diamonds and both had beautiful dia-
mond ornaments on the front OF their
simple black corsages. All eyes were
turned in the direction OF their loge:
they were regal; splendidly simple.
TIE Parisiennes have. as 1 mentioned
in scent article, been very much i'm
pressed by the spectacular effect of
what may be called royal dressing
When Queen Mary was here her gowns
at first attracted polite smiles, because
OF their simple outline. then they at
tracted admiration. because of their
perfect taste; finally they were freely
copied. We are in for "a season of royal
fashions, and this is an excellent thing
We need moment Of repose after d
long period of eccentricities.
Those among us who are superstitious
regard the advent OF the peacock feather
with something like horror. 1t Is nov
freely used for evening headdresses. L
IL made 10 stand erect above the fore
head, just where the aigrette yester
day used to stand: 1t Is also made [,
5ut out at the back OF the hair in ag
ercssive style. Personally, dislike th,,
nshion. 1t seems to me stupid and In