The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-18
~ CLAUDE CHERYs.

arc III KIlGu BOuO nuIIlOT. 1Hey
consider that their battle Is
already practically won, and in
very truth II seetns~as though this were
the case. "Tout Paris''-that is to say
the real tout Paris"--is dancing gayly
down the path covered with strange
flowers which has been Laid out by the
-modernists in the world Of art.
I spoke In several of my recent
articles Of q revolution which Is taking
place In the artistic circles OF Paris.
This revolution is subtle one; never
theless 1t may have serious effect
upon social life. 1t is the revolt Of ambi-
tious spirits against that which Is
merely pretty and poetic In the ordinary
sense Of those words. 1t is in short a
revolt against conventional prettiness.
But the danger which lies in the path
OF these futurists and modernists Is that
they seem to wish to replace conven-
tional prettiness by equally conventional
eccentricity. A very famous man once
said: "L'origtnalite voulue devient une
convention" and this Is absolutely true.
II you start out with the intention Of
being original or eccentric you become
at once merely conventional, but IL what
is called eccentriclty follows In the train
OF genuine discovery in the realms Of
Art II is not only permissible but also
admirable.
At the present moment we are stand
ing on the threshold. We are not salts
ned with the old order Of things; we
have not quite made up our minds to
have full confidence tn the new. We
are in spirit saying Il wonder"
Personally find myself repeating
those words, II wonder" VIM the
Leon Bakst school prevail? And how
long will II take us to realize the inner
meaning OF modern Russian art? One
thing Is certain and IL is this: We are
in for period OF unrest and of inten-
tionai usiiness. We are even In for a
season OF vehement eccentricity.
Some eclectic Parisiennes are begin
ming to say, with the famous Nijinsky.
that mere prettiness displeases them
They are calling aloud for new sensa-
tons: they Will have nothing to do with
things. or people, that are ordinary. All
this verges upon the hateful 'originalite
voulue" Well. we must wait and watch.
A good deaf Of chauge and excitement
win be crowded into the gear 1914. that
at least Is certain.
! have sketched this week q costume
worn at a charity fete which was given
Just before Christmas In Paris. 1t was
an immensely successful function and
attended by lovely women OF many DIFF
ferent nations. II was q fete de mutt,
given in the splendid winter gardens
which are attached to the beautiful
home OF one OF the leading women In
Parleian society All sorts OF lovely
star-ts were worn, but the gown
shefgn 'a my sketch had sensational
So
t9nrist In the best sense. The
xt,4nited this costume was
e-tf.ttess, who was dis
the late Empress Eliz-
sery tail and stately,
white skin and large
costume was entirely
S.s subtle shades Of blue.
on the corsase was done
in alaels and turauoises; here
ans Qra facets of antique paste
e1ea ay,ad softly. The draped skirt was
made OF wonderful material which
had been copied from some old Egyp-
tlan stuMs at the Museum du Louvre,
The draperies were arranged to give a
mummy effect and they fell back In
front over a i-transpBrent under
dress made Of dun blue muslin.
Before this SKIRT was pat on the
pieats were daInpened and freshly
crushed togn. her after the manner ~
The Greek i,aperies once worn hy Mary
Andersen Abr lower limbs eo.ii ~
a.iy distinguished under these piett