The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21

500 NOTAiILES TAKE PART

btous spectacles OF the past.
In "Venise a travers les Ages" planned
and performed 10y many OF Americas dis
tnguished artists. who were assisted by
leaders Of society and by men and women
o, grand opera and The theatre, time
turned Oh its venerable heel. gave its back
60 the hustlnE. busting. material TWEEN
teth century and recrcated the golden
glorcs of old Venice-the Imperial Venice.
Incredibly rich. powerful and splendid.
Fo- the delight OF :.7co guests the
artists waved their magic wands OF taste
Snd knowledge and brought on the stare
long dead company o: heroes and
rescAI. poets and barbarians. merchants
ard adventurous. who Intrigued. fought,
nate love and came to an end good or III.
In the turbulent centuries when Venice
held the torch for civilization.
Modern Dances Dixniaed.
Il IS worthy of remark that the his
tor.cal and artistic perfection of last
nights spectacle was not married by the
modern dances which claimed doges and
captains and princesses of the Middle
Ages after the episodes OF the pageant
bad faded.
Modern steps and figures lost their
modernity because OF the grace and
dignity with which they were performed A:
because also Of the Illusion created by
ehe velvets. the brocades. the douulets.
me gowns OF state, the headdress-s. the
trains and the brilliant and colorful
fashions OF the Venice OF 1900. The pergon
ard the hesitation and the onestep.
danced by the Council OF Ten. Dalnatlan
pirates. byzantine generals and ladies OF
the ducal palace. became parts Of the pic
,.:e.
More than 500 men and women took
- fF Ia ut.t.r l.W =,
more than 2.7Vo looked on or took part In
the dancing. which lasted until nearly
daylight.
The guests began to arrive about 2
o'clock and the ballroom and corridors or
the Astor were packed with the gorgeously
dressed throng
The object was to raise funds for the
educational activities OF the Fine Arts So
cie;y which maintains more than twenty
ats.iers IN various parts OF the country.
giving 10 young draughts,nen free instruc-
ton In architecture. The society sends
10 the Eco!e des Beaux Arts every year
me winner OF Its prize competition. More
than 10000. It was said last night. was
added 10 the educational fund.
soci~ty's Fret Pageant.
1t was the first pageant and ball ever
attempted by the Society OF Beaux Arts
Architects and from the outset they en-
u'dEoltI 10 make the AFFAIR notable. III
the comments heard last night expressed
accurate judgment "Venise IL travers les
Ages" set = new mark. established a new
standard
The Egyptian ball given by Louis Tiff
'any last year. while probably the most
artistic social entertainment OF its kind
Via. was ever held. was not SO p-etent.ous
or on 80 vast scneme as the pageant
and ball OF last night. and the Same COM
psrlson applies To the famous bali held
twenty-!lv years ago in the Academy Of
Design, at Madison avenue and Twenty
third street. or to James Hazen Hyde 3
French costume ball ut Sherry's years
ago.
The extraordinary success Of the archl-
tees achievement lay IN the determine
ton OF Lloyd Warren and the general
committee TO obtain accuracy In historical
detail. Little thought was given to mere
yrettiness In costuming and decoration.
The main effort was for fidelity to history.
Nj. Warren's associates Were William
r Aldrick, Grosvenor Atterbury. Dom
Barber. Wendell p. Blagden. Archibald
". Brown. George 5. Chappell, William
Emerson, Ernest Flsgg. j. II. Freedlander.
Howard Greenley. Thomas Hastings.
Joseph Rowland Hunt Henry Hornbostel.
Everett V. Meeks. Louis X. Metcalfe.
Kenneth Mu.chison. James ". O'connor.
James Otis Post. /. \. Phelps Stokes.
". ~ Taylor. Breck Trowbridge. Arthur
Ware, Alexander B. Trowbridge and
Nhitney Warren.
Months Of Preparation.
Tic committee spent months in ram
sscalng libraries. museuns and ISibllc
and private collections OF art They had
ths advice and cooperation OF society fol-,
wh0 were ready TO go to any expense ~
perfect the pageant.
The committee placed George s. Chap
pell, Lloyd Warren. Arthur Ware, Henry
Horubostel, Albert Hcrter and +. NJ. l..
Tonetu in charge OF the pageant proper.
which was entitled "Nenice Enthroned.'
after the painting Of that name by Paul
Noroneso In the Doge's Palace.
From tho patronesses the committee
selected groups to preside over various
divisions. Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney and
charge Of the sculpture division Nine.
Louise Homer music; Mrs. William
Taversham Julie opp and Edith Wynne
Matthson, drama Lady Constance Stew
aIt-Richardson. dance; Mrs. Douglas
Robinson, Mrs. Payne Whitney. Mrs
Pricc-Post and Mrs. Reginald de Koven.
special features
The grand ballroom Of the Aston was
decorated to reproduce interiors Of the
boge's Palace. Tapestries. several OF
immense value hanRings of crimson vel
vet and cloth OF gold. Oriental carpets OF
drinking vessels OF gold and silver
and crystal suits OF armor. some OF
which were worn by Venetian captains Ia,
their campaigns against the Genoese, the
Turks and the pirates--these were some OF
the settings Of the pageant
James Monroe Hewlett. Louis Tiffany
Albert Herter and John ". Alexander
were the committee who accomplished q
marvel of r!chnesn and beauty. No one
Presumed 10 estimate the value OF THU
settling. although there were guesses that
{1,0o0.0o0 could not have purchased the
DECORATIONS.
The costumes. under tho general super
vision OF William y. Taylor, Joseph How
land Hunt and Dom Barber, were de-
signed In harmony with the historica
setting Private collections contributed
wonderful laces. velvets. brocaded silk
and Jewels. Worth of Paris designed
moro than one hundred OF the more e'ab
orats costumes worn by the women