Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-26

IN - introduced TO Leon Bakst, tho
~ preacher. What? Bakst preach.
Ing? We know him as the Rus.
sian colorist who set indigo
and emerald and vermillon and orange
and the whole riot of hues clamorng for
look from us, each richest, strangest.
TIL we get the combined effect and find
them all blending in a harmony too rare
and exquisite ever 10 leave us
But Bakst sermonizing? Yes. and his
theme Is The Ancient Terror"--"Terror
Antiquus.' And who are his congrega.
ton? People who find things going
wrong-everything going wrong. The
earth rocks and splits and upheaves
Worse still. mor,als are numbering
mortals and giorying in it. Soldiers
reyel In the going forth TO Kill. Upon
men is that spell of war that exalts or
degrades Itself above or below each emo.
ton In the whole gamut Of consciousness.
What will Bakst preach 10 people when
they sec all things awry? That human
instinct turns them 10 higher power
Mark how they besiege the temples. how
they pray. Behold the statues OF the
gods, Greek gods OF the older day, be-
fore whom the supplicants bow down!
~ tueiN 6Hs lilHB idIlneT Wllnln your
soul. asks Bakst, than the impulse TO
seek something stronger and wiser than
man In the hour of interest woe?
Can we think the innermost and
noblest. most essential and most endur-
Ing Of our longngs is a mere Tantalus.
never to be greeted by what II longs for?
IL there were no God. or II God heard
no prayer. then truly might We adopt the
suggestion OF some disciples OF Schopen-
a hirh ho
entire sixteen hundred millions OF man.
kind are TO commit suicide.
No! No! God does hear. Who dares
say He did not hear those old Greeks
who. according 10 their best light, be.
sought such gods as they had been told
about to save them from their dire dis
tress? Narrow and cailous must be the
human who can view coldly the heart.
felt devotions OF worshppers OF the-to
us-most impossible faith
What has Bakst to preach with regard
TO prayers answer? Have you discov.
cred dove in the picture? Blue he
painted It. and poised on careful thumb
and fingers. You adjudge those fingers
too long and precise 10 be sincere? So
did at first. Remember, however. that
Baksts fingers are almost always exag-
gerated as to length, that this Is far
nearer the normal hand than It is his
wont to portray. Receive 1t for genu.
Inc dove or true intent.
He Is prophesying-he painted Terror
Antiquus" in l9l0-that after trouble
after calamity, after battle comes peace
Want and woe and war arc Interruptions.
Earthquake and tempest and thunder
and the lightning shaft will soon be past,
and sweet peace here again. Disturb
ance OF the divine order is only tempo
rary. Has 1t not ever been so? San
culinary struggles are written large in
III
unusual OF bygone days. The majority
OF the days were sunlit hours OF indus.
try and neighborlness. They shall be
such increasingly
What does Bakst say about the restor-
Ing OF the loss by catastrophe and
sword? Aphrodite was the goddess Of
love and fruitfulness He thanks Aphro-
dite in the foreground - Aphrodite
brought from Asia, glorified In Greece
and adopted in Rome. Aphrodite prompt
ed the mating among animals and BIRDS
gave harvests and vintage. Aphrodite
hrst whispers the wooing note into the
Young mans courtship and the assent.
ing note into. the young woman's re-
spouse. Aphrodite mothers the human
blood.
Bakst is asserting that after the dis.
aster come love and repenishing. Hearts
VIII beat louder than drums Lovers
VIII we'd again Children will laugh
away the months Of misery God reha.
bilitates His world. Aphrodite's smile
might be sarcastic Her eyes are open
and sad and hopeful. 1t all seems brutal
burlesque until we fix our gaze upon the
dove and the eyes.
You were wise. Preacher Bakst. TO
keep US guessing to the last You are a
prophet OF the happier dawn. To move
on and up Is the genius OF humanity,
God leading.
VIII those who take in Baksts sermon
taKe hint or two? Since he, the some.
times fantastic artist. found a means Of
proclaiming serious and tremendous
message. why not try something of the
sort yourself? You have something
worth preaching. Choose your own way,
as he did,
America needs one hundred million
preachers.
Each calling, each kind OF life. could
% utilized In proclamation of important
truth. Proclaim a truth and live It. also
and you become the most worthwhile OF
Y1Ortafs