The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-18

the harbor danced in glee and seemed
to whisper Liberty" Mr.. Gorky
was quoted as saying upon his ar
rival; but after our best hotels had
shut their doors upon him and he
was forced to fly the country he de-
cided that the waves in question had
used a quite different expression.
Mr.. Nevinson shook academic Lon
don to its foundations, so the cables
have led US to believe first with his
futurism and afterward with plain
and simple cubism. Our artists, espe-
cially our cubist artists, will envy Mr..
Nevinson his London. London Is so
the first week or two
of holding you at arms length. It
is easier to get along in London even
than in Paris. Paris. for that mat
ter. Is entirely too receptive. II &C
cepts 30 much that there is no dis
tinction in It. Or, II there is distinc-
ton, there Is only that and nothing
more. London's approval Is expressed
in coin of the realm-it is the real
VEGETABLE distinction-the sort that
Americans yearn for.
Mr.. Nevinson explained cubism to
London and London likes to have
things explained. London and Mis-
souri, have that trait in common. Mr..
Nevinson did not go out OF his way
to seek for beauty nor take any trou-
BILE to perfect his touch. He was con-
tent merely to show that there was
cubism in nature. There Is cublsm in
nature. Of course. There is anything
in nature that one cares to look for.
Nature, like the Bible, justifies every
thing. 1t is that fact that led witty
Mr.. Wilde 1--WE still mister every one
in this country, even geniuses) 70 ex-
claim that nature copied art. But the
facts OF cublsm, that even the COM
mon man could understand, brought
London fame to Mr.. Nevinson, for the
common man Is of more importance in
that town than he was four years ago;
and more numerous.
So whether or not Mr.. Nevinson has
touch, or a message, or a genuine
style-the French poohpooh all the
English cubists and say no-the fact
remains that his method sufflces for
the English and that they respond to
1t. 1t Is a great thing to have a pub
lie for art, even for cubism; and Mr..
rvoaoh - -. W. So 10, .,,h,...
nI.,,or n. he h,,. NC ha,,an,, ~,,,h,,'
&c cIovor i, hi. 20 ~, o,,,,,soS ~, tho,,,
C,,,hisn, cor fro,,, ~ orr-,a 80 .D,,,,,;,,,,
he repa rded as having had q chanca
here. 1t appeared in America as q
peculiarly weak and miserable little
founding. and as far as society was
concerned was promptly consigned to
the workhouse.
II Mr.. Nevinson really wishes to
have a good time. he might ask some
OF our museum directors what they
think Of cubism!
Tho American sympathy with the
French Is not a thing that was con-
jured up for war purposes. It was
founded generations ago and Is at
tested whenever French and Ameri-
cans meet. Since the two nations met
In the war service In closer union than
ever before the sympathy between the
two peoples has increased by leaps and
bounds.
A chance for Americans to aid prac-
tically In French reconstrucive work
Is Afforded by the collection Of con-
temporary French art, brought here by
the Comtesse Gu. de Fontenailles. and
TO be sold In the kngore Galleries for
the benefit Of the hospital at Hericy,
France. This hospital. which is under
the direction of Nine. la Generate Cor
nile, takes the wounded who have
been cured as far as the military hos
pitfalls can cure them, but who are not
yet in condition to earn their hvings,
and hts them for this task. Those who
know France and who have read Of the
enormous number OF mutilated men
that nave to be reestablished in life
Will not need to have the Importance
OF this work emphasized.
The Comtesse de Fontenailles. who
mas served as voluntary nurse dur
ing the whole course or the war al
the great military hospital at 1ssy les
Mouhneaux and who Is still attached
10 TINS lnstltuuon' generously en-
pioyed her nrst leave OF absence In as
semplng ana bringing this collection
TO America
II makes no pretension to fuily re
estins throuShout. Sometimes ne apI the ,'I tn