The New York herald., 1921-11-20
Art Exhibitions in Paris
Popular With Americans
Striking Portrait Of Mrs Henry S. Lehr Among Others
on View-Fashion Shows Also Attract the
Women-Dancing on the Wane.
By MAY BIRKHEAD.

Special Correspondence to Tm new YonK
HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris, Nov. 1e.
A CCORDTNG to the present out
n look It would seem that art
exhibitions, fashion shows and
the theatres would occupy society for
the next few weeks. Interest in dane
ing is waning. Though all Of the
restaurants have gone In extensively
for jazz music. anticipating tho craze
of last winter for dancing, and have
made their dinner and supper dances
more attractive than usual, there is q
lack of animation for which some
thing more than the warm weather
can be held accountable.
The first week or two Of tho autumn
season seemed to indicate that the
winter would be as gay with dances
as ever, but within the last fortnight
the number Of dancers at any Of the
fashionable restaurants in the evening
has fallen off considerably. The Par
roquet is practically the only mid
night dancing place popular with So
ciety for an occasional frolic in
Montmartre, while last season there
were three or four that were always
crowded. And the greatest difference
is to be noted in the the dansants.
The Grand Vatel Is almost the only
restaurant giving teas with dancing that
Is doing any business, and that Is only
twice a week when the dance is COM
bined with a fashion show from some
one OF the leading dressmaking estab-
lishments. The prancing Of mannequins
wearing the latest gowns is a novelty,
and it is evident that women go to tea
for the purpose of seeing these new
dresses more than to dance. for 1t is
principally the mannequins themselves
that do the dancing.
Tea without Music.
Another evidence that interest in af-
ternoon dancing is very much on the
wane is that at no place are the tea
rooms SO crowded as at the Ritz, and
there is no dancing there, and not even
more popular at the Ritz than ever be-
fore that It has been necessary to
fill the ballroom with tea tables. All OF
the smartest women go there, despite
the fact that there are no attractions
whatever, and even the tea itself is
nothing extraordinary. The usual nun
Der of celebrities Of international fame
are not to be found at the Ritz for the
moment. so 1t Is puzzling even to at
tempt to figure out why the crowds go
there. unless 1t is that one fashionably
dressed woman always likes to gaze
upon another, and on they go following
along like sheep.
The Palais de Glace has reopened for
skating. and 1t appears lively enough
with the younger set at the tea hour.
There are school girls with their govern
ssses, and debutantes with their chaper-
ons, and young wives, all of whom are
we'll dressed in smart little tailor mades
and sports costumes, and it is interesting
to those who study dress to compare
them to those seen at the regular tea
houses where dressy clothes are worn.
Older as well as younger women. how
ever, are now more occupied with seeing
pictures and going to afternoon con-
certs than dancing or skating.
Mrs. Leslie Cotton's exhibition of por-
Place vendome is proving as much Of
social centre as the Ritz tea rooms next
door. As many of the portraits are OF
Americans prominent In society, practi-
cally all of the Americans In Paris have
visited the galleries. The rooms are
crowded every afternoon and Mrs. Cot
ton herself Is often there to receive her
friends and hear the comments of the
strangers. There Is no doubt about Mrs.
Cotton's work being extraordinary. Her
talent for likenesses Is so remarkable
that 1t is almost uncanny. She invaria-
bly, makes her subjects appear at least
ten years younger-she could almost
give them q written guarantee to that
effect--so It is not surprising that women
OF society flock to her by the dozens.
Fortunately. she works rapidly. and with
a. wonderfully quick eye she catches a
characteristic expression and fairly
slaps 1t on canvas in less time than It
takes to tell It. She Is yet young
woman and has already painted the
number Of pictures that any half dozen
portrait painters could do In lifetime,
and more effective portraits are difficult
to find.
Painting of Mrs. Lehr.
Her painting of Mrs. Henry s. Lehr is
perhaps considered the most striking in
effectiveness and at the same time re-
ma arkable likeness, in this present exhibi-
ton. 1t Is something more than q por-
trait. It Is a picture. Mrs. Lehr dressed
In an old Venetian costume OF the past
century is standing in the sunlight on
balcony Of n palace in Venice overlook
ing the Grand Canal. Though she looks
every inch tho part of an italian Prin-
cess in such surroundings. the painter
has given the impression that she never
for one minute lost sight of the fact that
she was painting Mrs. Lehr.
Another interesting study In the way
of fancy picture Is the portrait of
Mile. Spinelly French actress, In Spanish
costume The Same Is to be said of this
portrait as that of Mrs. Lehr, In that
Mile. Spinely is never lost sight OF
though she appears a true Spanish CO.
uuette. All of the other pictures of the
exhibition are simply portraits. The
most striking OF all In likeness Is per-
haps that OF olivier" the maitre d'ho-
tel and majordomo OF the Hotel Ritz.
Everybody in Paris knows Olivier, and
after basking in his welcoming smile at
luncheon those who frequent the Ritz
step in next door to see how admirably
Mrs. Cotton has caught his expression
He Is absolutely speaking and seems to
be Just ready to say that no will give
you the best tablo In the restaurant. II
one could criticise this painting in any
particular It might be that the likeness
is too perfect. A connoisseur would
say that too strong a likeness
takes away from the artistic aspect OF
the picture.
Some of the other portraits which are