Evening star., 1922-07-23
Program. on Whistler
Closes Memorial Tea
Series of Miss Mock
Joseph Penneu. Artist $ Best
Friend, Aids in Honoriine
Memory.

Miss Byrd Mock gave her tenth
and last memorial tea in the series
on great Americans in. her studio.
"At Ye Sign of Ye Mocking Bird" in
the old Brick Capitol on July IT. the
| nineteenth anniversary of the death
of James McNeill Whistler, one OF
Americas greatest artists.
Miss Mock was fortunate In having
| secured for the memorial Joseph PEN
nell. Whistler's best friend. and him.
self one Of the worlds foremost liv-
ing artists. who has just returned
from an extended sojourn in the art
| centers of Europe. He came down
from New York especially to assist
in honoring the memory of his former
friend and co-worker. whom he char
| acterized the greatest artist Amer
| ica had produced or perhaps ever
| would produce, and one of the lead
ing artists of all time"
Mr.. Pennell said that neither Amer
lea nor England had appreciated
Whistlers genius during his lifetime
and that no commissions for portraits
| were given him by American Presi-
! dents or even by a congressman of
either house, and that the only
crowned head to recognize his rare
genius was Phillip w of Spain. who
gave him commission for his por-
trait. Mr.. Pennell in commenting
said: I'VE do not now know what
Phillip Nv did. but we do know what
| he looked like. thanks to Whistler"
only a few people appreciated
Whistler" added Mr.. Pennell. but
| there are only a few people in the
world who can ever be persuaded to
accept what is good for them
Mr.. Pennelfs appearance in Wash
ington is always an art event, and on
this special occasion. the first in
which Whistler's memory has been
honored, members of the Arts Club
| of Washington were special guests.
and Mr.. Pennell had a most appreci-
ative audience.
1t was regretted that the rainstorm
on Monday afternoon prevented the
party from going to the Library Of
Congress, nearby. to view the famous
! with Mr.. Pennell to comment and ex-
plain the wonderful collection he pre-
sented last year to the United States
government.
The memory Of Thomas Jefferson
also was commemorated on this occa-
sion, the month of July marking the
ninety sixth anniversary of the death
of the framer of the Declaration of
Independence, who was also Amer
ica's first rival patron of art and who
served on Washington's first board of
education.
Senator James Thomas Heflin of
Alabama. distant relative Of Jeffer-
son, had prepared the memorial ad-
dress on the third President. but was
detained in the Senate at that hour
to vote on the cotton tariff bill, and
so had to cancel his speech, but DR..
w. E. Stafford of the Arts Club spoke
ing Mr.. Pennell. In memory of Thomas
Jefferson, Mr.. Norman T. Munder of
Baltimore sent down by special deliv-
cry during the program a beautiful
copy Of the Declaration of Independ-
ence, printed in the shape of the Lib
erty Bell, on real sheepskin. This
was to be presented to Senator Helm
following his address.
Appropriate music was furnished d
for the occasion by the noted 'csllist,
Pal LANCER, formerly of the Royal
owsky's "Chanson Triste' and Handers
Largo"
Mrs. Samuel Dorsett presided at
the punchbowl. She was assisted by
Mrs. c. Dell Floyd Of Seattle. Wash.
who is spending the summer. in the
Capital city. Mrs. Dorsett was the
model chosen by Paul Bartlett for
the figure Of Peace Protecting Young
Genius in the center group over the
House wing Of the United States
Capitol. .