'A. beautiful side of English art craftsmanship is called to notice by the conference of glass-makers held this week at Droitwich, The history of glass-making in England is not in fact very old, for the stained glass fof the Ith and 15th century churches Was the product of a guild which knew no bounds of nationality, and the: Venetians were far ahead of us in glass and came to England to teach us how to make it.
'Then, as always, curiously national Idiosyneracies began to come out as the technique of the new craft was mastered, and the delicacy of the Venetian' style gave place to the heavy but none the less dignified glass-ware of" the. Georgian era. Ireland in those days was making some beautiful glass, which fetches ig' prices nowadays. The best, English out glass cannot be bettered. in any country, but of course like most things, it Was overdone, Ruskin, The latter is to some extent a ques tion of size, A very big hall would searcely be finished with a decorated ceiling. Bighteenth century churches whether with flat or rounded ceiling almost always had them decorated. One of the most brilliant in London that of St. Mary-lo-Strand, with a raised design in deeply. coftered squares heavily moulded and painted red, blue and gold. All the interior of this curious old church is gorgeously. coloured, besides having, quantities of fine old oak, including a superb oak pulpit.
But even. comparatively small cellings are improved by decoration fof the right kind. The supreme artist this work was Robert Adam of the bth century, who adorned his ceilings. with modelled plasterwork, exquisite designs of lowers and fruit The reception rooms of the Chinese Embassy in London have Adam cel ings, as well as Adam doors and chimney pieces, and very fine they fare, What struees one so much about Adam's decorations is that he could be s0 mathematically precise, while keeping his design fresh and apparently spontaneous. Some of the Royal Academicians are turning their attention to this field of decoration with charming effect. (I know that Royal Academician" is og a red rag to a bull for some artistic souls: but
a surrealist?) would you like a elling decorated by Pity the Poor Film Star Several hundred women assembled this week In Kingsway hall to hear an address by Miss Rene Ray, thy young English lin star, on what the life of this envied class really means, and the general moral to be deduce? is that it is a short life and not by any means too merry a one, Youth tpnsses, looks fade, Vashti Is soon Gisplaced by Esther in the favorrs fof Ahasuerus the public.
Benoves her to make all the money she can while the going is: good the making means hard work. Here is Mise Ray's account of a working day'
Most people have the tdea, that faun star' fet surrounded by ala itt nile othe and.
eewlefastsn, 1 sometimes "work when, Tam Yusy "Ehiy hale must be done every morn. Ing thd my, face mmadesup. Tat takes hour Then "T- rehearse," erin Fis othe, tine oe, Much the same with artists of all kinds. I remember, being told by an actor" in" Sarah Thorne's "famous Tepertory company at Margate that lerwas quite usual to be handed ow part at the close of a perform= ance, say 11 pin, and have to be ready to rehearse it at 11, am. next Gay, T have heard. that Krelsler never pructises and disbelieve it Rubenstein's saying of what happened it' he missed" his daily scales is. famous, "Dan Leno, Marie Lloyd and other bygone musical stars yaoed from end to end of London every int, to, perform at different halls, often' making-p the cab.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.