London, Mar. 4.
The Chinese Ambassador gave a very pleasant farewell reception for the Art Exhibition at Burlington House last night—pleasant in every way but for the regret that the Exhibition 1s so soon to close, There were some hundreds of Guests, all the leading members of London society and of the diplomatic and Government world. But hun-@reds do not fill up much space in galleries where last Thursday there were no fewer than 12,700 visitors—Burlington House all-time record.
In the large room—may one call it chien Lung's throne room, for it Is that Great Emperor's throne which Jstands at the end flanked by huge [Coromandel sereens—was 2 long. buffet with champagne, cakes and sandwiches, where most of the guests having had nothing for at least an hour, soon congregated. This gave Jone the more room to have a last real look at the Exhibition, Perhaps the greatest value of this jwsaderful show is that it has enabled Jone to learn really what Chinese painting means. 1 remember years Jago reading on article, 1 think by fair. Lawrence Binyon,' in which ft was said that in painting flowers and birds Chinese artists had never been excelled and perhaps never equalled. It surprised me at the time but jean understand it now. I need say Ino more about that world masterpiece "The Hundred Geese." But there are so many others—ducks in {the snow, a couple of tits on a twig, wonderful group of peonies, some geese waddling up a river bank.
But in addition one prizes more jand more the Chinese landscapes. in this they have not the same superiority that they have in birds, the difference from the great Western landscapists, Turner, Constable and [Corot being mainly one of method. But in both one finds the same gift
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.