John W, Taplin Shanghai, May Nearly two years ago someone in harbin arrived at the happy thought organizing an "Exhibition on sla's Past." This exhibition was ich with articles of interest conte ie buted by foreigners as well Russians, was well attended and had tong and successful run, Recently the French Minister Education, members of the diplomatic corps and the most prominent perso ages of the artistic world of Paris attended the opening of an exhibit Sevoted to "Diagilels Ballet Russe" hold in that city. The exhibition was organized by the famed Russian ballet-master Sergei Lefar, the last discovery of ~Diagilett. voars the head of the corps de ballet in L'Opera, Paris, and recognized as the best dancer' in France. After Diagile's death his library, stage property and' a mass of valuable souvenirs was bequeathed to Lefar. ho having a bent for collecting and suflelent capital to develop it, dug out_many articles himself and' thus augmented the already comprchensive exhibition. The success of this exhibition is so pronounced that it Fax become the. highlight of the present. sear The question thus offers itsclé why don't Russians "in Shanghai organize an artistic exhibition. of Russia's past ax well? This topic has been frequently discussed. and a number of people have decided 10 make. preliminary preparations. this 'OF over the last 20 Russian ceraigeation hax subconsciously evolved own "cult of the past". which makes them take loving care over irvieles taken out of Russia, Further= more Russia has of late been i ta mode among other foreigners. Te is rare American, Englishman. Prench-man oF German who has returned Gem a trip (0 Russia with no article of historical significance ax a mem= tonto, 'There are people iv Shanghai Who' have unicums of rear value, as im the first years following the Re-Volution the Soviet government encouraged the sale of ancient articles Hike paintings, kons or urtisticatly wrought. domestic articles. belonging, to prominent people of the past.
Shanghai has beautiful examples Russian crystal. ancient vold and "iver cups. Russian chinaware, relent ikons, miniatures. gravures. iielont Russian books including some of the frst books en China and sapan.
is-hard to make a Uist of all the ictieles owned by people in Shang Fat but there is no doubt that should nicners be persuaded ta lend their operation these antiques could make an exhibition equiilly interest= ing historically and artistically, The question of promises is a more diffi-Cult one, for absolute safely of these nolos must be guaranteed befor their owners will part with them wen for a week.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.