International studio (21.1903/1904(1904))

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"THE WtTCü" BY CECtL ALDtN

and all is feasting, and song, and smoke, and at the
bi-annual Conversazione that the true Bohemian
spirit, always dear to the man of temperament, is
given fuil possession of the artist body, astral and
material, and if any member dare to make an
attempt at anything stereotyped, such as an
after-dinner speech or the proposal of a toast
he hnds himself in immediate danger of oblivion.
Nor are shirt-fronts and white ties ever per-
mitted, for your true Bohemian has thoughts
above such things as these, which are not to be
tolerated at their functions. You may sing a
rollicking lay between the soup and fish courses,
or you may smoke before the advent of the joint,
and you may even shy bread pellets at your
neighbour, but you must not under any conditions
be serious—this is the one great oHence punishable
by death at the hands of your friends. It is never
easy to get at the inner workings of select Bohemia,
especially if one happens to be so unfortunate as to
belong to the tabooed sex, but I am told of all
kinds of jokes played on the "noble President" at
these suppers. Only quite recently the close of one
of these mild revels was marked by a presentation
ceremony of a costly marble clock to Hardy by
Tom Browne, the clock being borne by Keble Bell,
resplendent in the coat and cap of the hotel porter.
At the close of a most eulogistic incantation by
the irrepressible Tom, Hardy went forward to
receive the clock, pride written on every line of his
jovial countenance, but in relinquishingthe treasure

the porter insisted on being rewarded with a tip,
which the noble president refused to give, and the
clock was relentlessly wrested from his proud
embrace and borne away in the direction of the
hotel coffee room, from whence it had been hlched a
few moments before. This gives one an idea of
the magniücent childishness of their fun—as a
matter of fact, they are all boys, these artists mak-
ing merry, and it is this very spirit of youthful
sportiveness which keeps the hard lines from about
their mouths, and the grey hairs from around their
temples, for they can never grow old in reality—so
long as they keep their hearts young.
It is at the conversaziones, which are held twice
a year, that the histrionic talents of the society are
called forth in "spoof" performances of various
kinds, most extraordinary entertainments being
patched together within a few days of presentation,
scenery, costumes, and lines complete. Walter
Churcher and Starr Wood are generally co-con-
spirators as to what form the muse shall take, while
Dudley Hardy is looked upon as the "heavy lead"
in every cast. The first of these entertainments
during the initial year of the club, took the form
of a pompous reception, when the ofScers and
council wore the most gorgeous robes, and received
their guests with court ceremony. Mr. Haite, as
President, wore impressive robes of state, and
was ably supported by Dudley Hardy, resplen-
dent in the trailing garments of a Lord Mayor,
mace and all, while Jack Hassall hlled the rather
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