Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-04-10
TALENT FROM
OVER THE SEA.
The Craze For Foreign Artists
and Grand Opera Stars
Viewed From the
Standpoint of
Patriotism.

Bos On, April 6,-At gathering of
musical people the other evening sew
erai OF them got to discussing profess
slonal AFFAIRS, and finally one Of the
number, with a coed deal of warmth
exclaimed:
II this craze for foreign artists
continues, what is to become of the
Americans?"
Following some otfhand views upon
the subject Of grand opera, the above
query was sufficient to provoke a live
ly expression Of opinion. and the
theme and observations were so point
ed that | will proceed to give some Of
them.
his matter" said one, :" may we'll
be viewed with interest by any person
who is inspired by the least sense of
patriotism toward Americas native
musical talent, for the grip of the Eu-
ropean artist is constantly growing
firmer. When one remembers that
Yvette Guilbert with her vile songs
has carried S125,GG0 out of this coun-
try and that singers who have been
born under the stars and stripes and
who strive to reach the utmost refine
ment of classical art cannot secure en-
gagements on this soil, it were enough
TO appall the most apathetic. Anna
Held, OterO Papinta- how the shekels
even in these times of financial dis
tress, roll into their possession in a
seemingly limitless stream!s These
are all vaudeville performers. but
how is it with musical foreigners who
cater to cultivated tastes?
Only a hundredfold worse Where
Guilbert and Held gather in $4,000
the grand opera artists from across
the ocean receive nearer $1,000, 000.
They have made it practically impos-
sible for the American to accomplish
anything in opera. And the most hui
initiating feature Of the matter is that
most often these are people who in
their native lands received but very
moderate salaries as COMPARED with
their fellows Jean de Reszke receiv-
ed in Paris 5000 a night and at his
Warsaw home even less. Yet night
after night in America this man has
been paid $4,000. In the years he has
been coming to this country he has
taken out of us a fortune estimated at
over $1C00,GC0. In Europe he was
reckoned as nothing exceptional. In
fact, they practically refused to have
him. Notwithstanding his money
making here he affects such contempt
for us that he refuses to even arm
to speak our language.
what has his brother obtained? 1t
was $50 an evening in Paris and $500
in. the United States, Melba has re-
ceived 81 500 a performance in New
York. In Paris it was $500. Calve
gets $1,000, and in France she had
5000. Pancon has $3.50 He left a sal
airy of $10C. Lii Lehman draws
$1,000 a night in New York and got in
Germany 500. And so the list could
be indefinitely extended
Yes" added another. ''the meaning
of those figures is sad to contemplate
They assert that an artist who in Eu-
rope is a comparative nonentity, or, at
least, but an average, has only to come
here to be worshiped and have the
pearls heaped at his feet, while the
American artist must keep on resting
or be content with joining a 1yceum'
for the giving. Of peripatetic church
concerts. DO we deserve all this?"
Il should think not" said his com
panion. We pay in allied musical
fields an enormous annual tribute to
Europe. We send every season clouds
of American students to the old world
centers. No one familiar with this
phase of the subject will question the
truth of the statement that this ex-
pense must reach fully 81 900. 600
Added to this is the expense for par
ents, guardians and those bearing A.
fiduciary relation, which means 81 600