The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-18
ID TILL Of /
IN A BOOK
Mascagni v i'll Recite His Bit
ter Experiences.
(. TREATMENT HE MET
On All Sides in America Was
Decidedly Hard.

New York. Jan. E.-Pietro Mascagri is
writing a book. He is writing it in order
that his countrymen may have the story
OF the Mascagni troubles from the Mas
cagnE standpoint of view and incidentally
to give his impressions of this land of
the free. The manuscript is yet in the
form of notes. From these notes Mas
cstgnf has selected for The World the
fpllowing article The translation retains
zas closely as possible the meaning Of the
author
Few Italians know America, and prob
ably not one knows it as / know it. To
me it is a country OF bitterest disap-
pointments and happiest surprises-coUn-
try Of great unrest and great tranquility.
There is no nation in Europe like il. and
probably no nation in the world
For weeks after our arrival in Amer
ica was given little opportunity to know
the people Ny day consisted Of hours
at my hotel, hours at the theatre and
carriage rides between the two. In New
York, the largest city in America, ! was
Masca gni. the composer of .'Cavalleria
Rusticanna;7 | was not d man of flesh.
In Boston / was a prosecuted individual
who excited pity rather than admiration
or bon camaraderie. In Chicago, the
second largest city in the country, 1 was
first the composer then later the victim
of persecution and finally a good fell
low and warm friend of many admirers
While l am still in the shadow of my
troubles. il is difficult for me TO mar
rate all the vicissitudes of my American
Odyssey. AS l write the grave charges
which have been made against me seem
20 have made little impression upon
the minds or hearts of my newly ac-
CURED friends This seems strange 10
me- 1 account for il by the fact that
the Americans are light-hearted-people
pie. who are not inclined to take every
thing seriously: IN fact, at times. they
have impressed me that it would be
thought to their daily affairs
1t is not therefore. what Americans
think of me that concerns me most
deeply. 1t is the opinion of my own
coEntrymen to whom I am inscribing
this account OF my travels. No doubt
the charges that have been made against
me in America are regarded in Italy as
forever defaming my character. Such is
not the case My character is still as
spotless as the day I left my mothers
knee. Italians cannot understand how
easily these grave charges can be lodged
against a man in America. I am absolute
" innocent Of any wrongdoins. yet 1 have
been calle da felon without any oppor-
tunity for redress.
\ mans honor is at the mercy of his
enemies in the United States Charges
which have no foundation. are taken
up by the law courts and the complain
ant with ease secures papers for his VIC
TINS arrest. There is no similarity be-
tween the codes of law of America and
Italy. Ny countrymen connot understand
that conditions exist which permit an ut
terry irresponsible person TO attack the
good name of any gentleman.
AS have said. / am still. while l write,
81 the shadow OF many grave complied
tions. But l am brave. When all the
infames which have surrounded me since
my arrival in America shall have been
unmasked. when my honesty shall have
glistened like the sun at noontime. it VIII
then be known in my dear Italy with
what fortitude of soul 7 have withstood
the fortunes which have been inflicted
upon me on foreign soil
The newspapers in New York and Chi
cago and Boston printed great many
things about me. Almost from the first
the press seemed to sympathize with my
unfortunate lot Much that they said
about me was in my praise and no little
of IT was extravagant-
The writer's for American newspapers
have curious habits They are not like
the journalists in our country. Instead
Of expecting rs To come TO them. they
come TO us They talk to US and We tell
them what they want to know. Then
they 60 away and write little Of what
we have said. and great deal of de-
scription OF how We look and act. one
CAV a man in New York approached me
IN the corridor Of the hotel and asked:
who are you in your own country.
Maestro Mascagni-
And who are you. that you ask me
such question:" said I.
II represent the New York - 1 am
Q reporter
Who am / in my own country"
repeated. Il am net a renegade, an out
law. l am a man whose name has been
honored. / am Maestro Mascagni. head
OF the Rossini Conservatory of Music. OF
Italy"
The reporter interrupted me at this
point to tell me that he had asked me
the question merely to attract my at
tention and cause ne TO stand still long
enough for a photographer to take my
picture.
On the morning Of December * re-
ceived the following not from ny man
ager: M Richard Heard presente SOS
compliment a le Mascagni at voudrait
SAVIOR retat de sa sante qui il espore est
naeiIleur" The night OF the same day
] was called TO the telephone by Manager
Heard who begged TO be allowed 70 pre-
sent his greetings and good wishes to me-
In person in my room | said 10 him,
Come. YOU are welcome. \ moment
iater he entered my apartments. and
ehocok hands with me. With Nine Mas
cagni and with all who were present He
sat down. The door by which he had
entered was left partially oper. MI
Heard had been present in my room but
short time when his lawyer and
constable threw the door wide open ard
entered. Mr.. Heard leaped 10 his feet
and pointing to me. shouted; That Is
The man. That is Maestro Mascagni
Arrest him In the name Of the law"
Manager Heard wished TO have ne
dragged from my room. sick as l vas
and taken 10 prison My friends cried
ont TO him that IL would be my death