The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-16

sThat she owes anything to that country
In patriotism does not seem TO have 90
CURED to her. and that the only way che
could possibly show that patriotism
would be In doing what abe could to
estabiish. something besides a monetary
standard in art isNnot implied by her
attitude. She goes To- Europe o. plain
Mary Smith. She returns a. sienora An
dante Acritelli. and her attitude Of mind
seems to match the change In the head
ing Of her stationery.
1T 10 true that there Ii something to
be said In her defence. She has been
forced to become an expatriate for lack OF
opportunity in her own country. Che
would have starved had she remained for
lack Of the sustenanoe required; and the
remedy for this is also In our hands.
She must not feel the necessity for the
foreign training. Che must be able to
get hat is required here, and the prestige
Of tho European career, which every year
becomes less emphatio. must be made to
reach a point Of attenuation where Il is
practically a negligible quantity. The
public must be made not only to furnish
her with the means Of her musical educa-
ton but to feel a pride In her.
"To my mind the American woman leads
the world in determination and energy.
Given the voice there IL no fixed goal In
sight-she will Ak her own. There are
plenty Of good voices In this country
only waiting for chance 10 develop.
Our own opera school in Boston il
newly established In connection with the
opera ho,se. ard or t. stat u directors
are many Of the teachers who have made
their names at the New England Con-
servatory. one OF the foremost musical
institutions In America. I have been
chosen as one OF its directors and expect
that it will not be very long before the
opera companies not only In Boston but
elsewhere will find there plenty Of talent
to select from. I donot know Of any other
like institution in America. but With the
establishment OF opera houses III other
cities 1 judge that such schools will follow
as a matter Of course.
sThe same state Of affairs is not found
among the American men. Talent Of the
vocal order is me rare among mon than
among the women. Perhaps it il not
rarer in reality. but 1t does not force itself
to notice.
"Iknow Of one or two young American
men In Europe who give wonderful prom
ise-more than that, have to a certain
extent arrived; but they are so exoep-
tional that I al hardly use them for pur-
poses Of comparison.
the reason for this Ii not lack Of good
material but lies. I believe. in the train
ing OF the American man, who does not
care to speculate on anything &C uncer-
tain as the permanence of the vocal
cords. He prefers something whose
results are more immediate and tangible,
so he stiles whatever artistic yearnings
no may possess.
Il am on my way to Europe much in
the same mood as a fisherman who throws
hook and line into the sea without know
ing what catch he may secure. 1 have
no p~rejudices. / am chasing no brilliant
Mminaries. lam going to look the ground
over thorou ghly, having always in mind
the policy I have outlined.
Il expect to spend much time in Rus
sia. 1t is a country that has not been
studied to its last possibility by the curl
Gus i~mpresarios. 1t is a land Of colorful
~resources. 1t is a land whose people are
very eclectic in art matters. 1t is a country
which already has given us the De
Reszkes. Sembrich. Paderewski, Chalia-
pine and others. Who knows?'