The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-17


 proclaim its merits I thought of you so often this summer, as the representatives of the Herald and the Sun and various papers came to me for interviews, and promise that you have a scoop on them all," said Mrs. Rivers.
 (Which is very fitting, as your home papers are certainly proud to announce your accomplishments, to the many who are interested in your york; I replied.
 T appreciate that" said Mrs. Rivers earnestly, land let me tell you what l want to say right here. My invention is born of the need of teaching children to think music, to play 1t, to sing 1t, and to write 1t; and also two of the most vital points in all music-tone relationship and tone color" Mr. Joseffy says that 1t will revolutionize the teaching of chi- dren, and MT. Schirmer, of the great music house where l spent so much time. adds his indorsement heartily And, by the way, speaking of MT. Schfrmer, he is simply charming. He and his composer, MT Kirt Schindler, were lovely to me, and here Is one of Mr. Schindlers songs Jenny Kissed Me'-one of the first colies."
 "oh. the pretty thing Madame Flames sang here" I interpolated.
 ''Yes-see! it's dedicated to her." said Mrs Rivers, as she turned the pages. "I  played all the lovely music you could think of I shall never buy another piece of music without thinking of the queer little old woman who makes the blue mark under the selection. She has been there 43 years, MT. Schrmer told me. I dined with MT. Schirmer at his beautiful home in Fifty-ffth street. just a block from the St. Regis, and met some delightful people, among whom were Mrs. Seth Lowe, Dr. and Mrs. Gun saulaub, who afterward took us down to the Schirmer factory, where the music Is made, for which we pay our good little 50 cents-es. Two charming women l met were Mrs. Mcdowell, the widow of the great composer, and Mrs. Sydney Lanier, whose husband left us an invaluable leg acy in his beautiful poems. Two of the most delightful acquaintances I made were Dr. Murray Butler of Columbia University. and Dr. Finley, president of the University of New York; and by the way Dr. Finley's brother married a. beautiful friend of mine In Nashville Mary Lurton."
 "Did you hear much of Mr. Hammer stein's educational opera?' I asked
 'eHeaps of it, and met MT. Hammer stein, who is wonderful. Through his secretary MT. Garde-"
 "Oh. yes, MT. Billy Garde, who used to be with the New York Times" l said. Tt was through his kindness to friend or mine that I attended a dress rehearsal of Pelleas and Melisande, In New York, winter before last, and I shall never forget it."
 And well you may not replied Mrs Rivers, flor dress rehearsals are mighty hard things to get into. I went to seV- eral, and met Carasa, the new tenor.
 And does he compare With Caruso m voice as well as name?" I inquired.
 "Yes, somewhat" replied Mrs. Rivers. His voice is big and young-you know he's only 23-and beautiful women will make him matinee idol on account or his good looks. I saw Impressario Oscar one day as he was hearing some voices tested for the chorus, and one poor girl evoked his wrath upon her unsuspectlng head, as she uttered a few notes and he raised his hands and gave vent to ms famous expression, Take it away-she can't sing"
 "Oh. what fun to hear 1t all," I ex- claimed: 'T shall never forget MT. Ham, merstein the afternoon I'went to the Man haitian to the rehearsal. He was so funny and he chatted outrageously with Mad ame Greville- -Reache and Mary Garden in French, which I enjoyed so much be- cause I was studying 1t so hard at The time"
 Educational opera, as MT. Hammer
 
 Rivers. lis wonderful and Marguerite sylva has scored a big success in Car men and so has Madame Walter-Villa as Michaela in the same opera. Lalla Mi randa. an Austrian soprano, sang Trivia ta and Lucia wonderfully and Nicosia, the conductor, is really very able.'
 Not like Campanini though, and by the way. is his return decided?" asked.
 Not definitely. I think,' said Mrs. Rivers "But everybody wants him. for he is as closely identified with the Manhat- tan. as Euro the chorus trainer, who is magnificent"
 q heard that you attended the famons suffragette meeting at Marble House, did your" I queried.
 ''Yes. I had that pleasure" laughingly responded Mrs. Rivers, showing that she was not very much in sympathy with the movement
 And did you hear Mrs. Belmont when she scolded Harry Lehr, and told him not to bother her for an hour, at least so she could welcome her guests? And did Mrs. Fish and Miss Lota Robinson at tract the most attention by their pretty clothes, and did Mrs Clarence Macky wear the largest (mauve, of course) hat. and was Suffragette Kernochan dressed in an outrageous shade of green, with pink sunshade?'
 s'Yes to all your questions" Mrs. Riv- CTS answered, jocosely. 'I say yes be- cause it sounds like 1t really looked. I went up to Newport with Mrs. Fred erick Tams in her yacht, and 1t was a novel and delightful experience. But gracious as Mrs. Belmont was, I must say, admire her more unostentatious friend Helen Miller Gould who I met through MT Joseffy, and who Is an angel on arth when 1t comes to kindness and charity. Of course, the women at Mar ble House were gorgeously gowned and bedecked. and the house is superb-semi- barbaric and royal in its splendor and remembrance to carry with one all through life"
 And speaking of clothes and dresses" continued Mrs. Rivers, T am simply in tatters I didn't have time to go in shop, I was so taken up with other things. I did take time for a masseuse now and then. who, by the way, happened to be brought to this country by Mrs. Howard Gould from the Austrian court you know that is very fat court, and a masseuse is badly needed. So Madame oiselle Babourhot got some of my time, and more of my money. But I actually didn't shop at all. One morning I started down to Skaters to get some shoes, and stopped at Schirmer's Gas usuaD and spent the morning. MT. Schirmer had just received a letter from DeBussy thanking him for some recent publica- tions of his works, and for presenting him so beautifully to the American pub lic I took the letter in my own hand. at which Mir Schirmer smiled. and read 1t over many times. It was written. of course, in French. but every one in New York seems to speak French. if need