New-York tribune., 1911-02-05

~ this world, that contains almost
everything conceivable. there are uh-
4 do,btedlv many operate prima dom
mas who would wish 10 be literary women
md many literary women who might wish
- no urima donnas, but TO find these TWO
ottainnonts actually realized in one person
&c surely very rare. Yet, in the case OF
Miss Emmy Destinn. the soprano Of the
0fetronoIitan Opera Company the two
arts have fiowered side by side-in fact IN
bar native Bohemia she is nearly as well
known as a poet and a dramatist as she Is
as the interpreter oi Sah'uzZd' oi -A'""
of Madama Butterfly.
To one entering Miss DeStinns Ne"
York apartment in the Ansonia IoT ''e
first time the difference from that 'i '"e
ordinary opera singer is marked o. a'
least it was to the Tribune Icpre'eH'a'il q
who called upon her last week. Ho"h9
were everywhere-piled on the large centre
table, resting on side tables, IN bookcases
on the mantlepiece, on the two pianos
even on the floor. There were a ieW pl''-
s,res of operate artists, signed porual1
of Miss Blanche Bates. bust IN naIo4e
of Miss Destinn herself end "biihkeh
Of Caruso made by the tenor himself; but
the main furnishings of the apartment
were books.
What Is better still 10 the man who loves
hooks for what is within them, Miss bcs-
,inn's books were there for use. Ihelr
very position showed this-they were h'l
laid in neat rows. but cast about ct ran
6om wherever their mstress's iahcy had
caused her to place them. Nothing lr!l-
,ates the true book lover more than
prussian soldier regularity-that should be
left 20 the parvenu.
Jrst as the Tribune reporter was cast
ing these things about in his mind, MISS
Destinn entered the room. She was
creased IN a flmv white flowing gown that
accentuated the blackness Of her hair ana
eyes.
you are a book lover, ! see" were her
interviewer's first words
The prima donnas glance swept the
,oom took in the books lying on the hoor
the piles upon the tables.
oh am hopeless" she cried. with a
despalring gesture. II must apol asize for
s,cb disorder But when I read book
and have finished / simply drop II
wherever ! happen 70 be-"
On other words. you care for what IS m
eide the books as well as for thcr DIG
,rgs " said the caller. 80 let us leaFe
u en- Just where they are
rb,s suggestion appeared 10 be most
agreeable 10 the singer, and she al once
seetcd herself Ia large armchair
..Now. what is it TO be- she asked.
"rbe Girl Of the Golden Vest
..yvhy rot booEs?' hazarded fcr inter-
viewer.
and why not. indeed echoed Miss
peetlnn. After all. they are our uuest
friends. Men and women are tickle, ana
doce die so soon Books are ever the same.
I live among them; sometimes | think !
live for them ! take one mp to-day ana
raad and il tells ne something. / take II
M year from to-day and it Will tell me
,be same thing in the same way. can one
saw as much for the average man or
woman? | fear not But books are always
true always consistent even IN their IN
sincerity.
And then / simply cant resist them l
have many thousand volumes in my library
near Prague. / am always buying them
Every great book dealer in the world SENDS
me mis- catalogues. The other day ] wanted
q certain old German book very much and
asked its price II was 1900 marks, Yet
I am hesitatng whether or not to buy H.
..The period / prefer Is German literature
of the eighteenth century. though of mod
ern literature l prefer the Russian. Bo-