The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-16

ARTISTS ARE SENSITIVE

| NAMES LEFT OFF.
! 1t has been recognized fact
among managers of theatres Or even
/ of metropolitan opera houses that
the artistic temperament Is superior
to Its surroundings, Arm By divine
right and sweeps aside all opposi-
ton by the simple declaration: Il
will not!'
Manager strakosch. OF the troupe
OF Russian ballet dancers, who ap-
peared At the Academy last night,
had this truth made plain to him
yesterday. So did Manager Leo Wise,
OF the Academy. 1t was no new ex-
perfence with Strakosch. He has
been through so many similar incl
dents In his career as q manager
that he avoids ali clashes with the
artistic temperament and gains his
ends by diplomacy. When diploma
cy avails him not, then he just bows
before the artbtic temperament and
Kow-tows 70 the imperial Il will not
But to Manager Leo Wise 1t was
something new. To he sure he has
seen the artistic temperament in its
rude. unculturcd American. variety.
but not in Its highly. cultivated state.
through long years Of traininl such
as that developed by the Russian
dancers.
Before the Performance.
Before the doors Of the Academy
were opened last night Manager Wise
was ready TO 70 what never again:
no. never in this wide, wide world;
never under the beautiful blue can
opy; never In q millions years: never
20 help him Klaw 4 Erlanger, would
he ever again have aught to do
with another troupe Of Russian bal
let dancers. After the performance
1t was different. He was willing to
engage them all over again before the
performance.
Well. about O'Clock in the af
/ ternoon. 1fter nil the programs had
been printed and delivered at the
theatre. n. voiinine. the star Of the
troupe, took up copy and glanced
over the list of names
Now NJ. Vo1fnine cannot speak
English. nor yet read English. but
he knows enough English letters to
recognise his name In print as well
a. those Of his associate, Mile.
Schmolx. Mile. Plaskowietskaia and
Mile. Kuhn. No sooner had NJ. v,lt-
nine's eyes rested on the program
than he ragged He spattered Rus
sian like q Maxim automatic. He
ordered Manager S4fakoseh = ap-
pear before him.
Manager Strakosch Appears.
| Knowing the artistic temperament
Manager Strakosch took his time. bu,
not too much. Manager Wise looked
on while NJ. Volinine fred on a few
thousand more steel-jacketed words
at Manager 'Strakosch,
He says" finally declared Manager
strakosch. turning to Manager Wise.
| there are more names on that pro-
gram than there should be. There
| are only four solo dancer in the
troupe and the rest do not count"
Tell him We are very sorry II
the program Is not exactly right, but
nobody will know the difference"
suggested Manager Wise diplomats
caily.
NJ. Volinine had kept two bright
| eyes on Manager Wise. No sooner
had that person declared that the
! matter did not appear to amount to
much than he fired a regular fusilade
of Russian.
He says unless the names are
taken OF the program he will not
appear" said Manager 6trakosch.
He WON'T" observed Manager
Wise. "Oh. very well. we'll have new
FAo8so hiS pAAHtcu. AA6 AuOu8ut tn8t
assurance would be sufacient.
And he won't go on until he sees
the new programs" announced Man
ager 6trakosch.
About the Programs,
WELL" replied Manager Wise, who
recognized that old methods would
not await. "Wetf. tn that case It IL
up to YOU. The programs are printed
from the copy sent me-
Manager 9trakosch did not stop for
further argument He rot busy with
tho printer and the programs were re-
printed,
1t was not an hour later that Man
ager Wise had another clash with
the artistic temperament The con-
cert meister had placed the big harp
that plays prominent part In the
orchestra In one OF tho aislcs, for the
very good reason that there was no
room In the orchestra pit.
That cannot remain there" de-
clafed Mar ger Wise.
NJ. volinine. who was .rehearaing
with the other dancsrs mmed!ately
became 4usereet4d. .ss,sxs.
peated Mr.. Wise. Folks can't see.
Besides tho police will mot allow IT."
'Eh?" purred n. volinine softly.
QUESTION u peliea.
The puh-lescs no allow" answered
Manager Visa, raising his voice ana
dropping into pidGin English to make
himself understood tter. which al
everybody knows. II . most effective
method.
.'Eh!' again observed M. volinine.
A happy Thought struck Manager
Wise. ''Gondarme! he shouted. lay
Ing hand on the harp and shaking
A5.s-a