The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-03

no southern woman, can cope with the modern manager. The graft, the plagar- ism, the competition are unbelievable
 What else did you do besides write plays? Did you forget your first love music?" interrupted.
 Not at all I studied piano with A. K. Virgil, but became so much more inter- ested in my organ lessons with Felix La mond (organist at Trinity, and organst, by the by for the Astor funeral at Fern cliffD that I dropped the former I had some composition work with Rubner also. We saw much. of the Henry Holdens Husses, and they certainly are lovely peo- pie socially, as are the Damrosches. Wal ter Damrosch was en tour until wertl abroad, but Dr. Frank Damrosch was quite near me at Columbia. This new school Is at ClairInont. just one block back of Grants Tomb
 And your former instructor, Jo- seffy?" I interpo1ated.
 'I did not see Joseffy at ail--every moment was so full. l never bother to go to his studio unless mean to do some work with him. He's too big and too busy" ' And our old friend. MT. Kust schnei- der, who is earning such rank in the musical world?' I inquired.
 T saw him only once" said Mrs.
 
 ly early, In fact immediately after the last MacDS well concert"
 't know it's back number now, but I heard you were at the Astor funeral and I would like to know something about it from an eyewit- ress,' l said.
 Mrs. Rivers replied
 T am really ashamed to say I was present for curiosity pure and simple took me went with MT. Lamond's choir. You see I was studying with him. The church is very small and of course the funeral was private The outside crowd was enormousl Neither of his wives--the first (Ave Willing) nor the second--was present. [ had a good look at the two heirs, though Muriel. who Is sweet, enticing little maid and very southern In her bearss , ing and makeup. and Vincent. who is painfully self-conscious and of course very young and quite like the pictures of his father. The casket which held sMr. Astor's remains was entirely cov-l cred with purple and white orchids, a pail of them reaching to the floor. There was such ostentatious display of flowers that the little church looked more ready for wedding than a fu neral. It was packed with Newport people. and thc1 multimillionaires- there were many hard faces among the io'- U WAS d1uepTcSsfbS audif iidt-= urally. though the eternal beauty of the Episcopal service lay like a bene- diction over the garish display and the gaping curiosity q admit my share of the latter).
 Do let me tell you something that happened graduation day at Columbia. The exercises are held in the gymna- sium, which probably seats 5000 Only the degree folks and faculty can get in, for the Hippodrome couldn't seat much over half the student body. so everyone just stands outside in the campus until the faculty procession passes around and through the great doors of the gymnasium s Tt was a lovely day; cool. clear. sun-ll ny. The procession is always interest 3 ing. Many of the professors are veryJ famous men. and they all wear their gowns, and as they represent every great university on earth, their hoods and garments are brilliant and varied in colorsLorange. green. blue and pur- pie! What was my amusement to sec Mr. Oscar Underwood stepping along h the processIoni He was to have do- gree conferred on him"