New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-09
Ex-War Prisoner. After
Battle with Manager,
Agrees to Truce.
ARTIST DEMANDED
SALARY OF A CARUSO
Peace Again Settles Over Metro.
pOlitan-Public Statement
Expected To-day.

Peace. inefable and profound. broods
once again over the Russian Ballet.
VASTLY NijinsSy. who in the afternoon
had fatty declared that he would rot
dance were he not given a salary ap-
proXimating that Of Ir. Caruso. and in
return had been threatened with de-
rortation. will dance next week at the
Metropolitan Opera House. The where
fore and why of his decision, the sal
airy he will receive and the amount Of
the artistic consideration upon which
he insisted have not yet been specified
but dance he Will. and probably to-
morrow nigh.
OF one thing the public. however.
may be sure when "LApres Midi dun
Faune" is again produced Nr. Nijinsky
will be the Faun.
II il understood that an official state
ment Of the case Of VASTLY Nijinsky
VS.. Serge de Diaghilef ct al will be is-
sued to-day. II may make interesting
and instructive reading, and It IN
doubtedly will throw some ligh. into
the recesses Of dancers artistic tenn
permanent and his own opinion of what
his services are worth. IL will also
indirectly touch upon the value Of iron
clad contracts as a stimulus TO artistic
endeavor.
!; seemed 10 require more diplomacy
20 get N.jinsky 10 dance than 70 did 10
get him out of the hands OF the Aus
TRANS and across the big water. Also
more money, though Henry Russell -
not here 10 make more cable drafts
on the e1chequer Of Mr.. Otto Ii. Kahn.
The dancer seems to have the upper
hand in the controversy, and the direc-
tors of the opera company are in a
pickle. They promised their patrons
when they got their subscriptions for
the season that Nijinsky and Karssvina
should head the Diaghilef troupe.
The lady had an excuse for not com
ing 70 America, which has been recog-
nized- English criminal law at least
for centuries; and the man. had u been
necessary might have pleaded force
,oOjeur. II wasn't necessary, because
ne was under no obligation TO come 70
America. having no contract with
Diaghilef. The machinery OF three en-
bassies was set TO work TO enable him
TO come. but now that he is here he IS
exercising what he considers his right
in debating the condition< under which
he will dance That seems 90 be the
situation in a nutshell Meanwhile, the
subscribers are clamoring for the full
flment Of the obligations which the
METROPOLITAN Opera management en-
tered into with them.
Il is possible 10 look upon the en-
plovment Of the Ambassador of the
United States ~ Austria In the work OF
securing the release Of dancer as
something rather amusing and perhaps
mira diQ, but Mr. Penheld's case is
not without precedent. Il is less than
hundred years since the manager OF
the Kings Theatre in London used the
British Embassy in Paris 10 negotiate
contracts with singers and dancers,
100. in all likelihood. There were no
international complications IN conse-
quence. but the possibility OF such were
recognized by the librettlst OF Johann
Strauss opera. The Merry War Tor
that amusing comedy turns on war
between the states Of Genoa and Massa-
Carrara for the possession OF a dancer.
The relation between the United
States and Austria-Hungsry are deli
cate enough, in all conscience; suppose
the Njinsky incident should strain
them still further, and TO the breaking
point? The honor Of our state Depart
ment may even be involved. Tor Secre-
tary Lansing wrote TO the directors OF
the Metropolitan Opera Company that
ar - q % 90
from the Austrian gov-inment only 20
enable him TO keep an engagement 70
dance at the opera house. II he doesn't
dance, is it not the duty Of the United
States to send him back 10 Austria as
a prisoner of war?
And there is still another angle 70
the situation. What If Austria should
demand his deportation because her
good nature had been abused by the
statements which Nine. Nijinsky made
20 the newspapers on her arrival in
New York last Wednesday, Nine.
Nijirsky Is By birth a Hungarian. and
the fact that she comes Of a family OF
patriots and state Official ld added 10
1 ne ire aroused in some frey Magyar by
what they consider the most treason
able calumnities contained IN her news
paper interviews. The interviews have
been clipped from the newspapers and
sent 20 Budapest.
Tho notion that Nijnsky and his
wife suffered any hardships IS not only
secuted. 10 Is hoOted az as Wild ana
arrant nonsense. The dancer was de-
tanned in Budapest, the home Of the
mother of his wife, VINO Is not only a
Hungarian and the daughter Of one OF
Hungary's greatest tragediennes. but
also the niece Of Garibaldi Pu!szky. al
the prescnt manager Of the Hungarian
state railways and Under Secretary Of
Commerce and Labor. Her grandfather
was that Ference Aurel Pulszky Who
came with Kossuth 20 America after
he had been Obliged 20 fy his country
because Of his activities in the Com
mittee Of National Defence.
In 1862 The same Ferencz. while fght-
ing with Car.baldi. was captured and
informed g.. prisoner OF War m
Naplos. and there be remained until he