The sun., 1916-09-10
FRENCH MUSICIANS
HIT HARD BY WAR
Great Artists in Distress
Many Play and Sing in
Streets for Bread Money.
SPECIAL Correspondence 10 THs scS

PARIS. Aug. 23.--Frencii musicians
Observation-Disclosures. concert singers and
teachers. excepting those who have gone
10 America-arc among the greatest
sufferers from the ~prolongation ~ the
war. Those who had savings had eaten
them up in two years waiting for a re-
vival OF social life and the concert and
sOiree engagements. while to-day that
rev wal seems to be as far off a. 1t did
a year ago.
Some musicians have had engage
ments. u as opera singers and cafe
concert artists. Although they have
suffered less than those who have had
nothing to do. they have fel, the si,ua-
ton acutely. one singer who held title
roles at the opera and who received
about 600 francs a night before the war
now gets 10 francs.
There are also teachers who have been
BILE TO secure pupils. but with a reduc-
ton OF from 30 to u per cent in prices
There are many others who ave not
been able to maintain their classes at
III. They, with the instrumental artists
out of employment, are in the worst
position. for a teacher IL obliged to keep
up appearances. generally pays a pretty
good rental and has a rather expensive
household.
Great Artists In TrOuble.
you would he surprised" said an
American musician in Paris, ''lf you
knew the names OF some great artists
that i could cite who are In the worst
possible dilemma as a result OF prolonged
idleness. one Of them. n woman who has
hnA, ,nlnlAl -. ..A-In 49,. ~ ..-.
the world. Is living on almost nothing.
doing her washing and cleaning her own
apartment. Another is selling on his
rare furniture piece by piece. though
before the war he posed az a man OF
considerable means.
The rare engagements hat such
artists now get arc only a drop In the
bucket, for some Of them had incomes
Of from 10000 francs upward before the
war. lived accordingly and now have
nothing"
The musician IN greatest distress In
Paris is not the poorly clad and worn
faced street singer or musician who goes
the round Of the Paris courtyards, To
day the latter are the aristocrats Of the
profession. One OF these playing In the
courtyard. with a baby lying In her violin
box, looking much worn, attracted the
attention Of charitable people. who In
vestigated her case and found that she
had IN her year taken the first prize a,
the conservatory. Having located her
these people offered her such aid as she
required, hut she made no reply. TIL,
Inference was that her courtyard worl
brought her more than these charitable
people offered.
The number OF musicians who have
smothered their pride and gone into thu
street to play and sing is very limited
however. Most OF them are In dire
straits IN spite Of their comfortable ap'
pearance in public. and some Of them are
nearly starving. Their relief is a mos,
delicate and difficult matter. rs few nj
them are willing to expose their needs
A good deal has been done ia this
direction. however, by a society OF must,
clans, French and American, called
"L'Aide Affecteuse u Musiciens.' who
through their personal acquaintance
With their fellow artists hnd II easiel
than most charitable organizations e
extend a fraternal hand.
As the war goes on. however, with q
constant multiplication OF charitable
committees of different sorts and re-,
peated demands upon charitable people
for funds, there 10 less spontaneous ant
generous response for the relief Of sucf
poverty a. this.