The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-17

4>-A such as can be attributed to Mir Leonard Liebling. the editor-in- chief of "The Musical Courier" the oldest and most notable publication of the day, it is interesting to attempt to fix the time when a name becomes a talisman and passes current for power.
 This is peculiarly true in the ease of Mir. Lieb1ing, for like many other distinguished men before him, he slipped gracefully into greatness with out fanfare of trumpets, but rather with conservative, conventional sort of move, which characterizes his un- usual personality and makes him dis tinctly a man worth while.
 If we are to search for what is now a matter of history for a turning point in his career, perhaps we would find it some 15 years ago, when he became affiliated with the publication which now bears his name at the head of it's columns.
 Mir Liebling is the typical New York err young-he declares he's as sensitive about his age as a woman--he doesn want to be old and gray and grizz1ed  ing done nowadays are being done by young people; it is the age of youth; he is tremendously enthusiastic, beau- tifully educated, and with an original ity of vision that is decidedly refresh- ing.
 You will remember his keen, bright eyes, which can be unsheathed like rapier, and his thin, sensitive lips. which suggest the expression now and then of relentless negative; you easily deduct from few minutes con versation with him that if he chose, not quill whittier extant could eXcell him, once his ready wit and versatile pen took them to task.
 In other words, MT. Liebling pos sesses the qualifications of the finished editor, the musical critic, and the man who has done things.
 When I suggested that had ex- pected to see an older man--lnucn older-and that I had bearded the lion in his den" with a terrible feeling or misgiving and almost timidity, this oc- casion being the very first interview had ever dared with an editor-Mr. Liebling quickly set me at ease by say ing jestingly:
 T could even have borrowed beard and made myself the veteran editor you had pictured me in your mind, only well--it is rather nice to surprise one occasionally. I am proud always to say that l am the youngest musical editor i1 America It is rather odd how many people expect to find me just as you have pictured me-"
 The only time l ever talk with an ed ,itor is with my own, and it's awfuiiy scary like, because it is usually sum- mon for something that hasn't been done right, and--and-" l commenced.
 Exactly the reason 1 became an edl-
 
 Took the bit between my teeth and de- cided that I'd do some of the featuring instead of being lectured."
 Your trip-tell me something of the conditions you've found musically,' suggested, changing the subject perhaps abruptly, but that was what l had gone to find out, and this was the most direct route
 This is the fifth "trip I've made across the continent" MT. Liebling said, but the first time I have visited Birming- ham,
 Music has flourished here during the past season." I suggested and it is very fitting that you shoulde come and know for yourself just what has happened. We've had grand opera-not too well at tended-tremendous audiences at the Min neapolis orchestra performances (hun- dreds turned away at the children's mati- ne) and Kresler played to capacity house.
 '.Thats the most encouraging thing that I've heard or could possibly hear about Birmingham musically," MT Lieb- ling said. That shows without a doubt that Birmingham loves what the technical musician calls absolute music. By :hat I mean music that is music; opera. l do not decry-never. It is very beautiful and some of the greatest things that have ever been written are in opera form. Aida for instance, from the French, Pel- leas and Melisande; from the German, Wagners masterpieces, but opera I have always regarded as a luxury-society beautiful women in the boxes. flowers all that sort of thing but it is what I'd call the postscript, as it were, to abso- lute music.
 Then you think that orchestra, recital, song, lied and musical attractions of that sort do more toward promoting a love of music than anything else?" l asked ''Undoubtedly," MT. Liebling said en- Enthusiastically.
 Tn regard to women and music and womens clubs?" 1 inquired. q never lose an opportunity to pay tribute to women and the marvellous work they have done in musical affairs, was the answer 1.-The women's clubs of this country have within the past F years done more toward bringing artists before the public, toward introducing recital programmes, and what is better, going out and doing what had to be done, sell ing tickets for these affairs, and getting the people to go and hear the artists Ethan anything or anybody else. It is all very well to talk about musical uplift and all that sort of thing but the great est artists in the world can't make any sort of progress without the practical side of the question being attended to and this l the women have done
 1 "T was never more impressed in my life | than at the biennial of Music Clubs in | Los Angeles last year. MT. Liebling con- i tinued, when the women who were pres {! ent were called upon to make short l speeches and give their views on musical | conditions. Every one of them to wom' | an was prepared and ready and sait something worth listening to; the mer