New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
By Harriette UnderhiIl

Once upon a time, many years ago,
there was a beautiful musical comedy
star who wrote story and entitled it
How | Repulsed the King" We are
in much the same mood as we pen this,
and we should like to call it "How We
Kept Caruso Waiting"
Of course, it was not premeditated,
for we never should have dared to do
1t. Not that we are a respecter of per-
sonages, but we are a respecter of ap-
pointments, and always keep them to
the dot. Which proves, If any proof
were needed, that we never shall rise
above the mediocre.
In making the appointment for US to
interview the greatest tenor on earth
the appointer neglected to tell US at
what hour Caruso had graciously con-
sented to be interviewed. He seemed
to think it was necessary only to in
form Enrico and let nature take it's
course. And so, while Enrico Caruso,
star of the opera and the screen,
waited, we were virtuously doing our
Christmas shopping early.
At about 4:30 we casually dropped
in the Paramount office to he greeted
with EXPLANATIONS of dismay. The tele-
phone girl stared at US with such
marked disfavor that we began to be
afraid our new hat was not correct.
The office boy was naughty, and the
mystery was not explained until the
chief director of publicity saw us.
"Why aren't you at the Kncker-
bocker?" he walled. "Caruso is wait
ing for you. What shall l do, what
shall do! Go right over and perhaps
it is not yet too late. Perhaps he will
see vou!"
eyes," we answered, perhaps he
will" So we sauntered over to the
Knickerbocker and he saw US. But
first-ah, first, we met Ziratol Bruno
Zirato who sees people and propltla YES
people and writes to people and sends
them pictures and locks of hair-per-
haps.
He looks just like he sounds. Tai
and splendid, with big, black eyes and
flashing white teeth like a villain anc
black hair going straight back, and we
guess when he sees this he will be sorry
that he tried to put US in our place
at first.
"Ah," he said, reproachfully. "Yor
are SO late, and Mr. Caruso he wait anc
now he is gone and you may never sea
him again"
"No?" we answered cheerfully
"Well, we'll, well!"
"And he does not see everybody
said Zirato mournfully.
Neither do we," we continued. "Oh
not by any means"
"And he is so busyl" still in the re
proachful vein.
$50 are we, terribly busy. That
why we are going now"
"Oh, but you must not 60. Mr.
Caruso will return in fifteen minutes
I swear It'll"
So we stayed just as we had in
tended to from the first What, miss
the chance of seeing Caruso in fifteen
mintes and Zirato in the interim !
Never!
Our conversation started off much in
the form of primer "See," pointing
to the walls, sail these are pictures!'
We nodded, meaning that we under
stood and that he might proceed.
These are photographs and these are
pen and ink sketches" Again we nod
ded and signalled for him to go ahead
Mr.. Caruso made them himself. He
draws, you know" We nodded again
"And these are books, all books" and
he swept his hand across the side OF
the room. Then, seemingly much i'm
pressed by our intelligent attention, be
said brightly, "and these are letters
Holding his beautiful hands to his
beautiful head he groaned and repeated
"Lettersl Look at them! Hundreds of
them! And always more to come Let
tiers asking for northumberland
asking for photograp hs-letters asking
for money, and all of them, II must
answer. Oh, what people want of poor