The sun., 1919-02-23
Dreams of Ideal Temple of Modern
Music Drama, While Working
Up Huge Benefit for France

and joining my friends across Europe
But as the time drew near I began
feeling more and more unwilling to go.
I didn't know why. Such indecision
isn't a bit like me.
IT told my father that something
was going to happen and I had an in
stinctive feeling that had better stay
at home. He ridiculed me as being
fey But I didn't go and my friends
were caught at Bayreuth when the
war opened. 1t took them just one
month to get from Bayreuth to the
Swiss border, ordinarily a few hours
trip, and they were subjected to many
indignities. They were Americans. as
said; what would have been my luck.
since l am an English subject?
an the latter part Of September II
was impossible for me to stay away
from Paris Prepared for all sorts OF
difficulties I started in my car from
Scotland. There weren't any difficult
ties; 1t was as simple as an afternoons
motoring. 1 sat in my car as we
crossed the Channel and from Bou-
logne We raced down to Paris without
seeing any sign Of war.
Germans Close to Paris.
But Paris! Poor Paris! Every
shop shut; not restaurant, no the
aires. the Bots closed off, separated by
deep and wide bitches which they had
filled with the cut down trees. Why?
Heaven knows. II seemed to me child
ish. But the Germans were not far
away.
AT once 7 turned the automobile
into an ambulance for bringing back
the wounded and set about seeing what
could do to help. II was no time for
Melisan de, rather the occasion called
for a medieval kind of woman, Of the
type Of Gismonda, who Stays with her
own hands. Well. found my work, a
sort nobody was doing then. There
was an overgrown chateau standing
idle at Suresnes. Cleared Of some Of
it's clutter Of magnifcence 1t served ad-
mirably for a home for the poor refu-
gees who were starting to inundate
Paris like spring flood.
For two years we kept open this
refuge. but only for women and chill
dren. Men can always find a place to
sleep and a crust; we didn't take in a
man, but nearly always had at least
| $50 women and children, the latter,
many Of them prematurely born be-
cause of fright, were veritable skele-
tons And the women! Each poor
creature had always her bedding, her
mattR~p and her Pillow; she might
not have sufficient clothing Tor her
body, but she couldn't be parted from
| that bedding,
Two years passed and I had not
sung a note except a folk song or
ballad at the soirees we arranged for
our proteges. In Paris they told me
that the men coming back on their
short furloughs out of the horrors OF
the trenches needed TO be sung to. ard
volunteered to sing whenever they
asked me at the Opera Comique. I sang
my repertoire and ! never had kinder.
more generous listeners than the over
wrought poilus. 1t was lovely work
and enjoyed my part in 1t to the full.
This Is much more than l intended
! 10 say about the awfulness OF the past
years and I won't talk about 1t any
more. started because II is really
our duty who felt the war in France
and England to tell you people who
i nave HtNcE lett IL, uithouBh ySe sANAs>
you have. What do the mothers OF
this great land know OF a decimated
population? In England, glorious
proud and splendid England. every
home Is in mourning. The mother In
Seattle who has lost her boy can feel
the war the mother In Maine whose
son will never return feels It. but they
are too far apart to mingle their tears
The women Of France, widowed and
be-eft of their sons. meet and keep
each others grief alive. Perhaps II q
little paralyzes their efforts to re-
cuperate. And they In turn affect the
; men who are left"
Truly the subject did not suit ths
room. softly lighted and scented .,
. flowers. or the speaker who - a
graceful and gesticuttory on the stage