South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-24
Kreisler'S Answer to His AssaiIants

past TOUR years.
To keep up the mere necessities
FOR those 40 people required the
major portion Of my salary. IL vas
a terrible burden which 1 had not
imagined was TO be mine for SO long
But / could not lay it down and let
suffering result.
OF these things ] only speak with
the greatest reluctance. II is no;
pleasant TO me to have TO tell of
the things l am privileged TO do for
others. However. in view Of the
iniquitous and slanderous remarks
which have been spoken lightly OF
me 1 feel that il is only fair 10 my
self.
When Mrs. Kreisler and I had
been in this country a while l found
that my recuperation under her care
was progressing in this American
climate much faster than was ex-
pected. Ii is a matter of record that
1 played $50 concerts here in the
two years before America entered
the war.
Had no Right To Play Then.
Then I retired. / felt that 1 had
no right 70 play when America was
at war with my own country. II
there had not been the slightest
voice Of objection, still l would not
have played upon the American con-
cert stage when Americas own art
lists were going out 10 fight for their
country.
/ do not mean 10 say that in art
or amongst artists there is anything
like commercial competition, but I
considered Il wrong and unsports-
manlilSe to play when the other art
lists Of the country had no chance to
appear before the public. And did
what / considered the absolutely
/ square thing.
Some people have asked me lately
why l have not become an American
citizen 1t is not for me TO say how
deeply I am grateful for the great
heart. the kindly hospitality, and
the wonderful generosity of the
American nation. During these past
years l have taken it greatly TO
heart but now I am doubly indebt-
ed TO this nation for. Were il not for
L
country America fought us and
/ then saved us.
I don't believe people here realize
what Mr.. Hoover and his feeding
commission did in Austria in saw
/ ing the lives Of thousands and thou
\ sands OF children. For that and the
/ typical generosity OF the people
which made il possible. my heart
goes out TO this country more than
\ ever.
Trouble is Natural
Concerning the trouble which I
/ have been having now with my con
/ certs, l can only say that il is ma
| tural. No country could go through
I a war like this without showing some
I convulsive after effects. on the
\ whole I feel that the American PEG
| pie is very noble and generous. The
/ things which have been done against
me have been in a certain measure
/ overstated in that the public IS told
I of attacks against me in two or three
/ localities while mention OF the 80 or
80 big towns where I have been re-
l Ceived most cordially is omitted.
am STAYING here upon the IN
biased basis Of art for the sake Of
art. ] feel that ] can give America
something And my message is a
/ purely artistic one and always viii
De IN every country under every cir
/ cumstances.
will never stand for any inclu-
sion OF the national element in art.
I would as quickly oppose any at
tempt in Vienna 10 agitate against
French music. The higher art goes
the less IL has 10 do with terrestrial
things. IL is like religion and philo-