The Washington times., 1920-05-09

EVERYBODY knows victor Herbert.
the composer. and his music. All
- the orchestras play the pretty airs
from "Babes in Toyland," "The Wizard Of
the Nile," "The Red MIL" algeria" and
scores Of other Victor Herbert light operas.
Victor Herbert is a hard worker. Every
day he sits at his piano. patiently working
out new airs, new musical themes.
But a composer must have silence. No
body can compose a new melody II street
organ is grinding a tune within hearing or
II somebody in the apartment overhead or
in the house next door Is humping
piano. Victor Herbert must have absolute
quiet-his musical genius will not tolerate
competing noises.
Mr. Herbert could not insure undis.
turbed peace If he lived in an apartment
house. Somebody on the floor above or
the floor below or next door was sooner
or later perfectly certain to have piano,
or worse. ...-.-.E
So Victor Herbert bought a house, No
321 West One Hundred and Eighth street,
in upper New York But in the house next
with a musical daughter. Mr.. Herbert and
the young lady both chose the morning
hours for their musical labors. Herbert
likes to compose in the forenoon and the
young lady found 1t convenient to do her
practising In the morning hours. And just
enough of the sound waves from the
young lady's piano vibrated through the
party wall into the Herbert house to COM
pletely upset the composer at his work.
So Mrs. Victor Herbert, who was her
self once an opera singer, rang the bell next
door, introduced herself, and sweetly ex-
planned how the young lady's humping on
the piano was putting the great composer
completely out Of business. With much
neighborly sympathy the family at once
Agreed that Mr. Herbert should have his
| mornings for his musical labors and that
| the daughter would take her outdoor ex.
! ercise in the forenoon and do her practis-
! ing In the afternoon.
/ This was a very nice and neighborly ar
rangement and the Herberts appreciated
I the thoughtful courtesy of the family in
: No 323. But they realized that the time
! might come when this family might move
out and new neighbors might move IN
who would not be so considerate Of their
distinguished musical neighbor. SO Mr.
Herbert decided to build specially con-
| structed noise-proof room on the top floor
| Of his residence With much care and at
no little expense this chamber Of silence
was constructed and the spaces we're filed
In with sea grass, which Is supposed to
stop all noise vibrations. When the noise
proof compartment had been completed
the Herberts, with much Joy, found that
the noise Of Mr.. Herberts own piano.
played inside the vault, could not be heard
in any part OF the house. And the sound
of the young lady's piano next door did
not penetrate Mr. Herberts retreat.
At Lake Placid, where Victor Herbert
and his wife spend their Summers, Mr..
Herbert has had TO take somewhat similar
protective measures. His neighbors on
either side seemed always to have what
they considered musical geniuses, who
threw I'D the windows and thumped the
pianos all through the warm Summer days
and evenings. Mr.. Herbert was compelled
to buy the houses on either side OF his own
cottage and now rents them only to people
who never pound a piano and do not i'm.
agine that they are vocal geniuses.
SO the distinguished composer was fixed
for both Summer and Winter. Owning
the cottages on both sides OF him at Lake