The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-16
EMMY DESTINN IN
LOVE WITH CITY
ON FIRST VISIT
Likens 1t to Prague, Her Ma
live City~~Fond of House.
keeping and Fishing-Ad-
vice to ASpirantS.

s-S
Emmy Destinn, gifted soprano, who
appears at the Lyric theater in fas-
cinating repertoire of song Sunday
afternoon. Is pleased beyond express
sion with her first visit South and
considers Memphis too delightful for
/ words
1T is so like my own dear Prague"
declared the madame enthusiastical-
| ly. There Is the same joie de vie
the joy of life, on the faces of the
| people, the same freedom of movey
ment in walking among the women
with the same splendid poise OF the
head. Then, too, there is the same
delightful courtesy of a people who
really take time to live, Memphis
will ever be enshrined in my heart
with m yown beautiful Bohemian
city.
Il studied in Prague under the
brilliant teacher Nine. Lowe Destinn,
marvellous discipiimanrian and one
who was capable of compelling you
to live up to your very best | shall
never forget the wonderful studio
parties we would have in the eve
ming an dthe talented men and wom-
en- that gathered there. They were
not great gentuseS then; JEST men
and women who came to enjoy them
selves and discuss with all the fire
of great convictions the leading
questions in art and music that came
up, l owed so much to this gifted
woman that, with her permission,
took her name, my own being, Kittel
Often Exhausted.
But it was not all cake and claret
There were hours Of eXhausting labor
when 1t would seem that victory was
not worth the tremendous sacrifice
involved. If American girls think
that a musical career means all
glory. applause and a good time let
them abuse themselves of the idea
at once. Often have practiced I'M
til l was literally exhausted mentally
and physically, only to have the dear
old madame say :'Chere ami. syou
have done nothing! Nothing!' How
ever 1t made victory all the sweeter
when IL did come.
After | was so successful in my
own beloved Prague | spent ten years
as a member of the Royal opera
house, in Berlin. This was the kali
ser's favorite house and wherel on
"a Vi lie ildu
descended to lead the orchestra him
self. For besides being a Heaven
born ruler by divine right, he fam
cied himself a great musician. He
staged his production, "Sardanapa-
lus." there, and l was one of the
cast. He was so pleased that he pre-
scented me with diamond breastpin
which l promptly bestowed upon a
charitable institution in my native
land. For like alb true Bohemians
hated the kaiser and all his CO.
horts.
"Durin gthe war | was imprisoned
by the Hun hordes in my beautiful
city OF Prague. | can not begin to
enumerate the indignites | had to
suffer. Our Austrian masters seemed
to take an especially pride in max
ing matters as unpleasant for me
as possible. One huge Austrian Of
ficer. with fierce mustachios, varied
the program by trying his utmost to
make love to me. | could not tell
which was the wrose, his love maxi
ing rthe brutality of the other Of
ficers.
Produest of Citizenship.
The one thing | am proudest Of,
'NSANNS my lublliti lONt, is IllN
American citizenship. All, you Amer
leans do not know what a wonderful,
wonderful country we have Il takes
one TO try to live abroad 10 realize
what paradise America is. l al
ways leave this dear land with keen
est regret, and return to il with a
JOY that never fails.
Ones career as an artist often
interferes with ones inclnations.
Mine clashes quite frequently for
| dearly love housekeeping. | enjoy
nothing better than preparing a meal
for my friends. and | love to sweep
and sew. 1t is like heaven to me when
| can have friends drop in for
meal. and roll my sleeves up to my
elbows and cook something for them
that they would like. | can not be
bCat-l don't think-in the prepara-
ton of pilaf and real Hungarian gou-
lash, not the spurious stuff that you
meet with so often. | have also be-
come very fond of many Of the dishes
Of my native land. as, for instance,
oyster pie and fruit cake, and s can
make them to the presidents taste,
as one should say, now that we are
Besides housekeeping
my favorite pastime is fishing; l
never tire OF it, and when heard
what splendid fishing there was to
he had around Memphis, | brought
my rods with me am member OF
the famous Tuna club Of Santa Gaia
lima, where you have to catch one
Of the gamest fish in the world be-
fore you are eligible for member
ship.