The evening world., 1921-01-31
Why Woman Is More Competent
Than Man to Rule Grand Opera
Mary Garden Says AhsWer
Lies in Her Tact and
Diplomacy.
Expects to PrOUe Theories
By Making Chicago
Company a Success.
BIZ Marguerite MOOers
Marshall.
Copyright, 1921. nv the Pres Publishing %
rrhe Now York Evening WOrldl

Copyright, 1921. hv The Pres Publishing Co
rrhe Now YORK Evening World
II EARLS as big as robins eggs,
caught in her ears with dia-
mOnd clasps; pearls as big as
peas about her neck; a diamond
bracelet and four OF Jade; a ring
with an emerald at least half an inch
square; other rings, Of which I didn't
keep count; her supple, beautifully
moulded figure cncased in a tailored
business" suit, it's color repeating
the tawny note OF her hair; pressed
closely down, almost to her brilliant
eyes, a turban which was a mere re-
Election OF their blue: rounded chin
followed into Write hand, while the
eyes bored into mine-so the scene
vas set when ! talked with General
DireOtOg Mary Garden, of the Chicago
OPEN COMPANY about why WOMAN
may be more competent than a man
10 rule grand opera.
The interview was to be at Miss
Gardens apartment. but a quick call
for rehearsal transferred it to a
dressing room at the Manhattan
Opera House, a room in front OF
which ballet girls in tights and fur
coats and a procession OF nondeScrlpt
males passed constantly. a room out
Of which a Ecsticuating, tempest
tossed soul from the south Of Europe
blew himself as I was ushered into
the General Directors presence.
Being two calm and more or less
simple Anglo SaXons, we smiled,
shook hands and settled ourselves
face-to face on opposite sides of a
small, plain wooden table, without
even an ink-well or a paperweight
between us. Then | asked Miss
Garden TO lay her cards on the table
the while I noted that, with her smart
costume, the DarbariC=lly splendid
jewels only Il woman Of her dynamic
individuality can wear without being
cxungulshcd, tho undimmed blue OF
ner eyes and :he smOothncss of her
skin, she never looked better in her
iIte.
Tell me some OF the reasons" I
said, 'why AZ woman such as your
self can do better than a man as the
mead of an opera organization"
Of to some pale devotees of humil-
ity the following conversation seems
Hinged with egOtlsm, | take the
blame put Mary up 10 itD
She answered first in one word.
'DiplOmacy!"
\ There was a long blue glance and a
moments silence for emphasis. Then
rush Of speech.
women for ages have been trained
in the use Of diplomacy, Of tact. Of the
velvet glove that hides the iron hand.
In society, in love, in managing their
children, women have learned to be
diplomats-to rule and yet not to hurt
That is what you must do in an or
ganizauon such as this, which has
been growing for ten years without
fixed authority anywhere. To come
in here brandishnE authority to ac-
Cept little power and then let il go
TO the head-th4t would be to lose
ones head completely and to ruin all
CHARGES Of usefulness Also it would
be very cruel,
''Thcsc singers are most Of them
from the Latin peoples, which means
that they are extremely sensitive. A
woman's kindness is what they need.
They know that / am truly interested
in them, that | will listen to the story
Of all their little troubles and hurts,
that l will be kind What does it cost
me? A few hours OF time every day,
p little sympathy n graCiousness-in
short nothing / cannot well give. And
under all this l can do that which
needs to be done--I can build up DIS
CIPbTNE!"
Mise Gar1en'g warn, rich 4or,s
capitalized the word "And-we-
must-have-discip she added,
a pause between each word