The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-23
MADAME SCHUMANN-IEINK

sublimely simple as only the truly great can be-
 Madame schumann-H -Heink received me very informally. She said
 You find me very different from the typical prima donna, 1 am sure No rouge and powder-nothlng to make me beautiful only just a plain everyday wholesome woman. Eh?"
 Agreeing that was somewhat sur prised, sad:
 Wont you ten me something about those wonderful children of yours and your home up in New Jersey?'
 ,I have the prettest sort of place half way between Montclair and Cald- we'll" she answered What do l call 1t? Oh. just Schumann- -Heinks home. My children atterd the public schools at Caldwell, and l have acres and acres oi the loveliest groves and lawns you ever saw. We have all sorts of things to in- terest usAcows, dogs, horses and chick ems by the dozens l think it is 800 chick ems we have"
 Are you a suffragette in any sense ot the word, Madame?" I asked.
 "A suffragette,' the diva exclaimed.
 Thank heaven, no! Why should l be! am a most happily married woman the mother of eight splendid children, and five grandchildren; l am in my prime l am only 50 now, and be sure you say 50 and not 50 as so many people insist upon saying l am, because l have all those children and grandchildren. Me suffragette? What use would it be to mel"
 ..I heard with much interest," I re- called, "of remark that your son, Mr. Henry Schumann- -Heink, made coneern- ing his histrionic career. Someone asked him about ais ambitions, and he replied "I hope to become as famous in my chosen profession as my mother has in
 hers. .
 Madame Schumann-H H eink reflected for
 a moment and then said:
 l s.One must pay for a great art with 7 ones heart blood Work, work. never
 ending work will be his portion in fife
 and as for me, would rather my chil-
 dren didn't adopt the stage as profess
 sion. They think because their mother Ihas, that it is their right, too"
 Our conversation drfted from first one
 subject to another. and chanced 10 |say that I was sorry that during her lensagement here Madame had not chosen
 to sing Mary Salter,s beautiful compost ton, .~The Cry of Rachel,' which she has sung so successfully, when the prima donna exclaimed:
 s.That is the most wonderful of com positions In fact, I doubt if there ever
 was such pathoe, such agony, such sor'
 row. such longing, expressed in any com
 position as that litle American woman has done. And do you know that WILT
 all the success have had with tna' song, l don't even know where Mary . Salter lives. I don't know who she IS ] T only know she has given the world } lmasterpiece. So much for American com : rosers. ~The Erl King is nothing IT grandeur to what The Cry of Rachel IS D should have sung it here, only there 0 Inc orchestra for it.
 i. "And speaking of composers, Of coufs' A MT. Herberts recognition, particular! through his last great work, 'Natoma' s has placed him among the big CO" v nosers of the day, and is of interest sinc e Inc is now in Birmingham I remarkeo a "Oh. MT. Herbert is wonderful an F way" exclaimed the Madame as sh e ciasped her hands and gesticuiated en e thusiastically. ''He has a heart as oi
 as his body, s.nd when person has go a heart he is all right. I haven't sun r with MT. Herbert for seven years, an ,. is real iov to be here and sing witt