New-York tribune., 1921-10-16
\ Genius Was Born.
But He Was Also Made

Mr. Berlin told us all about himself,
at our urgent request, as we sat in the
gorgeous lounge Of the Music Box, lit
tie Irving's new theater, which looks to
us like tine hest in New York. Mr.
Berlin is extremely entertaining, and
re will talk about everything else. but
when you try to make him talk about
himself he just won't talk at oil. It
took two sittings for US to extract the
reformation contained in this story
rom him. And we wanted TO know, not
only so we could toll the world, but
also because we wanted to know.
Ganiuses always fascinate US, and we
wonder at what age they realize that
hey arc geniuses. That Irving couldn't
ell Us. for he doesn't have any idea
HAT he is one.
II just learned TO like music while
! vas singing in my fathers choir he
d, "snd lot Of the other boys fell
'uto It the same way. Did you know
fl at Eddie Cantor and Al Jolson and
the Howard boys all had rabbs for
fa'hers? ~
Well, anyhow irving was only about
'we've years old when he began to
ed, only tao voices that lie heard
poke in rhymed verse, and sometimes
.ho verses were sung. He didn't put
II just that way, but that is the way a
Genius always gets his inspiration.
Finally I set one down on paper;
that is, sat the words down. never
knew one note from another, and / do
not now. I have to sing it or play it
[or somc one else TO write. Do, re. mi
ever meant thing in my young life
Ny frst song was 'Dprando.'"
Describes His First
Rea. Sensation
How did 1t go. Sing it," we said
al anxiety to know if we had ever
heard it, 81 can't remember line noi
note Of IL now | only remember
hat it was about barber who bet nj,
.ast nickel or Durando and won Afte,
rhat ] had lot of successes: that is
t''+''- r~~N'ct',E, DAt ny fict HtUbdIlOnd
success came when ! conceived Alex
anJer's Ragtimc Band and | am still
making money out Of that. II seem,
stranee, but out in the Middle Wes
ney are still ordering it. So the pub
i.ncrs tell me-
And did YOU put all of your none,
TINS Music Box?"
Yes, l put all Of ny money into il
and Sam Harris pat some of his into i,
20 is got to go'
But your salary list must be cnor
aous. How can you have anything lef
% divide up between you and Mr.. Har
ia after Florence Moore and Joscp
ssutley and ~ Sawyer and Sam Ber
/ asFd and Willie Collier and Vida Ben
nett and Marguerite aud Frank Gin ar
qsid7'
Well, had TO take chance. It
ise Big game Of put and take"
Yes, should thiuk 80; you put ar
'aey take. ] don't wonder it MAKE
our head spin. Bot then, Of cours
iaera are lot Of people upstairs, an
VIZ q tVA idSt i3isfi, ana Su{
p0se it docs count up. But you ehoul
aye built your theater bigger"
Our second Yisit to the Music 30
7sz a. the " Heencsday matinee. An
aere wasn't esen any atanding room
o Mr. Eerlin need not bcgin 70 s,orr
ct, especi ally ~ hig sbow ie the eol
mere you ply $40 for scat an
enc out feeling that you Owe hi
money Little irving Berlin ccrtainl
oab done great fbiuxs tbis time aud yo
~ viil agres With us when gou gre n
~ -sz~ sHow
He Claims Celibacy
War Thrust On Him
dDw OH are 1o5?" ae asked agal
5ecapye sTo wanted to kno~
I've been writing songs for twcni
ears." he ans@erod.
"as.d that maker soa meD you re
AMY a9ot loot H. trsor been ma
ssd1@
Hsres. Every ons saya 'tsof~
"sSt yop asysp4 yst asked ersl