The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-09

II c WOuuGTIuA NACAbCA
 c it is personal or that ones city or state has gained recognition and a reputation for having done something worth while-whether it is a small conquest or a big achieve ment that has been acknowledged"
 From Mrs. Richard F. Johnston. came the foregoing statement yes terday when she was talking most interestingly about her recent de- lightful trip. beginning with a visit to her sister. Miss Myrtle Miles in Cincinnati, who has achieved during her connection with the Times Star an enviable reputation. Later de- lightful experiences were enjoyed by Mrs. Johnston in Cleveland, where she attended the convention of the League of Women Voters. later go- ing to Washington. Baltimore and New York.
 T really had a combination of the two sensations" Mrs Johnston con- tinued. while in New York, for the moment I entered the office of New York manager of some great artist. he had something to say in Ipraise-and as representative of our All Star Concerts naturally I was very much pleased.
 One of the well-known managers said to me: Why. l used to think Birmingham was only a great indus trial center, but in recent years I have been surprised at the manner Tn which your people have been pa tronizing the arts
 "Of course, he had only heard and read of things musical here" Mrs Johnston said, but when I told him heart to heart what had really hap pened; how the All Star Concerts. had brought Hempel here, and she sang to a packed house: how 2.000 people were turned away from the Farrar concert; how Mary Garden sang to sold out house. and Fritz Kreisler's magic art drew a capacity house with stage seats, and hun dreds were turned away-<he was amazed.
 Indeed. Fortune Gallo, the great impresario- o-manager, when l told him of these incidents, declared: T didn't know any one city in the United States presented that many great artists in one season without an auditorium.
 "In addition to these facts I was pleased to tell the managers of the great artists, all of our musical ac- tivities here," Mrs. Johnston said The many things that the Music Study club has done, the tremendous success of the community sing, the Birmingham Symphony orchestra, our church choirs, music in the pub lie schools; in fact, I told them every thing. And, by the way, I found that the community sing everywhere is recognized by the great industrial eaders-especially in Cincinnati, In Cleveland, the community sing is one of the most important features of public service.
 New York's Music week was just ending when I got there" Mrs Johnston said, "and I was greatly disappointed to miss Robert Law renee. who is so pleasantly remem- bered here. He was in Washing ton training leaders for the choruses for Music week there When I saw what community music meant in those great cities, I was mighty proud to tell them of the work being done in my home town.
 While I had been to New York many times before" Mrs. Johnston said, and had enjoyed the theatres, shops, the opera and all the other things that the average visitor to the metropolis enjoys, it was the first time that l had had the privi- lege of going professionally to call upon the managers of the great art ists and signing contracts and doing Dig business.' Since I had hereto lore been able to make an impress sion and sort of put it over on the Johnstons, I thought I would tackle that very fine and well-known man agor. MT. <R. E. Johnston. first-one of the oldest men in the business. He manages Tita Ruffo, Elman and many others. He was so cordial and gracious that from that moment on l was one of them, and I have never seen more interested and hospitable people in my life. Talk about south ern hospitality and southern chival- ary l want to tell you right now the ithe south has nothing on the New York manager, whether he is man or woman. By the way. the New York women managers are giving the New York men close chase when it comes to impresarioing There is Evelyn Hopper, who con ducts a splendid office and has on her list a number of fine artists. I -f->- eAiC PsSoooAS Ol utdTtnR aDHS 0I them. Walter Greene He is young fellow with an unusual personality and a perfectly beautiful voice. Il also heard yDicie Howell who sings charmingly. She is a southern girl making good in New York, just as so many others are doing in profess sional and business life.
 There is Lois willoughby. the power behind the throne for Hem. pei. an ex-newspaper woman who knows how to handle publicity mar vclously. Naturally I was greatly in- terested, since Frieda Hempel was the first attraction ever presented by the All Star Concerts year ago last February-and many regard her as the greatest artist who has ever been heard here. l had luncheon with Miss Willoughby and a charm ing talk with Miss Hempel and her husband MT Kahn