The New York herald., 1921-10-28
Strauss's Accomplishments
of Nine. Schumann Also a
Feature of Evening.
H.G.WELLS ALSO vOYAGER
Russian Singer Asserts Reds
Really Try to Give Encour-
agement to Artists.

Feodor Chaliapine, the big blond
Russian basso who until recently has
been held in Petrograd by the Soviet
Government to sing for the people in
order to help preserve their morale.
landed last night from the White Star
liner Adriatic in the plain tweeds Of
q business man. He is six feet tall.
has no suggestion Of the Slav in his
blond aspect, but more resembles a
Viking without the traditional locks
OF the old pirate breed. He brought a
valet, which they don't tolerate in So
Wet Russia. but he did not seem to
need any help, and there was not a
breezier or more jovial passenger
aboard.
On the night of the ships concert tine
big man showed that he was bit tenn
peramental. He may have been afferted
by the atmosphere, which was also in
haled and cxhaled by his friends wnom
he entertained in Russia, H. G. Wers,
DR. Richard Strauss. the composer. and
Col. c. a'Court Repington.
Chaliapine was requested 70 oblige the
committee getting up the concert with
song or two. He said it was not his
habit to sing at ships concerts, so he
was not put down on the programme.
But when he heard DR.. Strauss accom-
panying Nine. Schumann's singing If
Strauss songs he suddenly decided to
get into the musical game. and the as
semblage went wild over his perform
ance. 81 that he had to sing three soiys
before they would let him retire. He
Il alporl tho COLLECTORS Mrs peu1y Tnvca
Mrs. Szekula and the Misses Ivy and
Elsie bostocls. to take UP big money fc-
the seannen's charities.
Guest of Novelist Wells.
Chaliapine speaks English with an
accent. but seems to know the value Of
English words and does not misplace
them. He and Mr.. Wells, whose guest
he was recently at the novelist's home
in Essex, were much together on the trip.
The big fellow does not look fifty. which
is his age, as he was born in 1871 In
Kazan, where. after following for a time
the trade Of his father, a shoemaker he
Joined group OF Little Russian singers
making the Volga melodious in their
painted bargcs.-
A Russian Prince heard the young
giants voice and, after the manner Of
the Russians of that not rcrcote day.
he ordered Chaliapine to his place on the
river and made him sing specially for
royalty. The Prince asked the singer
who he was at the end Of the song and
he answered: "Chaliapine of Kazan."
whereupon tine Prince exclaimed. "Yor
will be Chaliapine Of the Universe"
Chaliapine made it plain that he was
for his country even as 1t is. and said
that he had leave of absence until tie
middle Of December from his JOB as
director of the Mornsky Opera House in
Fetrograd to sing in concert FOR the
world at large and had just completed a
tour of England. He denied that artists
and musicians were conscripted by the
Soviet Government, which he believed
really was trying to foster Russian art
in all it's branches. He said artists re-
ceived preference In rationing The
latitude allowed artists of all sorts. he
declared, enabled them to leave the
beaten paths and try new ideas.
Audiences In Petrograd, the basso
said, had to use their imagination
good deal. as the actors lacked make
up material. There was no paste to
stick on mustaches and unless the ac-
tor had one of his own the part was
played bare faced. There was also n
shortage Of violin strings. Speaking
personally. he lamented the dearth In
toothbrushes. He had none in Petro-
grad, and the first thing he did after
he arrived at Riga two months ago was
to buy eight toothbrushes. which he still
enjoys using. He appeared to suspect
that they were also scarce in England
and that Is why he laid in q supply.
Fears Too Much Food.
He admitted he had eaten much more
and a larger variety of food than he
could get In Petrograd and remarked
that he feared he was getting fat, as
he now weighs 2l2 pounds. He laughed
and hesitated when asked how many
children he had. Then he answered,
with touch of pride. that he had six
OF his own and then some stepchildren.
The reason he was so long getting
from Russia. the passo explained. was
due to the trouble he had In getting his
passport vised in countries through
which he passed. ais leave OF absence
lis for four months. but IL may be ex-
tended.
Mr.. Wells, who is here to report the
armament conference at Washington.
said he would go directly 70 Washing
ton and stay there until the opening Of
the conference. intimating that he want
ed to get in touch with the psychology
Of tho situation. He had heard fears
tbat the conference might peter out"
but hoped that 1t would go on, and II 1t
sd he said 1t was bound to develop
come sort of arrangement for world
control. not only of international poll
tics, but Of financial and economic ques-
tions. which are no longer being handled
except in world crises.
DR. Richard Strauss, who Is here to
conduct the Philadelphia Symphony Or
chestra In forty-two concerts OF his own
composition. said he wished 10 deny en-
phatically the report that he said the
American people were lacking in culture
lie would not have come here II he
thought that. and he believed just the
contrary Nine. Elizabeth Schumann.
soprano, also a passenger by the Adri-
attic. will appear with DR.. Strauss In song
reoitals..
g5O MORE COKE OVENS FIRED.