The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-09

DEADERs of this page three weeks ago
X will remember the very interesting
interview with Nine. Gamma Walska,
prima donna soprano OF the Chicago Opera
Company 1t was quite an unusual page.
because It set forth with entire frankness
the singers point OF view OF what was
really worth while In this world-why her
career" was her whole life.
A career" is a wonderful thing. Some
times 1t seems to be sort Of wicked ink
that pursues its victim with all sorts OF
mischievous tricks. Then again careers
seem to be very nice. kindly things, which
go hand in hand through life with you on
friendly terms /
Nine. Gamma Walska, the Polish prima
donna, is very closely tied up with her
career, This article to-day has to do with
the latest mishap which seems to have
overtaken her career Q
The prima donna. 1t should be remem-
bered had only last Summer achieved her
third and greatest matrimonial adventure
by marrying Americas richest bachelor"
Mr.. Alexander Smith Cochran, the $50. 000.-
600 carpet manufacturer. But with all that
goes with multimillions-yachts, town
house, country estates, western ranches.
ETC., etc.-the grand opera bride refused
to nestle down into these warm lures OF
luxury and insisted upon going on with
her career" as a singer.
II was pointed out in the article on this
page three weeks ago that 1t was not easy
for reader who had not the true artistic
temperament to quite grasp Nine. Walska.
Cochran's point of view that career" Is
more worth while than home and husband.
And it is alsos hard to understand why
Mr.. Cochran, the multi-millionaire bride
groom, with all his wealth, mansions and
yachts. can't keep his wife at home-can't
even control his own wifes voice or hugs
or kisses. This was explained by the
artistic in her own words.
"Eet ees no problem at all, do you see,
monsieur" chirped the chic little Polish
prima donna at her Chicago hotel apart
ment. 81 have marreed, and / also pursue
my professeeon, ees eet not so?
"Eef my husband would object to my
singing-well. not for long would he be my
husband" she continued. "a woman must
have her interests. Nevaire could l be.
como interested in re man so narrow
minded Eat he would not pairemeet me to
follow my career after re marriage. That
ees why eet ees no problem"
The Career of wifehood, motherhood,
social life is no career" at all. Nine.
Walska1C Cochran has an artistic soul above
such tiresome commonplace existence.
Her career was the only thing-the whole
thing. Anything that got in the way Of
that precious career was going to be run
Over-whether it was a husband or home
or anything else.
And so it was that Mr.. Cochran was left
behind in New York to play with his yachts
and mansions and clubs and millions, while
his artiste-bride, Gamma Walska, took up
her abode alone in a Chicago hotel and be.
gan vigorous work on the role of Zaza,
which was to be her operate debut
Zaza!
Has the reader ever seen Geraldine
Farrar play Zaza on the stage of the Met.
ropolitan Opera House?
Whatever the reader may have read of
love-making in novels, or whatever warm
scenes he may have watched in the movies
or on the stage, the violent, tropical, pas.
sionate love-making Of Farrar would be a
revelation Of possibilities unsupported. 1t
was understood that Nine. Walska had
promised to eclipse Nine. Farrar's love.
making and'show the grand opera audience
of Chicago Zaza that was really worth
seeing.
In such an inspiring role as the notori-
Gus, abandoned creature Zaza Nine. Gamma
Walska-Cochran would show the adoring
public how wonderful thing is Career
and why it was much more worth while to
play Zaza on the stage than to play wife
in her own home.
The opening night OF ZaZa had been
fixed for Tuesday, December 81 Every
seat had been sold and the musical world
OF Chicago awaited the great event Of the
season. That longlooked forward to eve
ming came and passed-but the Chicago
music lovers never saw the great Gamma
Walska and her overpowering presentation
of wicked Zaza.
Something happened.
But exactly what 1t was that happened
seems shrouded in mystery. And a reward
is offered Of 100000 yen Tor thirty cents)
for the true solution OF the mystery OF
what so suddenly happened to Nine. Wal.
ska-Cochran' Ncareer-and her Zaza.
A few things are known with certainty
II is established that the prima donna
packed up and left Chicago the day before
she was TO make her debut Arriving in