New-York tribune., 1922-12-14
Young BoSOeH
InterUiewS
Chahapin

BECAUSE had Ne not been a verv great
singer H. could have been very
great actor,
he lifc rcads like a fdls Of adventure.
nc has been a novice IN Russidn
moaaaterV. l0noshorsmaH on the
volea, a shoemaker and a icander-
ing MINSTREL.
Of ne brilliant Performance Of "BoTis
Godo,mov' al fke Mstropolitan,
he 70 touring America.
CHALIAPIN, more than sir feet tall,
Nordic, vigorous. dressed IN black
oardcal coat, iriih beaver collar; and a
fur hat, dsscsrded from a tdri NTH his
seerciarv. 4 friend from Russia stepped
lorirnrd and greeted him, and IN their
company YoHag BosrelL little con-
Inscd as 70 ICh0 sioHld Oct out Of the
elevator frst, rent 10 CHALTAPIN'S
rooms, IN an up-tOun hotel
The Secrctary-There Is an interest
ing story In that coat.
So. igifh tks aid Of French and inter-
probation from the Russian, Young Bos-
wcu hsteHed 20 ne siorv. AZ h sat
taking IN a deep chair, CHALTAPIN
turned nor and then 10 ths piano. on
ichieh Ne iroHld strike a chord, as II 20
relieve his ezeess energy. and tAen 90 on.
CHALIAPIN-The coat had on came
from the Governor Of ---. said 70
the Bolshevik Governor that wanted a
fur coat, and that was Il. But last
year ! ordered a fur coat from a very
reliable firm here In America. won't
disclose the name. I was surprised be.
cause they asked mo for a deposit. OF
course, In Europe they would have
known me, and that was before they
knew my name in America. | didn't
think that | looked suspicious. but I
paid the 500 down, and they took my
measure. told them just how I wanted
u made, and that I would like Il un-
usually large. / waited for two weeks
and then went back for my coat. And
L was like this.
No dreig the coat NJ rds weariHg 90
eether until u looked as II Il Touid
bursf.
CHALIAPIN-"It Is too small" I
said. "Oh, no. the manager told me.
IL is perfect it," "For YOU" I said,
but not for me- lie had Just left out
several skins along the sides, and then
be tried 70 make me believe It was too
large FOR me. | complained, but IL was
no use. | asked the manager how he
had dared 20 take the money, and he
said, Business Is business"
The words had evidently made an int-
pressioH on CRALfAPfN, for no quoted
them in English.
CHALIApIN-T told one OF my
friends that evening, I'VE cannot have
dinner tonight. I have just been robbed
by furrier" So / asked the Boshevik
Governor OF -, and he gave me
very good fur coat without a deposit.
Life doesn't need n fur coat, does Il
Life doesn't walk enough 20 need one.
Once some Of my friends, who we're
walking, chided me for riding by In a
fur coat. They said, fHe must be very
rich 20 ride ike that" I reminded them
Of the many years went about In a
coat OF sack cloth, wearing rubber go-
loshes, without any shoes, and bad go
loshes, at that.
The Russian Friend-Well, there's
every reason why you should be riding
on rubber tircs, now.
CHALfAPIN seemed restless, aud
igardercd into another rooom.
The Secreiary-Its nerves. He can't
stand being shut up indoors. He says
it's always the same thing. the house
and the theater and the theater and the
house. He goes to bed at IL o'clock and
gets up at 10. The first thing he says
is, Il want fresh air I'm going to
walk"
The Russian Friend-I won't keep
him out late tonight. I'm taking him
70 the Irving Place Theater, where they
are playing in Russian. don't know
which will receive more attention, the
stage or his box
CHALIAPIN appearcd 10 say goodbv.
CHALlAPIN--I want 10 explain that
was not roasting" the American
shops, for l have bought many nice
things here. Perhaps / have a sus-
picious face. Al least the furrier
thought 30.