New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-02
Mischa Elman Returns to
Become American Citizen
Niolinist Gives His Impressions of the Orient and
Present Day Conditions in German French
and English Capitals

at me from the other end of the Ions
table and said, is that your
"The proverbial politeness Of both
countries that one reads about is nj
| fiction, but real fact and positive Joy
but in certain respects the japanese
arc inclined to bow to European Gus
toms and dispense with elaborate off
cial ceremonies. For instance, | wa.
Informed that high dignitary had at
tended my first concert in Toxic ane
that in such case it was customar,
for the artist to call upon the officia
TO pay his respects and thank him fol
his august patronage. Accordingly
, telephoned to his home with the OBJ
Ject of making an appointment His
eXceltency's secretary left the tele
phone for few moments and re.
turned with the information that ii
would give his excellency great pleas
ure to make my acquaintance. but that
as he had attended my concert as 6
private citizen, and not in an official
capacity, | must not feel CONSTRAINED
to observe the usual formalty. Al
flrst was inclined to consider the in.
cidcnt as an evidence of discourtesv
but | was aftcrward informed by Jan
anese that in reality it was great
compliment and that the official had
intended to display consideration TO,
an artist"
Mir. Elman visited a number Of Jan
ancse tea houses, whore he had an on
portunity to observe geisha girls at close
range. He expressed admiration for thei1
dancing and reported these young
women refined, charming and dignified
wholly the reverse in character ant
behavior from the average European'
conception. In the tea houses the,
both waite upon the guests and dance
for their entertainment.
Mr.. Elman found China more print
tive. For one thing, concerts are at
tended only by Europeans, as tn,
Chinese take no interest in Wester,
music. Since his audiences were en-
tlrely made ny Of foreigners, he playct
the same programs that he is in tn,
habit of giving in America. The at
titude of Chinese servants towa r.
their employers aroused his admira
ton.
an the East there is much
used expression to save the face.
( Well, to save the face, the face of his
| master or mistress, is the most sacred
duty of Chinese servant. Labor i.
cheap and many boys are employed
These go not by name but by numbe
Boy Number One, Boy Number Two ant
so on. In their work they are special
lists, and should Boy Number One b,
absent from the house, Boy Numbe
Two viii refuse to act as his substi
| tute N performing duties not origi
nally assigned to him. But let the en-
ployer say that in that case nothint
remains but for him to perform tn,
service himself, Boy Number One will
obligingly do the errand to save tn,
face of his master
Il was on a Chinese train one dav
Several friends were my travelling com
panions, and with them a Chinese ser
want. At one of the stations another
Chinese got in and joyfully greeted the
servant and my friends. He had for
merry been in their service, but hat
been dismissed. At the next station
ne disappeared and to my astonishmen
returned with an armful of flowers
These he respectfully presented to m,
friends, asking when he might have tn,
privilege Of returning to their honor
able service. Imagine such a thing oc
curing IN America"
In Berlin Mr. Elman found genera
depression. The city, although still
cleaner than many others that Nigh
be mentioned, no longer presents tn.
spotless appearance it did before tn,
war. The lFriedrichstrasse is torn u,
and Uttered with the debris of q sub
way begun but left unfinished OWN.
to lack of funds to complete the build
ing. In marks the prices are enor
nous. One pays rs marks for bit O.
ham, 80 marks for pound of butte,
and in hotel the volinist paid 9Ot
marks FOR half chicken. His room
cost him 1000 marks a day. Every
where there is discrimination in price.
against foreigners, and everywhere per
feet frankness reigns as to this dis
examination. In the Hobbies of man,
hotels are signs which read "doubl,
rates for foreigners" At the theater!
tickets are sold to foreigners at double
the price offered to a German. Mr.
E!man says that German plays are mo-
as good as they used to be, and attrib
utes this to lowering of public taste
On the other hand, music is flourishing
MUSICAL INSTRUCTION