New-York tribune., 1922-02-19

How little the people IN America,
particularly In the Western towns,
know about the most famous artists is
illustrated In this little anecdote The
Metropolitan Opera Company received
request for two Of its most famous
singers-cost immaterial Tho opera
offered Marcella Sembrich and Enrico
Caruso. The letter received by return
mail was to the effect that Sembrich
was all right but instead of Mr.. Caruso
they would prefer the man who had
gotten into trouble at the monkey
house! Helping the Press Agent nat
urally It does not suffice to depend
wholly upon ones manager; one must
himself see to it that he gets into the
public mouth. Court proceedings are
popular. One provokcs quarrel with
comrade and in the course of the con-
versation breaks his nose.
The news spreads like wildAre. Pic
tures appear First tho ruftian with
tho expression Of an arch criminal.
Alongside Of him his colleague X with
tho broken nose. An arrow points to
the place where the nose was broken,
and that there be no doubt beside 1t is
tho word "broken"
Once this happened to me. was
singing "Othello' In the Academy of
Music in Brooklyn. Before the per-
formance my Desdcmona, Nine. Aida,
complained to mo of some pains in
the vermiform appendix and begged
mo to be considerato in my treatment
of her, for it is part of my business
in the third act atfectionatey to knock
her down few times. | WAS as care
full as possible at these places and
helped her gently to the floor.
Because of excruciating pain she was
scarcely able to finish the opera and
was compelled to submit in the same
night to severe operation. The next
morning the newspapers printed my
portrait as Othello with the legend in
big type: "Rude Russian tenor breaks
the appendix Of Nine. Aida" And In
the newspaper l read how she had
asked me to spare her, but how, IN my
bestial impersonation of the jealous
Moor, I had so far forgotten myself
that with all the tremendous strength
Of Bohemian giant I had hurled the
poor woman to the floor With such en-
ergy that the bursting Of her vcrmi-
form appendix had been heard In the
last row of parquette seats.
was dumfounded. My press
agent was radiant.
"Mr. Slezak, that's bullseye; you
wouldn't be able to pay for that If you
wanted to buy it,"
It was not until after g week that
understood him. Then there came a
multitude of newspaper clippings from
all parts of America. Kind expressions,
inimical expressions-expressions of
admiration for my strength, condemna-
tion Of my bestial rudeness-dis-
courses on my physical prowess, size,
weight, etc. That lasted for weeks.
Gradually 1 got a surfcit Of Nine.
Alda's appendix. Later, while on con-
cert tour after my engagement at the
Metropolitan Opera was over, I expert
enced the effect With a certain re-
spect was asked: "Then you are the
fellow who smashcs the vermiform ap-
pcndixcs Of his partners? ?" They felt
of my muscles carefully and accurates
ly tested my biceps. Over the criti
cism was the headline: "The Giant
Czcchish Appendix Buster Wins Audi
encc."
The principal thing Is to mako your
self talked about much--good or i'll, it
doesn't matter-draw attention to
yourself over and over again.
1t is very inconvenicnt-bu it
pays!
.