The Washington times., 1922-06-04

the delegates from Latvia prom
ised to have a much larger and
more complete display In Wash
ington next fall.
Or. Seya. who was a professor
of romance languages In the Riga
University, lectured at the Arts
Club on the National Music Of
Latvia," with translations which
he has made of the native songs.
and which he may some day pub
lish. He speaks English fluently,
and is equally proficient in French.
Russian, and one or two other
languages. He also sings with
much grace.
So strong is national feeling
with the Latvians that they have
10000 original national songs, OF
which nearly every one has varia-
tions, so that the total number
reaches $4,000. These are being
published in a series Of books.
Has anyone compiled the ma
tional songs of America? Dixie"
Yankee Doodle" Maryland, My
Maryland" America" THE Star.
Spangled Banner"-how would ovr
great country rank in comparison
in the expression Of such feel
ing, though America is conspicu-
ously a patriotic country, and in
sense musical, but what record OF
II are we leaving to posterity?
BACK TO MIDDLE AGES.
The Latvians, on the contrary,
have also a lengthy history OF art
and architecture, dating back to
the Middle Ages, through a
dormant period Of German and
Russian rule, until in the pres
ent day Latvian art, unique and
independent, emerges to become
widely recognized
"One OF our most original and
perhaps the best-known Latvian
artist abroad" says Mr.. Kundzin.
"is our leading landscape painter,
William Purwitz, whose works are
in nearly every prominent Let
tish home in Riga. PurSitz
Travelled and studied in Italy and
elsewhere, and is at present di-
rector of the Latvian National
Museum, and teacher Of drawing
and painting at the faculty OF
architecture Of the University Of
Riga" Four Of Pudwitz's land
scapes, all strikingly beautiful.
were exhibited at the Arts Club,
two Of them winter scenes and
the two others of summer.
A second landscape painter OF
more varied talents, also success
full as a portrait artist, is Jan
Rozenthal. Among his favorlte
subjects are spring scenes Of the
hill country of Courland, a pic
turesque southern province Of
Latvia. Some of his work was
included in the Arts Club exhibit.
Rozenthal likes to introduce into
his landscapes old NEUROLOGICAL
characters, as Corot often painted
fairies or other figures appeal.
ing to the imagination.
When Rozenthal died in 1918,
leaving a wife and three chit
pA1nnfhoI rhn
had been a Finnish singer, opened
an art saloon in Riga, where she
exhibits the works OF her hus-
band and promising young Le:-
tish artists whose progress she
encourages in this way.
ESCAPED FROM BOLSHEVIKI.
Richard Zarrin, a Lettish en-
graver, who studied in Vienna,
Munich and Paris. was for many
years director OF the government
printing and engraving office at
the then city of St. Petersburg.
where he designed Russian paper
money and stamps. With the Boil,
shevik revolution he, sent his fam
lily home to Latvia, but he was
compelled 10 remain at Petrograd
and provide the spurious paper
money OF the insurgents unit: one
dark December night when he
made an adventurous escape in
disguise over the Latvian border
and returned to his family.
n His wife did not at first recog.
nize him, so much like a Bolshe-
vik was his appearance. Zarrin
is now director Of the Latvian
printing and engraving office, and
he designs Latvian money and
postage stamps. Examples Of the
latter were distributed by Mr..
Kundzin to the Arts Club au-
dience.
The humor Of the Let's 10 a
marked and delightful quality.
Zarrin now publishes, with an.
other designer and painter named
Tillberg. a Lettish satiricai week.
ly, THE swari," which means
scales. Tillberg n a caricaturist,
and both artists excel in dry hunror