Evening star., 1923-03-06

lean public that she really can sing.
Halt my career because of the Jbes
of a few critics." she demanded. AM
bition must be made Of Sterner STUN.
Read the life of any great singer. why,
CaruSo himself. was once Whlstleu ana
.ieered off the stage, and often he re
tired to the wings and wept because
the audience was hostile.
In the only interview she mas
Glanted in Chicago the beautltui
Polish singer, who is Mrs. Harold r.
Mccormick in private life, TO-DAY gave
the American music world to under-
stand that she intends to complete
her concert engagements. Ana sne
will finish. she insisted, in this very
city in voice that will vind1cate
all of her ambitions and allow her
70 sail for France in blaze of glory
that will put to shame her harsh
and unjust critics.
Intercepted as she was returning
from visit to the great Russian
tenor, Feodore Chaliapin, with whom
she had discussed poetry. musical
politics and similar topics, she pro-
tested that she had nothing to say.
Lovely to Look Upon.
Il am in Chicago as Mrs. McCor-
mick. she protested. but finally con-
sented to outline her plans. She is
very lovley to look unon. OF medium
height and very slender she has gray
blue eyes and wealth of golden
brown hair. a luxuriant wrap of
black silk was lined throughout with
ermine. deep collar of that material
hiding Il firm. determined chin. Her
frock was OF brown silk, which ac-
centuated the sunny CLINT in her
hair while the hat. trimmed with
afgrettcS. was brown to match.
Why should I worry over what the
critics say" she continued, when
Chaliapin. the greatest singer in the
world. has asked me to sing with him
in the Russian opera? 1t may not be
In Chicago, and il may not be this
season, but some time, somewhere. we
Shall sing together"
Later her manager. Jules Daiber.
admitted that Chaliapin had never
heard Nine. Walska sing, but that the
invitation was a tribute to her per-
sonality and unflagging, ambition.
who are the critics after all?" the
diva deua nded. Just because they
have the power of the press in their
hands does not mean they are in
fallibfe. Why should ! rave and tear
1t is the audience to whom I sing and
Tt is the audience to whim / sing and
it is the audience that calls me back
for more.
"SOme Criticisms Fair
When criticism is sincere. even
though it is adverse, l study to see
whether ! may profit by 1t. When 1t
is unjust and unfair discard 1T and
laugh as though l never had read it.
"One critic does not make a failure
any more than one swallow summer.
Many a career would have been snuffed
out at the start if the artist had taken
the press too seriously. Read the life
of Calve, of Tetrazzini, of Caruso Did
not CALI Curci receive knocks?
Il know that | can sing and that
will succeed. Why then should l worry?
Twenty-Five years hence, when 1 am an
acknowledged success ! will write about
my early discouragements. j will say
that to attain career is hard; to
maintain it is harder"
Nine. Walska leaves this week to
continue her concert tour winding UP
in California, where she is to rejoin
her husband. She says she is saving
her best for her farewell appearance
here in Chicago. She realizes there is
an innate antagonism for her here
which had its origin when she appeared
with the Chicago Opera Company. But
whether that appearance here will be
with the Russian Opera Company re-
mains to be settled.
Copyright. 1927