Evening star., 1926-10-24

ization on November at Memorial
Continental Hall when music lovers
will have the privilege of hearing the
famous Chopin piano, which has re.
mained silent for 80 years in it's niche
i'm Paris. The concert is for the bene-
fit of musicians of Europe suffering
as result of the World War.
NJ. Isidore Phillip, director of the
Musicians Relief Committee of
Paris" has sent his pupils and COL
league. NJ. Dumesnil. to. America with
the instrument. and this artist will
break the silence it's chords have kept
for nearly century.
Julia e. Schelling. member of the
Pen Women's League and sister of
the American pianist, Ernest Schel-
ling. gives an interesting account of
the corner in which Chopin's piano
has stood since his death in 1849. The
old instrument has remained in the at
mosphere familiar to it's master, un-
changed by the passage of time.
"Maison Pleyel," said Miss Schelling,
lone of the most important piano
firms of France, is still situated in
old Paris where it was a most fash
ionable rendezvous for musicians in
the time of Chopin. 1t it far removed
from the boulevards and the dazzling
lights of the twentieth century Paris.
One still reaches Pleyel's through mar
row, il-lighted. crooked streets, and
still enters by huge iron door, plain
to the point of severity.
After wandering through several
dark, inner doors a curious staircase
is reached. consisting Of two flights
of steps, one on each side of an open
space forming almost the shape of a
Tyre. At the top of the steps is
small salon, the walls Of which are
hung with treasures, small pencil
sketch Of Chopin reclining upon d
satin cushion, drawn just after death,
being one Of the most striking bits
of art. Chopin's autograph, letters,
decorations from Poland and programs
are all there, forming a background
for the central piece Of furniture, his
own concert piano. the instrument
OF the great piano composer.
THE keyboard, with it's yellowed
ivory keys, habitually is covered with
glass. a metal plate bears record Of
the compositions supposed to have
been composed by him on this instru.
ment.
MANY of the composers famous
soirees were held in the small concert
hall adjoining the room in which the
piano has been exhibited since his
death. This hall. preserved practically
as it was in 1849, has a frescoed cell.
ing, lovely old crystal chandeliers and
the inevitable French mirrors adorn.
ing the walls. The chairs are uphol-
stored in crimson velvet. 1t was in
this setting, playing on the instrument
now making its journey to America,
that Chopin provided the first all
Chopin program ever given, at which
all of Paris endeavored to crowd into
Pleyers. M. Dumesnil will play some
of the compositions which made un
that famous program"
Mrs. w. F. Blackman, chairman of
the department of education of the
General Fedora lion Of Women's Clubs,
has announced several changes in the
various divisions Of her department.
Special committees have been made of
illiteracy and motion pictures, which
used to be under the division of adult
education. The division Of public in.
struction has been enlarged to include
three new committees-pre-school ed.
ucatiOn through nursery schools, rural
and consolidated schools and compul.
sorry school attendance. In addition,
a committee on kindergartens has
been appointed to replace the adviser.
who used to be in sole charge of this
work.
A project for university extension
has been added to the division of
adult education. and the committees on
forestry and national scenery have
been combined under one head-for.
estry and parks-and placed under the
division of conservation of natural re.
sources.
MRS. DUNCAN S. JOHNSON. chair.
A'A man of the department of legis-
lation Of the federation, sent out a
letter this week summarizing the
program for her department as it
was outlined at the recent biennial.
According to Mrs. Johnson, six
measures were indorsed in their en-
tirety and will be supported by the
federation, and five additional meas
ures will be supported in principle.
The six indorsed as they stand in
clude the bill for extension of the
Sheppard -Towner maternity and in
fancy act; an amendment to the
ith-Hughes act providing for ap-
preparations for home economics
work: the Cramlron bill placing pro-
hibition agents under Civil Service;
the Merritt bill prohibiting the ship
ment and sale in interstate or foreign
commerce OF mlSbrandeQ articles not
already covered by special legisla-
ton: the Tyson Fitzgerald bill pro-
viding for retirement Of emergency
Army officers disabled in line of duty
during the World War. and the
Cooper bill eXpediting the abolition of
the prison contract system.
Endorsement in principle is advo-
Gated for legislation framed for the
following purposes: To establish a
system of dealing with aliens which
would provide for proper preparation
for American citizenship: to establish
Federal department of education;
to reduce present postage rate on
books: to establish the rights of our
American Indian citizens under the
Constitution, and to protect against
exploitation, national parks and
forest reserves.
In addition. the federation will con-
tirue the education campaign, with
solid support of the child labor amend
ment and an amendment which will
permit of a uniform marriage and
divorce law.
Opposition to the Wadsworth-Ga
rett amendment to change the method
of amending the Constitution and to
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