New Britain herald., 1928-11-10

CARMEIA PONSELLE
ride into New Britain on the so-cali-
ed dinky line. Mr.. Kennedy had no
trouble in inducing sundry journal
lists to help him.
What happens when q sonkbird
comes to town can be summarized
as follows:
A Question of Pianos
Did her piano arrive? asked the
singer. Mr.. Kennedy grew cautious.
There has been a report OF two pi-
amos, he said; Ganz would play one
make and perhaps there would BE-
no need for the other
But Miss Ponselle interjecteI.
II am under an iron.bound contract
to use only my own piano and cam
rot possibly utilize that Of Mr..
CAM"
Wrapped In thought. Mr.. Kennedy
countered: But We got word from
Mr.. GAM that he also had an iron
bound contract to use only his own
piano."
An unusual situation. Miss Pom
selle smiled. but there was no way
out of it that she could see. Perhaps
both pianos could be on the stage.
If this little matter doesn't change
for the better there will be two pi-
amos on hand tomorrow afternoon.
Such Is the artistic life.
When Miss Ponselle ordered a suite
at the Burritt hotel she asked the
clerk whether there was a plano In
it. The negative reply brought one
from her that she absolutely needed
one for her practicinR. without
loss of time she hurried TO a piano
emporium and while all other BUSH
ness there stopped got a promise
from the manager to send piano
to her suite at once. Moving pianos
around in this fashion Is no incon-
sequential task but such things
must be done In the case of operatio
songbirds. The manager got her to
autograph the piano. however. per-
haps figuring It ultimately would
raise its value In the estimation Of
the ultimate buyer.
Dtsburses Autographs
Then the business OF disbursing
autographed photographs to the
charmed and immediate circle. No.
body could be refused and with
charming personality Miss Ponselle
yielded to all requests. When she
discovered that one OF tho recipients
was married man she insisted that
the word Mrs" be added to the
dedication statement on the photo
graph. 80 3lat there be no hard
feelings in the family" as she put
it.
Returning to the hotel she chatted
with reporters who discussed the
past. present and future with an
abandon fully matched by their fair
compa MON for the moment.
Has New Britain grown so much
bigger than Meriden ?" she asked re-
gretfully on learning the population
figures. why. when I was . child
New Britain was the smaller OF the
two. but now it has left my home
town in the lurch! But you ought
to be proud Of your progress: 1t
means the possibility Of cultural ad-
vancement a. well az material
growth. With large population
YOU can do much II you 60 about It
in the right way. think this music
association idea is wonderful; it is
a step In the right direction"
Sees New Britain Opportunity
Miss Ponselle did not think the
closeness Of Hartford would be q
permanent factor in .oldins back
New Britain artistic growth by pro-
siding the city's musical fare for It.
1T IL true" she smiled. that the
use Of the automobile makes II easy
for people to 20 to another city for
concerts or anything else: but with
a population Ct more than 10000
New Britain need not fear the Hart
ford influence II the citizens Of New
Britain drive ahead in manner
worthy their importance. We
artists are C rtinually going to large
cities and SMALL am booked all
the way to the coast before the Sec
ond half OF tho Metropolitan season
and 1t all depends upon local
progress and determination where
we go. One of the most successful
engagements ! had had this season
was in Bangor. Me. of about 80. 900
population. The crowd was i'm
mense and the enthusiasm superb"
hasa klcr UxVo.o
Her ideal and inspiration in
achieving an artistic career. she adj
mitted. was her sister. Rosa.
But I determined from the start.
n was to build on Arm founda-
ton. that 1 would have to make my
own way and not lean on Rosa at