Evening star., 1932-03-06

Brave? Not bit OF it. That's not the
word to use The manner in which an artist
faces this business of retirement is, of course,
something very individualistic Each one re-
acts to it differently. AS for myself, cannot
see why, when one has reached certain pc
riod, height, and there is nothing more
toward which to climb in that direction, he
cannot take another path.
Youth must be served. The ranks must be
thinned out for those who have talent and
who have not yet had their chance. Music is
impersonal gift You cannot say you own
it. You are only a small fragment of that
magnifcence You possess the gift for while,
then you relinquish it to others and pass on.
You must not strive to recapture it, to hold
it long after you have the right to do Sing
ing is an intangible thing. 1t isn't like other
creative gifts 1t is, in way physical thing,
since it endures only during the time the artist
actually is singing and the singer has personal
contact with those who listen to her singing.
When the years take their toll and the in
strument of song feels their touch, just as
other parts Of the body do, it is high time for
the artist to let go, vanish from the stage.
IN IUsIc isn't personal thing. 1t is most
w impersonal gift, always beautiful but
elemental the stars Art Is aristocratic, and
aristocracy means choice It means that you
choose to set high standard for your art,
then that you choose to attain then to retain
it and at last to relinquish the art itself at
the proper time.
IT find 1t singularly easy to let CO. There
are SO many things I want to do, so many
places to which I want to go, many people
with whom I want to visit many INTEL
lectual pursuits want to follow so much music
I want to hear, so many beauties I wish to see.
Retirement heart-breaking business? Not
at ALI You arrive at a certain age. You
must fit yourself into it and you must do it
with philosophy which you have worked out
for yourself You don't want to be an an
achronism l. for instance, do not hunger to
be an active part Of this age-this age which
Is not really mine. I am a person identified
with the period of 1900. This isn't may day
nor my era. belong back in the early part
of the century. and part of me belongs to the
Paris Grand Opera, the Berlin Grand Opera
and to world capitals in which I have sung.
Another type of youthful enthusiasm is re-
quired for active part In the making Of
this epoch. 1t is better now for me to be an
observer rather than q participant.
Everything passes. a realist. I do
not deceive myself I know that l. too have
passed as an interpreter, an operatic prima
donna or concert star. And everything changes.
I, too, have changed I am not a young nor
an ultra-fashionable person I don't want to
pretend to be such person. My hair is all
most entrely gray I wear 1t long, because
grew up In an era Of long hair.
Facing age philosophically does something
beneficial for human being. It lends even
charm to ones appearance. 1t depends entirely
on ones individual philosophy and attitude
toward life how one meets age and the more
inactive phase of living.
LAS for myself, I did what I wanted to do
in life. I enjoyed long and satisfactory
career. am fulfilled utterly. I have achieved
my destiny. I am satisfied. Now I must face
about and do other things.
'I do not intend to fill the void with cooking.
Nor with sewing nor embroidery work. I
not handle needle. cannot do any of the
agreeable and housewifely things that so many
women like. And don't want to do them
There is nothing of domesticity about me. It
never entered my scheme of things in the past.
has no place in it now. 1 never had the time
nor the inclination for those tasks when was
deap in my career. Now, at this late date, I
have need of them, either.
But travel, music, books, sculpture, friends,
gardens, animals and the country, these I in
tend to enjoy I have worked hard for more
than thirty years. Now going to have
some fun. And some rest
(Copyright 1881