Evening star., 1938-09-18

true artist, one never tainted by pre-
tense and. in the telling. faithfully
direct and simple. Midway in her
song, Lotte Lehman can still antic-
ipate triumphs; profound respect for
her artistic gifts and her warm
hearted personality.
Miss Lehman recalls childhood
with her devoted middle-class family,
their desire for her to be happy in her
chosen career: encouragement at the
Royal Academy in Berlin. discourage
ment at an imperious private singing
school and eventually development
under the kind hand Of Mathilde
Mallinger. Then success commenced
to roll her way under the sponsorship
OF wealthy Baron Putlitz, who soon
arranged for her placement with the
Hamburg Municipal Theater She re-
members operatic initia ton in Magic
Flute and advancement through the
indulgence of Conductor Gustav
Brecher in "Rosenkavaiier" and
"Rheingold." She aroused the in
terest of Caruso and shortly after
ward made her significant impression
as Elsa in 'Lohengrin."
This turning point in Lotte Leh-
mann's career, acceptance by the
Vienna Court Opera, heralded the
fame the singer has acquired in this
age. The friendship Of Franz Schalk
guided her to gala tours to South
America. London. Venice: associations
with Weingartner, Walter. Richard
Strauss: praise from Puccini, Order
of the Legion Of Honor from France.
Her successful tour OF the United
States In 1888 Is one OF the fondest
Of recollectiohs. She gives her i'm
pressions Of Chicago. American milk
shakes and beauty shops She writes
about the attainment of her artistic
climax'-lieder recitals, her debut At
the Metropolitan and her acquaint-
ance with the feared Toscanini, feared
since early career for his relentless
musicianship. It is 4 glittering career
that Miss Lehman relates.
The book, as the autobiography Of
virtuosa. is delightful. These are her
memoirs conversational and unpre-
tentious. j. 8.
CRIPPLED sPLENDOUR, by Evan
John. New York: E. P. Dutton
Il Co.
THIS Is an historical romance based
on the life Of King James I of
Scotland. James. ancestor Of the
Stewart kings. was q man in whom the
soldier. the poet and the king were
ut continual warfare. We meet him
here at the age of IL when he was
seized by England as = prisoner Of
war. His father had died and he was
on the way to Scotland to ascend the
throne. In his place his uncle became
regent and James was forced to idle
away IL precious years in English
prisons pampered, privileged cap
tive but . captive none the less. At
home in Scotland all the intrigue and
duplicities characteristic Of the 18th
century were at work to keep him out
Of the country.
He studied and wrote poetry in
England and engaged in what maneu-
vers he could to effect his return to
Scotland; he went to France and
fought beside Henry v. And in Eng
land he had the only really good for
tune that ever came his way: one
day he saw . girl from his prison
window and loved her faithfully the
rest Of his life. Almost equally for
tunately, she was a woman of rare
qualities Of character and was of royal
blood so that there was nothing to
stand in the way when he was free
to make her Queen Joan. =
At 30 the exile who had spent 30
little of his time in the country he
loved was allowed to 60 home. He
found Scotland had suffered under
years Of misrule by his kinsmen, the
regents. The crown had opposed the
nobility and the common people had
paid the price. There was discon-
tent everywhere and the danger Of
murderous raids by Highlanders. Eng
land was hated everywhere but In this
case hatred failed to bind the people.
There was the eyer-present menace
Of outlaws although how outlaws came
even to be recognized 1t Is hard to tell.
Human life was the cheapest COM
modify In the kingdom. James faced
hopeless task In rebuilding Scot
land. He soon found out that he
must live by the sword-if he lived
at all. He disposed Of real and imag-
ined treason BY putting leaders to