October 10, 1914 MUSICAL AMERICA 3 . HBE NEUTRAL'' TALK WITH FRITZ KREISLER AT THE FRONT FOR ORCHESTRA MEN Mrs. Kreisler Gives Readers of "Musical America" Intimate Account of Her Husband's Injury in Walter Damrosch Ask!:i Players Battle .at Lemberg-"Martial Feeling Brushed Away the Artist in Me," Says Noted Violin­ of Symphony to Avoid War ist in lntervilew at Vienna, Where He Is Being Cared for by His F amily-"The Music of Discussions Shrapnel Makes at First a Ghastly Sound," He Declares Absolute .neutrality was the keynote of the speech delivered by Walter Dam­ rosch, conductor of the Symphony So­ ciety of New York, to the eighty~ five musicians who assembled at JEolian Hall on October 5 for the first rehearsal of the season. Mr. Da:mrosch said: "As we have about thirteen national­ ities represented in this orchestra, in~ eluding all those now at war with each other in Europe, and as we shall . be to­ gether in close companionship in New York and · on tour for the next six months, it may no~ be a mistake for me to say a few words to you regarding the advisability of following our good and great President's. advice and to maintain a cOherent neutrality regard­ ing the terrible European war. I know that such an attitude may be difficult for some of us. Artists feel all things in­ tensely and many of you have ties .of love and tradition;tl loyalty which bil1d you to your mother country . . But I think your life in America has taught you, as it has me, that the reaJ cause of this war is what we consider an unreason­ able race hatred which should have no place among people of to-day. · "This orchestra is abundant proof that life under the beneficent and impartial ANY conflicting reports have been institutions of a free country does away that portion of it which operated south­ with race hatred and many race prej.u­ M published in regard to the where­ west of Lemberg. Then is related the dices. During the many years that I abouts and condition of F'ritz Kreisler, manner in which the distinguished vio­ have traveled throughout this country linist was wounded in the night attack the Austrian violinist, and these have by Cossacks. On September. 11 he re­ with you and .through the many weeks caused no little anxiety among his many and even months that you and I have turned from the scene of battle to spent in closest contact on long railroad friends and admirers in America. Direct Vienna, where he is now being cared for journeys, I have never known a quarrel from Vienna the following letter to John by his family. He was given a four to arise between any members of this C. F'reund, editor of MUSICAL AMERICA, weeks' leave of absence to recover and will doubtless spend the time in Baden. orchestra because of the fact that one was received from Mrs. Kreisler on was a · Teuton and the other a Slav or Mr. Kreisler told a reporter of the a Frenchman. Life in America makes Monday morning, October 5, and con­ N eues Wiener Tageblatt the following : us realize that we are all human being:s tains the first authentic statement pub­ "As an ar tis_t one lives in one's own and that there is no inherent reason why world ; one has one's own particular ex· lished up to date: periences and emotions. But I can say one race should hate or despise the ot-her. Vienna, No. 4 Starhemberggasse, As Americans you have had the oppor- that as I hastened to the banner of my September 16, 1914. regiment I was overcome by a feeling . tunity in our orcher:tra to come into Dear Mr. F'reund : closer friendly contac1 with other Ameri­ which brushed away the artist in me. cans of different birth or racial descent I take the liberty of sending you a Scarcely had I donned my uniform when and you have realized that they, too, had f ew pictures and a clipping from the I felt myself a soldier, fi lled with the attained their place in this orchestra Vienna paper, as it may be of some in­ spirit of war. because of real ability." terest to your readers who know of Life in the Trenches Six precepts were laid down by Mr. my husband. _ He has been at the front Damrosch, and the musicians were cau­ since the beginning of August and was "The shrapnel howled. This music tioned to bear them in mind. The injured at the battle of L1emberg. In a makes at first a g-hastly sound, but one musicians were told to remember that night attack of Cossacks he was ridden accust~ms oneself to it quickly. Thus they are all Americans, no matter where down -by a horse and met ·with a rather I lay m the trenches talking with our they were born; to open no discussion painful and tedious accidtmt to his leg men and waiting for the night. There as to "who started it" to realize that and a slight wound on his shoulder. That Fritz Kreisler Appearing in Concert at was moonlight. Every night the pack­ patriotism and bravery, cuiture and is almost better, but the leg will prob­ animals brought. up warm food. No Leoben, Steiermark, on August 12 for civilization are not confined to the . ably bother him for a couple of months. elaborate banquet ever tasted so well to countries of their birth; to be thankful Of course, he looks very worn, not Red Cross Before Leaving for Front. me as this simple, healthful fare! The that they are in a peaceful country, and having been out of his boots in three Below, Mr. . and Mrs. Kreisler. The general atmosphere was such that the to permit themselves to be moved to pity weeks, and in all that time never un­ Picture Shows the Garb . Mrs. Kreis­ soldiers in my company played cards by instead of anger. dressing, but -sleeping only cot-naps and moonlight in the trenches. Our men under the heavens. But I hope soon to ler Wore Before Her Red Cross Cos­ wanted to go into the fight at once, and have him his usual self. But such ex­ tume Was Ready. it was difficult to restrain them. ·When periences · leave an indelible stamp on one fights with such troops, men whose "GUEST'· PERFORMANCES one's soul. If you can, try and create Pardon my troubling you, but I do want souls are filled with enthusiasm, when an atmosphere for peace with your everyone to help. one sees acts of heroism before one FOR AMERICAN SINGERS paper and all other powerf'ul papers you With very kindesf greetings in which daily, one knows no hardship. One is 'may have connections with. my husband joins me. Believe me, made younger and given new strength. May Scheider Thinks Metropolitan Although I believe Austria and Ger­ · Sincerely, "For twelve days I was continually Should Give Our Artists, Now With­ many are fighting a humane and right­ (MRS. FRITZ) HARRIET KREISLER. in my clothes, but it cau·sed me no in­ out Positions, an Opportunity ful cause, yet the loss of life everywhere With the above letter was sent the convenience. Every night I slept on the is awful. I have had many opportuni­ Neues Wiener Tageblatt of September wet grass with no cover but my coat. That the Metropolitan Opera Company ties of judging (as I have been actively 16. In it there is related Mr. Kreisler's Had I done this. as a civilian I suppose should inaugurate a series of "guest per­ employed day and night in the Red being in Ragaz in Switzerland when war I would have gotten pneumonia from it! formances" this season to enable some of Cross)· of our just and kind treatment broke out, arranging his concert tour But in the field I didn't even have a the prominent American singers who of our enemies; it is more than I can in which Paris, London and St. Peters­ cold. .All one's senses sharpen them­ say of the others, as the use of "dum­ burg were to be the principal cities selves. One sees and hears more keenly. have been obliged to sacrifice their posi­ dum" bullets and machines has been visited. ·He hastened at once to his regi­ And in the field the ordinary man is the tions abroad to appear in their own positively proven. ment. His wife, who is characterized officer's friend. by this journal as "a brave American" country is the suggestion that was made Urges Peace "So I cannot wait for my recovery this week to MUSICAL AMERICA by May (eine tapfere Amerikanerin) at once when I -shall immediately rejoin my Try and do your best to stop this gave her time to the preparing of aid regiment and meet again my comrades Scheider. Miss Scheider is a sopran-o cruel war. It is dreadful to have to for the soldiers. who, in a very short time, have become who returned recently from Germany, feel an enmity to any nation or race. Kreisler's place in the army was with very dear to me." having appeared with success at the Royal Opera in Karlsruhe. "There are a dozen or more American JULIA CLAUSSEN RETURNS he was relieved from Swedish army duty impossibility. During the singer's ab­ singers of prominence now in this coun­ through the circumstance that the gov­ sence her daughters, Sonia and Bojan, try or planning to return here who de­ Reaches Chicago After a Peaceful Sum­ ernment did not take all available mili- have been attending school in this city. serve the opportunity to make a 'guest . tary men into service. He is a captain On October 15 Mme. Claussen begins appearance' at the Metropolitan," said mer in Sweden in the navy. Some 600,000 men _had been her many concert engagements for this Miss Scheider. " These singers have won CHICAGO, Oct. 5.-Julia Claussen, the mobilized, he said. Sweden, he thought, season. She will travel to Portland, E v­ renown abroad and are thoroughly ex­ would most likely take sides with Ger­ erett, Seattle, San Francisco, Salt Lake perienced in operatic routine. Swedi~h mezzo-soprano, arrived from many, should it become necessary to go City, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Kansas · "If the Me~ropolitan - would open its Europe last week much improved phys­ to war. City and then will be heard in Chicago doors to them for only one trial-one ically by her several months' vacation. The Claussens came to America on the and Eastern cities, including New York opportunity to appear in New York-the After completing her operatic · engage­ New York of the American · Line, sailing Many of these engagements are with plan would serve not only to help the · · ments in Paris and London, she repaired from Stockholm by way of Gothenberg symphony orchestras. · M. R. singers but would enable the manage­ to Sweden and visited various resorts and Scotland. ment to become acquainted with the there, spending one month at Salts­ Mme. Claussen was disappointed in Success in music is defined by David abilities of Americans who could be of jebaden, taking the cure. not meeting Carolina White and P aul Bispham in the Opera Magazine as unot service in the future make-up of the Captain Claussen who l'eturned - to Longone, as intended, a~ Capri last Sum­ so much a matter of places and persons company." America with his wife, explained that mer, but the war made tha·t meeting an as of pains and nP~aoriality."