HIE SUNDAY OREGONIAX. PORTLAND, APRIL 21, 1918.
ggff
THIS unique distinction of being tha
lb anly American woman in tha
what allied army la held by Ser
geant Ruth Farnam.
Sergeant Farnam la an American
woman In private lift known better
a Mm. Charles H. Farnam. Her Ufa
history reada Ilka romance from the
pages of a dot I.
Born In a sleepy Utile Lon g Island
town she married while atlll In her
teens and with her husband traveled
11 over I be world. She seemed to run
Irto warfare wherever she went, for
when aha reached South Africa the
p.er war was Just under way and aba
tared there to watch the drama.
. The siege of Fekin was In progress
when aha reached China, and aha ran
T'abt lata the Russo-Japanese war.
While la Japan tha Emperor Invited
rer and her husband to lunch, nalng
tha conventional Invitation of tha
oriental conatriea which waa as fol
lows:
. The Emperor would bo delighted
to bava aa hla guest at lunch Mr.
TTiarlea IL Farnam and what goes with
kim.-
Jt waa sirs. Faraaaa who "went with
kirn."
- - Mrs. Farnam bad a beautiful home
In England aa well aa one In America
at.d lived a Ufa of ease and comfort
with a retinue of servants Her every
-wtah seemed to be fulfilled. She lived
the life of thousands of wealthy peo-
that and no more.
derbla fa, 113.
'. And when she. then widowed, went
to Belgrade. Serbia, ia 11S at the ta
vt tat lon of a friend. It waa to her just
another pleasure trip. War waa going
on with Turkey It la true, but having
"reen on the ground In other wars this
meant nothing to her.
L Hera aba learned to admire tha Serbs.
X.ika many of as she always had an
I !e that they were rather a poor sort
ayway. Ignorant, dirty, always f'.gbt-
gng they were comparable with certain
nopular Ideas of the Mexican.
But aha waa Quito surprised to learn
that here was a race of people wbo
Uuwugb) see years" tb ralldom under
Turkish rule bad kept their strain
true a real democratic nation which
lived on tha enitare and fought on the
quart aa intrepid nation wklch waa
fighting- for aa honorable place ia the
sua
TTtey tell a story of how tha Sultan
ft Turkey aent a Jar of peas to the
r-erbiaa King to stcatfy the size of the
Turkish army. Ia answer the King of
the Serbians sent a raa of paprika
mall, bnt hot stuff. This signified the
fcerbias army.
. And when in 111 Bulgaria went to
war with Serbia thev learned that this
waa all too tree. Mrs. Farnam asain
went to Belgrade and here for the first
'me she took a real a-tlve part in the
war. Sha saw the tortured Serbian
soldiers corn, bark to suffer and to die.
teas saw what Bulgarian atrocity really
sneant.
Deearated by Ike Serbiaa Klaav
For her service in this war she was
decorated by tha Kins;.
'. When la tha followuiar year Austria,
ruds her attar-k. on poor, weakened.
trod Serbia Rath Farnana kite where
per duty lay. She saw that game little
jiatlon burl the Austrian troopa back
ever their own borders twice. Here
was her opportunity to get bit It and
do her bit.
So she went to Serbia and reached
tits Juat aa Itat, awful tyjhu epl
denilo brake out. Without thought of
danger to herself sha worked heroic
ally through those terrible days.seein
hundreds die all around her. many i
her arms.
Her work done there, she waa dec
orated a second time and soon there
after waa made a sergeant of the Firs
Cavalry Regiment of the Royal Serbian
army thus being the only America
a-oman actually to be attached to th
army as a soldier.
Sha took part In the famoua battle
of Brod. where she gave the signal to
the artillery to commence firing. Th
artillery fire was followed by a bayonet
charge which resulted In victory lor
the allied arms.
In thla battle Seergeant Farnam oc
eupled a place that ia unique In th
whole war. It waa probably the only
time that tha officers of one tide occu-
pied a place between the opposing; front
line trenches tha dread apace known
aa No Man's Land.
It happened that there waa a small
hill on No Man'a Land about midway
between tha opposing trenches. Here
Sergeant Farnam went with tha com
mandri In-chief of the Serbian trmrj
division and the Colonel of her regi
ment out over tha top thev went into
No Man's Land and went up on tho top
of this bill which they established as
an obaervatioa poat for tha battle tha
was coming.
A boulder or two screened them from
enemy snipera. but not from tho shells
which wera constantly coming around
them.
Then when all preparations were
made. Sergeant Farnam waa asked by
the commander-in-chief to order th
allied artillery to commence firing. It
maa a special honor to her womanhood
aa well aa to her services.
Thla she did in tha name of the
womanhood of America, and when the
first shell hit and blew dosena of the
enemy to pfecea she shouted: t ence
ance: vengeance for the women and
children!"
The shells from both sides wera con
stantly wbtzsbaajrina; and screaming
over hes head now and tben one
dropped too close for comfort during
tho entire battle.
For valor on tho field of battle she
aa decorated a third time by the
King and asked to go to America to
tell Americans something of our game
little ally, who has ao long held th
gatea of tho Cast against tha hordes
of the central powers.
So now Sergeant Farnam this
American woman of wealth and refine-
ent one of tha few women soldiers
In tba whole allied army, la lecturing
hroughout the United States and tell
ing her story with force and effect
venesa. In fart. t has been said mora
than once that few narrators of the
war has approached tba natural elo
quence and enthusiasm of this Amer
ican woman thla soldier who faced
danger on tbe front line of battle who
did her bit on tha field of honor to
protect tha womanhood of the world.
I have aoc coma to America to
talk about myself." sha says, "but to
tell tha people what we have to meet
In tba war. tha dangers, tho thrills,
tho humor and the inspiration of it
II to enlist tbe heart of humanity.'
-SH to Talk Aseat Mrartt
Thla cavalry officer of the Royal
Serbian army baa written a book which
real bi atory of tha war on the
astern frost, it la railed A Nation
t Bay." It la a vivid, thrilling book.
written by aa actual participant In bat
tle a rreat. big. whole-hearted atory
of a game little ally. Serbia, at bay.
Every Inch a Soldier.
Fersoaally you would say that Ser
geant Farnam look a "every Inch a sol
dier." The cloth of her suit Is the
cloth with much of a khakl color pro
vided by the Serbian army. Her skirt
la of, tha "divided variety eucalial Iq,
roer.Qn : pA A
Q -
' '
aw i.'? l-sfV"'..'' . f
f .7-,CVyrdllriVV- k'r" 1
I . X-n-'ft.H' v 71?' v f-rr ? - - " ,. ' x -
; ... t . - . -iUV 5..y-:-a v&4 jf - r i 1 " 1 I I
1
ReiAarkable
Career of
Sergeant -Ruth
Farnam,
Heroine fi f
Serbia's
Desperate
Stand Against
Frightful Odds,
Now Again
in America
3,,S t:"V ;
Sergeant Ruth Farnum in Her Uniform as a Sergeant of Cavalry
in the Serbian Army.
Sergeant Farnum With the Serbian Commander-in-Chief and Staff Officers in "No
Man's Land" at the Battle of Brod.
riding, yet falls quite in tha lines of
aa ordinary akirt as sha walks or
standa on tho platform.
In conversation she adds to a thor
oughly American sparkle a crisp mili
tary manner that fits well with her in
teresting; experiences and her hard-
earned title. Her interest in the hu
man side of the Serbian situation, in
the human side of the entire war sit
uation. Is characteristic of her. She
didn't start out to be a soldier or to
win decorations. It was humanity's
call that drew her and it is human
ity's call that still is rinsing in bar
ears.
When the history of this war is
written the name of Sergeant Ruth
Farnam. the first American woman sol
dier. will. I am sure, find a worthy
place.
PERFORMERS SWEEP NEW YORK CONCERT
AUDIENCES OFF FEET BY BRILLIANT WORK
Conflnuet Frem First Fuse.)
proached German music, even thougn
sha baa been known as one of the most
superb interpreters of this music on
the concert stage today.
There "were enouah people turned
ray from tho Heifets concert at Car
negle Hall Saturday afternoon to fill
another concert halL and these may
And comfort in the fact that the bril
liant young Russian violinist will make
ene more appearance, wnen ine pro
ceeds will go for the benefit of the fam
ilies of Jewish soldiers and sailors
serving with the colors. He will give
this concert April . at the Metropoli
tan Onera-House. when tba scale of
prices will be from St to 13.
Helfera Technical Master.
Helfeta again justified tha place he
aa won by his supero technical mas
tery and hla charm of Hrterpretatioa.
It would be difficult to imagine playinc
that ia smoother, mora nawiesa tech-
ically, and hla tana la of tha rarest
beauty. pectalry la tho smaller
umbers and In tho encores ha aroused
is audience to a pitch of feverish ex
citement and withal his own repose
was undisturbed.
Thla season has been a memorable
one in tho violin world. This instrument
ma vied with tbe vote and has been
ha greatest rival In the field. The stu
dent of. musical sonOiUona ma aave,
been able to indicate that violin play
ing has been placed upon a higher
level than ever before.
Just as perfection of detail in the
skill of Harold Bauer. Ossip Gabrilo
witsch, Joseph Hofmann. Leopold Go-
dowsky, Rudolp Cans and a few others
who have dominated the army of plan
ists have forced a hleher degree of
perfection all the way down tha line,
so tha violinists have been compelled
to measure with Elman, Kddy Brown,
Jascha Heifet. Jacques Tribaud. Zim
ballst and others who All In as they
never existed in numbers when Maud
Powell. Ysaye, Krelsler and Elman
held the field practically alone. These
are the standards by which America
builds and which make it more difficult
every season for those wbo do not
"measure up."
Musical Situation Changing.
Following tbe internment of Dr.
Karl Muck, comes tha ncwa that the
musical situation for next season will
undergo some drastic changes and It ia
aa open secret that Teutonic influences
have been bar'l to combat in this field,
where many have had their musical
education built upon foundations which
made the German political hold upon
the impressionistic young- people
stronger than these students realised.
For this reason those who have spent
too many, years in the music&VlUe ot
Germany, whether Americans. French,
Russians or Knclish. were fed by the
same poison and many have placed
themselves in what has now become i
dangerous position. No "camouflage'
patriotism will be tolerated.
i In two weeks tho 1917-1S season of
grand opera at the Metropolitan will
elose and again one feels compelled to
compliment the direction for having
been able to place such a successful
season on record after the sudden elim
tnatlon of so many important and at'
tractive works. Hardships of every
sort have beset the pursuance of this
patriotic duty from the obligatory re
lease of a number of the German artists
to the necessity of having a long: list
of Americans thrown out of their roles.
However it may be regarded, un
usual interest was manifested in every
move made by Director Gattl-Casazza,
who found refuge in a number of old
Italian operas well worthy the revivals
for tho artists wbo wera able to pro
sent them at their best.
Sneceaa Fully Assured. .
Who, having a Barrientos In tha ros
ter, need have feared to bring: forward
"The Barber of Seville," "Puritani."
"Rigoletto," particularly when there
was a Do Iuca to support the coiora
ture roles? And who could have doubt
ed the tremendous success that was en
joyed by. lime, Alauonauer aa fides,
particularly when a new role such as
John of Leyden could be provided for
Caruso? Mme. Barrientos in- voice
coupled with the delights of Rosina
Galli in pantomime or the dance as
sured a success for the."Coq d'or," but
not until after the lovely Rimsky
Korsakoff music- had 'been heard did
the certainty of its success become so
apparent.
With lovely Mme. Hempel it was easy
to reckon with a revival of "La Fille
du Regiment" and many there were who
felt that it was high time for Caruso
to study tho part of Avito In Hontemez
si's "Love of Three Kings," particular
ly when such a lovely Flora as Claudia
Muzio proved to be available. Caruso
was throughout in a studying mood
this season, or ha conformed with the
necessity which confronted the Metro
politan direction to bring all forces to
bear upon the season, and he found one
of his loveliest and most ingratiating
impersonations as the artist-lover in
Mascagnt's dainty and picturesque
"Lodoletta.
Triumphs Made Feasible.
One cannot pass by even in this
hasty review, which has no claim of
being complete, without reverting
again to . the teagern'ess with which
Catti-Casazza has lent his kindliness
and interest toward the American
both as interpreter and composer. He
has made possible such successes as
those of May Peterson, who was heard
aa Miqaeia and as Mimi. and Mabel
Garrison, who is fast taking her place
among the foremost colorature artists
and American singers who are destined
for "the top." Of the Cadman opera it
may bo said that the oftener it la heard
tho more one is impressed with the
lost opportunities in the book. Also
tho more keenly one realises what So
phie Braalau's skill from every side
baa meant to this work. She brought
to it a remarkable personality, a beau
tiful voice and a keen understanding
of characterization. It is really an
understanding." or -ia it something
deeper and, more valuable to an artist,,
a psychology which, responding to her
subconsciousness, carries her unwit
tingly through an impersonation with
historic accuracy?
The case of Sophie Braslau on the
Metropolitan stage is one of the most
interesting, and at the close of this
season it is obvious that her work on
that great stage has harldly begun.
Two inches in the height of a tenor
may interfere for life with his career,
but there is no one who can deny tho
charm of a Carmen, a Mignon or, in
deed, a Delilah, who may be a few
inches shorter in stature than Mariska
Aldrich, the Junoesque beauty of a few
seasons ago. Sophie Braslau is able to
leave the opera-house for a two-hour
recital in Carnegie Hall and to turn
away people from tha latter place, re- -turning
to the Metropolitan to sing
with superb mastery, as she did twice
within 1 days the verdi "Requiem,"
and there are not many of any nation
ality to be measured beside her.
To Properly Treat
Obstinate Wrinkles
Particularly where wrinkles are long
and deep, the massage devotee is apt to
rub too hard and too frequently. This
loosens the skin, cairses muscles to sag.
aggravates the wrinkled condition
Just the opposite . result from that
sought.
Better than massage, or anything
else, for the moat obstinate wrinkles
as well as the finest lines. Is a remark
able formula which you may readily
avail yourself of, as you will have no
difficulty procuring the constituents
from your druggist. It is this: One
ounce powdered saxotite, dissoivea in
one-half pint witch hazel. Bathe face,
neck and hands in this. Tbe effect is
really marvelous, not only as to wrin
kles, but also in cases of barry cheeks
and chin. The application ia coolin
and soothing, tending to relieve fatigue.
Roth the witch hazel and the eaxollte
are, of course, entirely harmless to tho.
skin. Adv. . ,