The Sunday Oregonian., July 28, 1918, SECTION FOUR, Page 3, Image 49

THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN. POIiTTiAND, JULY "28, 1918.
FAMOUS VIOLA PLAYER
RETURNS FROM WAR ZONE
t
Ugo Ara, of Flonzaley Quartet, Reappears in United States After 15
Months' Experience in Army in -Northern Italy.
NEW YORK, July 27. Ugo Ara,
the viola player of the Flonzaley.
Quartet, has returned to New
York as suddenly as he departed for
Italy 15 months ago.
He was not called to the army serv
ice, but volunteered. As his physique
barred him from the firing line, he was
assigned to an ambulance corps and
cent to the north of Italy.
Forced to the humiliating confessions
that he could not typewrite, nor was
he a bookkeeper, a stenographer, the
director of the hospital broke forth
with "What on earth can you do, then?
Are you perhaps a musician?"
When Ugo Ara acknowledged the
turn had been called, the director in
. despair cried, "Then what can I do
with you?" He soon answered his own
question by initiating him into the
mysteries of sweeping the floor, wash
ing dishes, and counting the ' soiled
linen. Although different from the life
to which he had been accustomed, M.
Ara says that he feit no repulsion at
whatever seemed to be the military
need of the hour, and following a few
days of this he was promoted to the
post of Sanitary Adjutant. This
brought him for the first time to the
true realization of the havoc and suf
fering of the world, as he was Immured
for months in a hospital where he saw
hand in hand with the most appalling
suffering examples of bravery, cour
age and resignation such as it would
have been impossible to believe existed'
under any other conditions. By the
time this life had become something
of a routine he was ordered away as
secretary and interpreter for a com
mission for the "prisoners of war." In
this capacity he examined thousands of
prisoners and this kept him traveling
constantly in what he called "American
tempo and European discomfort." Italy
was making a brave fight as the
heights of the Carso came Into the
hands of these fine soldiers who al
ready had begun to feel that Trieste
was won. Then came the unexpected
and inexplicable disaster of Caporetto,
the most terrific blow in the history of
the Italian kingdom, when they lost
within a few hours all that had been
conquered in two years of tremendous
fighting. Instead of the discourage
ment which might have been expected,
the result was just the opposite and a
feeling of revolt and vengeance swept
the country from the Alps to Sicily and
rom the Adriatic to the Ligurlan Sea.
To this defeat M. Ara attributes the
glorious resistance of the Plave. Moved
by a mad desire to enter active fight
ing in an irresistible longing to give
all he had, even to his life, he again re
quested to be sent into the firing line,
but again he was rejected, and when
he found that it was decisive, he pre
sented to the country every cent that
he had saved in Europe and America
during a career of 14 years. Forty
thousand francs were thus divided be
tween the Italian Red Cross, the Bono
melli Work, Prisoners of War and Ven
etian Refugees. M. Ara continued his
work in the hospitals where he began
to feel that something had to be done
for the recovery of the souls of that
legion of young men who came back
from the trenches too tired, too ex
hausted to have feelings of any sort.
As he was studying how these poor
creatures might be awakened, he says
the answer came from America. The
soldier-artist then told of the arrival
In January of 1918 of the Y. M. C. A.
forces with no plans except to wander
from hospital to hospital and from bar
racks to barracks offering time, love,
and every known means of entertain
ment. They brought Innumerable
games, musical instruments, books,
sporting articles, phonographs, they in
terested those able to participate in
mounting stage performances and in
addition to supplying their own enter
tainers, they selected them wherever
they could be found. But these won
derful offerings did not meet with im
mediate success. On the contrary their
efforts were decided failures. They
were accused of hidden political and
religious aims, but firmly they contin
ued the beneficial work they had un
dertaken. Finally the military and
civil authorities began to realize what
a noble mission brought them upon the
scene of action and the sympathy and
trust of the entire country was direct
ed toward the Y. M. C. A. and no mani
festation of gratitude seemed too great
to prove to them that they were under
stood and appreciated. It became M.
Ara's privilege to be attached for four
months as secretary and interpreter to
the Italian Commission of the Y. M. C.
A. In charge of Professor J. Nollen,
former president of Lake Forest Uni
versity, and he tells with joy of the
proclamation made by the Minister of
War after a long and intimate Inter
view with Mr. George Braden, director
of physical culture, that the army
corps open wide the doors to the mem
bers of the Y. M. C. A. and to facili
tate their work in every possible man
ner. Thenceforward Mr. Braden or
ganized throughout the entire country
all sorts of races, and sporting events,
courses of physical culture in the mili
tary schools, .convalescing homes and
resting camps, hospitals were supplied
with all sorts of table games, moving
picture shows, musical performances
and regular instruction in mild sports.
The commanding officers of many regi
NEWS OF THE THEATERS
(Continued
today on account of the popular de
mand. There will be a double matinee
today, at 2:15 and 5 P. M. and tonight
at 8:15 o'clock.
Twenty-three German prisoners, two
of them officers, are shown in a
barbed-wire stockade. The officers are
standing apart, probably being kidded
by the Sammies standing on the side
lines. Though they have their backs
to the camera most of the time, they
are forced to turn around once in a
while if only to satisfy their curiosity,
and all sorts of subterfuges are used
hto get a look at their facial map. In
the picture one or these sanies oy tne
American boys apparently succeeded,
as the officers turn their faces in the
camera's direction and then hastily
turn away again, but the camera has
caught them, and their attempted look
of snobbishness and disgust is most
potent.
In the background another lot of
Boche prisoners are seen marching to
the rear.
The officers seen In the picture are
evidently of the land3trum. as they do
not appear to have the real military
east such as you would see in the reg
ular army, so their desire to show con
tempt of their situation is not the real
thing, but It appears to give them a
real- sense of satisfaction.
"Pershing's Crusaders" will have the
last showings in Portland twice this
afternoon, at 2:15 and 5 o'clock and to
night at 8:15 o'clock.
MUSICAL COMEDY AT PAXTAGES
The Handicap Girls" One of Sea
eon's Successful Productions.
Diversity marks the programme at
Pantages for the week, commencing
with the matinee tomorrow, when
"The Handicap Girls." a Marty Brooks
musical comedy, with its scenes laid at
ments began to realize what a tre
mendous support lay in the assistance
of the Y. M. C. A. One Colonel wrote,
"You have turned my convalescing
home from a house of sorrow into a
house of pleasure." The director of a
hospital expressed his gratitude: "The
austere atmosphere of my hospital has
been transformed Into an atmosphere
of perfect serenity since your coining."
M. Ara says that in no phase of life has
he found musical recreation to mean so
much as in the restoration of morale,
courage and force among the fighting
men of the world today.
That this phase is being recognized
abroad was the cause of his orders to
leave immediately for America. His
release from military service in Italy
haying been asked by a musical com
mission headed by Count di San Mar
tino, the eminent president of the Santa
Cecilia Society of Rome. What Mr.
Ara's duties will be in this country he
was not ready to disclose, but there is
no doubt a project under foot to form
a closer alliance with the musical life
of this country, and he will probably
interest himself in securing American
Compositions and artists to appear in
Italy and to open the field of Italian
music other than operatic literature to
the concert givers and music lovers of
this country. What hold music has in
Italy, notwithstanding all Its suffering.
M. Ara indicates by the series of 24
orchestral concerts given by Bernar
dino Molinari, the very talented young
Italian conductor, wbo presented to
sold-out houses 24 programmes devoted
exclusively to Latin and Slavic com
posers, not excluding Smetana and
Dvorak, but eliminating even the Ger
man classics. In connection with the j
musical wurs or lmmeasuraoie value
M. Ara brings the first real news of
the daily life and activities of the great
Italian tenor, Alessandro Bond, well
remembered and dearly loved in this
country. "Bonci," said M. Ara, "Is liv
ing in a superb new -iIla in Bologna,
much more beautiful than the villa
Baruzzi, where he lived during his
visit to this country. When the war
first began the tenor organized a great
opera company, to which he gave his
services and 10,000 francs so that the
people of Italy would not be deprived
of their favorite'amusement. After the
tragedy of Caporetto, he felt that this
would be impossible, and organized tre
mendous sacred concerts, with the as
sistance and co-operation of Tebaldini.
the noted organist and choirmaster of
the Santa Casa at Loreto. All receipts
have been donated to the Red Cross
work and to care for the refugees.
Boncl has drawn a wonderful chorus
from the wounded and returned men
of the army, and the orchestra, also
consisting of the soldiers, makes one
of the most Impressive organizations
that has ever been heard in the musical
life of Italy. These concerts are given
in the hospitals and for the entertain
ment of the refugees, as well as for
the receipts that they bring for the
cause. rso one who has ever heard
Bonci sing can fail to realize how su
premely beautiful his voice sounds in
the great sacred music of our country.
He is besieged to accept engagements
In Spain, in South America and in the
United States, but he refuses all en
gagements in order not to leave the
country where his two sons, Enzo and
Gino, are In the fighting lines, but
Boncl says that he Is studying hard on
English repertory, and that he will
take the first boat .for this country i
that leaves after peace is declared. He j
speaks with great affection of Amer- i
lea, and remembers every detail of his j
very enjoyable career."
M. Ara expects to receive from the
secretary of propaganda, his excel- ;
lency Galienga, a great collection of '
modern Italian music, among which j
will be numbers by Vincenzo Tomma- j
slni, whose quartet has been played In ;
New tfork by the Kneisels, Malipiero,
whose facility may be judged from the
fact that he submitted seven operas to
one competition. "Castelnuovo," of
which Mme. Gills has a cycle in her
repertory, and declares it to be a real
masterpiece. Respighi, whose "Fon
tane di Roma" was played with the
greatest success under Toscanini, in
the marvelous concerts that he has
given; Alfredo Casella, pianist, com
poser, founder of modern music in
Rome, and Journalist, whose music for
wood winds has been heard by the or
ganizations under Georges Longy, of
Boston, and Barrere, of New York.
Upon the arrival of these scores M.
Ara hopes to interest some of the or
chestral conductors in their merits.
Among those Italian artists known
in America now at work in their own
country are Arrigo Serato, Professor
at the Santa Cecilia of Rome, who, in
addition to his pedagogic work there,
traveled all season in concerts for the
Red Cross and to entertain the refu
gees and the wounded men, and Ar
turo Toscanini, who is giving his en
tire time to" the dissemination of
French, Italian and Spanish music, not
only for the support of the orchestra,
but for the purpose of upholding the
best music and keeping alive the inter
est. Asked what sort of a crossing he had
had. the artist stated that it was ideal
as to weather: that there was never a
thought of submarines or danger and
that the sea was as smooth as glass.
From Page 2.)
the track, makes its first appearance
here.
Johnny Morris and Eddie Parks are
the principal fun-makers and they
have been surrounded by a cast of ex
cellence. There is a big beauty chorus
to provide twinkling toes and graceful
figures. The costumes are exceptional
and the act has been handsomely
staged.
The plot is laid at the race track and
the action is rapid and interesting.
The musical numbers are speedy, keep
ing in harmony with the atmosphere
in which the action takes place. Mr.
Morris is an extremely clever comedian
and he is ably assisted by Mr. Parks.
Patricola, the famous entertainer,
will be one of the special features, pre
senting her latest song successes in
her own inimitable manner. Patricola
has been one of the most popular wom
en in vaudeville, and her engagement
here will be welcomed.
Jane Ward and Billy Cullen intro
duce among other pleasing features
their original hit, "Huckleberry Finn,"
a song that has won for them much
popularity. With Miss . Ward at the
piano and Mr. Cullen in songs, the act
provides delightful entertainment.
Archie Onri. the wonder boy, assist
ed' by Miss Dolly, offers one of the
most remarkable acts in vaudeville.
Mr. Onrl is extremely versatile and he
does everything from juggling and
magic to acrobatics and whirling devil
sticks. Miss Lolly introduces some ex
cellent dancing.
"The Gadabouts." Herbert-Hall Wins
low's latest comedy, is the vehicle for
Bernice Howard and Jack White. The
plot concerns a couple, both of whom
are fond of partying, but without the
knowledge of the other. How they are
finally caught provides the theme for
a very clever comedy, well handled by
Miss Howard and Mr. White. .
Tne Hoyt-Hyams Trio provides all
sorts of musical entertainment.1 and
one of the best parts of the act is the
jo.
EAR'
THE SWEETEST
LOVE STORY
EVER TOLD
18
MONTHS
IN THE
MAKING
FILMED
ON THE
OF
FRANCE
GRAND SYMPHONY
MATINEES AT 2:15 SEATS NOW AT THE I EVENINGS AT 8:15 j
25c, 50c, 75c, s?s Sl.OO HE I L I G 25c' 50c' 75c $1sS?s S1.50
I - j ; ; ; ; I .
imitation of bugle calls by the human
voice. The programme is extensive and
diversified.
The Pantages Weekly will offer new
motion picture features.
"Hoosier Girl." the sparklirig musical
comedy, concludes Its engagement with
the continuous performance today from
1:30 to 11 o'clock.
HIPPODROME BILL, IS CIuEVEIt
Leah Cohen, Portland Girl, to Enter
, tain In Singing Act.
Eight novel attractions are featured
on the Hippodrome programme, open
ing with the matinee this afternoon.
In addition to the regular six-act
vaudeville programme, a special added
feature has been secured and Carlyle
Blackwell stars In the five-reel photo
play offering.
Portland talent will be demonstrated
in an excellent singing offering by
Leah Cohen, known as "Portland's Own
Nightingale." who for some time past
has been cultivating her voice In one
of New York's leading conservatories.
A series of living pictures by Mile.
Berri's "World's Perfect Poseurs" Is an
unusual offering presented in the form
of tableaux, with a range dating from
the Babylonian, and Egyptian periods
to the colonial and modern times. Great
care has been taken m the selection
of costumes and special scenery for
each picture, all of which are said to
create a most artistic and realistic
effect.
A present-day problem has been wov
en into the plot of "The Devil in Pos
session." the comedy creation of Kings
bury and Munson, a story of a young
husband tired of his wife because she
is so goody-goody. How she cures him
of this idea and at the same time teach
es him a good lesson Is well brought
. 'XV' J
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iWh .fin
out by Miss Kingsbury during the
course of the story.
Hiatt and Moher. a duo of young
men with splendid singing voices, pre
sent a novel act under tne caption
"Most Anything."
Fletcher and Terre are comedians of
ability. Seror will perform a number
of difficult feats on triple horizontal
bars, and McGreevy and lie Monde have
a comedy talking and singing offering.
In the photoplay offering. "The Gold
en Wall." a charming love story adapt
ed from a famous French romance, Car
lyle Blackwell as a poor French mar
quis, who declared his title was not for
sale, and Evelyn Greeley, as Marian
Lathrop, daughter of the American mil
lionaire who thought the marquis a
fortune hunter, are the stars.
'WIXXER TAKES ALL AT STRAND
Monroe Salisbury Appears In Lead
ing Part in Film.
The management of the Strand The
ater has secured for the new show
opening today the latest Monroe Salis
bury photo production entitled "Winner
Takes All." This Western drama. In
which Salisbury, as Alan MacDonald.
the Scotch homesteader, does some of
his best work, was taken from the
famous story "The Rustler of Wind
River." by G. W. Ogden, and deals with
the homesteaders fighting a ring of
wealthy cattlemen who are trying to
drive them from the country.
In the well-devised plot a bitter busi
ness row Is used as a cause for plenty
of fast action, gun fighting and night
riding. Alfred Allen, who played Mor
gan. In "Hell Morgan's Girl." appears
in support of the star with other well
known favorites. Including Helen Eddy,
Betty Schade and Sam DeGrasse. Many
fans will-remember Helen Eddy's -(Ster
TOMORROW at 8:15
TWICE DAILY THEREAFTER
D. W. GRIFFITH'S
SUPREME TRIUMPH
OF
THE
;as
1
ling work as co-star with George
Beban. .
The vaudeville part of the programme
will consist of Harrigan and Malone
in a novelty comedy sketch with spe
cial setting; Deleware and Marion In
late songs and Instrumental music; Ie
Foy and Henrie In an unusual offer
ing of French pantomime, and Robert
Moore, well-known singing comedian.
Current Events Weekly, which has
proved popular with Strand patrons,
contains a lot of interesting scenes
taken, at the front-line trenches.
CLOSING BILL IS AXXOCXCED
Season at Lyric Theater Winds l"p
With "The Runaways."
"The Runaways," to be given this
afternoon and evening only at the Lyric
Theater, will be the closing bill of the
season. For four weeks the house will
be dark, and the members r the com
pany will scatter to their favorite re
sorts for a needed rest. It has been
47 weeks since the Lyric season
opened. each week seeing a new
musical comedy rehearsal and pro
duced, and It is doubtful if a more
hard-working or conscientious lot of
performers ever worked in this city.
The season has been highly successful
from a box office standpoint.
The closing bill is to be a hilarious
farewell for the vacation season and
offers opportunity for all principals,
as well as for the famous Rosebud
Chorus.
Tomorrow the contractors will begin
remodeling and redecorating the Lyric
for the next season.
Most of the principals and many of
the present chorus will return to open
the house again, but Managers Keating
and Flood have lines out for some new
faces that will strengthen the company
VGKLB
,. I -
V 1
.i i
ORCHESTRA!
in places.. The eccentric comedians.
Ben Dillon and Al Flanks, will head
the new company, and the favorite
Jewell Lavelle has signed up for an
other season.
Today the Lyric will give continuous
performances from 1:30 to 11 P. M.
Keating and Flood will pay the war
tax on every ticket.
Monmouth Boy Is Anxious
to Get First Hun.
Carlton Miaaki Pleased With Life
In Inrle Sam's Army.
MOXMOTCH. Or.. July 27. (Special.)
Corporal J. Carlton. Shanks,
writing to his parents from France
under date of June 18, says that Com
pany L. 162d Infantry, Is going through
some stiff training and that "by the
time you receive this there is a chance
that i will have my first Hun." Cor
poral Shanks is a graduate of Dallas
Hich School and when he joined Corn
pan L. early in 1917. was a student in
the Oregon Normal School.
Of the many Polk County boys who
Joined Company I. shortly after the
war broke out. with those already
members, a large number have been
transferred to other work.
"We are In very good quarters here,
as we are btlletted in French houses,
and in some cases are staying upstairs
while the French family live below.
Of course, some of the boys are not
quite so lucky, as they are sleepinc in
haymows. But at this time of year
It would be very comfortable and pleas
ant to sleep outside in tents or under
other shelter.
"The drill field here Is about three
miles away. We hike out of a morn
ing and drill until close- to noon and
v
A ROMANCE OF
THE GREAT
AVAR
1,000,000
FIGHTING
MEN AND
20,000
HORSES
IN ACTION
SQUADRONS
OF
AIRPLANES
UNDER FIRE
THE TANKS
AT THEIR
DEADLY
WORK
FLEETS OF
ZEPPELINS
AND
MILES OF
ARTILLERY
then have an hour off for our dinner,
which is brought out to us. After din
ner we drill until 3:45, or later, and
then hike back to camp. So you se.
even though we put in a pretty steady
day. we are not overworked at all.
Quite a bit of our drill is in the nature
of lectures and explanations.
"A large number of our men have
been transferred, so our company is
prettV small at the present time. I
think we will soon be filled up again,
though, with other men. It would have
been nice if we could have gone to
the front with our old company, but
I guess It will be better to have men
from a number of Ftates together.
"We have quite a few entertainments
here, as tliere is a Y. M. A. build
ing and also a Y" tent here. We also
have our old band again, so tliere is
no lack of music There was a band
concert and also a number of boxing
matches pulled off last night, and to
night there 1 to be another concert."
BROTHER ASKS FOR JUSTICE
California Man Says Slayer of I. W.
W. Should Pay Penalty.
HONOLL-Ll'. T. H., July 15. A brother
of-John S.-Walker. confessed pro-tier-man
and I. W. V.. who was killed here
recently by Captain Henry Allen for
an insult to the flag and to American
soldiers, has written to Governor Mc
Carthy to demand justice. Tha brother
is F. L. Walker, of San Diego. CaL Ha
denies that the slain man was pro-Oer-Ynan
and asks that a penalty be meted
out to his assailant.
A Jury exonerated Allen.
War contracts now being filled In
Detroit, Mich., amount to mora than
J 1.000.000.000.