Evening Star Newspaper, July 11, 1926, Page 64

- Jazz and the Classics and Love¥-But, Speaki'ng HE New Trlanon was the only hotel 'in Jonesville that pro- J ¢laimed a. dinner concert on a Sunday evenings, and. danc- ing through the week in the Norse room until closing. It was on the dancing that Ar. mand le Brun came in. Armand was the leader of the New Trianon Or- chestra and Le Brun's Jazzateers, and no fiddler was more lissome than he nor could any wear a snappy tuxedo with more deadly effect. Armand le Brun was the best jazz bandmaster between Chicago and New York. Traveling men who stopped at the New Trianon said so, and Jones- ville merchants who went to New York for their Spring and Fall buying found nothing in the furious Forties to com- ‘pare with him. Even collegians and world-weary prep-school lads, dancing to the strains of Le Brun's band dur. ing vacation, wére forced to place their languid approyal on his ardent bowing. Not even the conductor of the symphony- orchestra of 19 pleces that played the pictures nightly in the New Paradise had a wrist that could equal Armand's. And as for his waist! And his legs! And his hair! Armand le Brun was not his real name. He had taken it from a motion picture screen in Nappanee, Ind., where he had been born a Smalley. He had been taking the interurban car to Jonesville to play for the dances of the Old Rachelors’ Club for only one season when he saw that the time was ripe for somebody to Step in and become the Paul Whiteman of that thriving city. So he stepped, and as he transferred his personal and professional wardrobe from Nap- panee to a furnished room in Jones- ville, he became Armand le Brun, * R X % A VILLAGE boy who grows up on stale coples of the Billboard does ot need to be told that a professional name means something in the prof sio) Noodles Simpson, the pianist of the Jazzateers, might stick to his homely name. Noodles, who played by ear and faked everything, had no am- bition beyond Jonesville, but Smalley, at 24, intended to go ther. He in. tended to play concertos for $1,500 a night, and so he had the name all ready and walting. And as he led his men he followed critically with a half-closed eye a girl who for three evenings in succession had danced every number with the same man. She bothered him. Considering that Armand intended at the apex of his concert career to woo with his bow a wondrous creature embodying all the allurements of Glo- ria Swanson, Norma Talmadge, Bar- bara La Marr and Corinne Griffith, this dancing girl bothered him & lot. There wasn't much to her. Armand, resting to let Noodles play the refrain through, could not imagine her exer- eising & pair of Russian wolf hounds in the royal gardens he expected to provide as a setting for his bride, who was to be Norma, Gloria, Barbara and Corinne all in one. This girl was small, light and blonde. She was let- ting her hair grow in, and who was an exquisite of such things, saw that she was doing it beautifully. Her eyelashes, he noted, as Noodles finished and he raised his bow to con- clude the number, curved upward and were darker than her halr. Her mouth was a red splash against pal- lor, the precise shade that told the violinist that she was sophisticated to the difficult degree that makes the beholder wonder if the wearer’s color Is really artificial. BShe was just a 5. pretty bit of fluff. Ordinarily, Armand 3 muld not have noticed her. But he He was laying his violfn in ita case when a touch on his arm cat ‘him to look up. .The partner of the bit of . With a chin, town. flat, hard hat, and he wore gray silk .lo“ He contemplated Armand dis- mally “Whatdya say to & euppa coffes? My sister says I should bring you." He moved the crook of his elbow to- ‘ward the door. to- ward the entrance. The girl of three successive evenings was waiting there, in a blue and silver cloak. I don't ;n!nd." h‘u con- oughta go home and work umbers I'm getting up for ur séans. Alys thinks you're as as wney come. ‘She wants to meet you, #0 she said 1 should bring you.” The youth spoke without His voice was almost as vacant as s, Aomind oo B Te? oy R room s must be the Irwin kids, children of Armand, | sax. smiled and, stepping forward, put out a hand. . 'y Looking down at those lashes that curved upward from blue eyes, Ar: mand wondered if he shouid not in- clude her in his of Swan- son, an| Marr; but he did not want to appear too interested, * ok kW THEY turned in at the doorway of the Coffee Shoppe and found a tabl rover tipped back in his chalr, his hands thrust into his coat pockets, staring gloomily out the window. But Alys leaned across to Armand. “What would you say to a little run in my car some afternoon?” asked, The violinist, answering her look, decided to start all over with a new composite to lead wolfhounds on a | have tether through Greek gardens. Double mi le toasted sand- wiches #nd coffee were ordered by Grover in his listless monotone. When the waiter had shambled away he added: “I've been studyin’' the sax, but. father says as soon as I'm 21 I gotta sell it and go into the bank, or else get outa the house.” Alys indicated that her brother, having served his purpose of intro- ducing Armand, could be ignored. “Jonesville won't. be able to hold “Fou'll be mak- you long,” she said. and broad- ing phonograph reco! casting just like Pawi Blese inside of a year. You could take your band on the Orpheum Circuit now." Armand frowned at the battery of coffee urns. “That don't interest me. I'm gonna do recital work. =~ Look at Jascha Heifetz an’ Tobsha Seidel both yeu..fl,.'-"ofl “Classical, fiuh?" Grover grunted. they're %, 4 It was ' Hans Koenig's -cr;un the plano and~accompanist who came softly across the taupe carpet of the sitting room to which Mrs. Grater had been admitted. He was a cold, quiet, bvsi- nesslike jon whose duty it was to protect violinist from the harsh contacts of a cross-country tour. But not the least of his concerns was to have in his possession a certified check for fitteen hundred dollars three hours before the master’'s opening number; and as he knew in advance .that his the journey from countered. “He is resting now, and orders not to disturb him until Just before the recital. I doubt that he would listen to your artist today. Besides, his opinion would be of little value: He is & great artist, but not a critfe. In fact, Herr Koenig loathes eritics.” Throwing open her fur coat, Mrs. Grater leaned forward in her chair, and pursed her 'small mouth. sorry that, Herr Koenig is tired, sald. “But this request comes from our best patron, a lady who.takes six seats for the season % ged; but Mrs. Gra- toward her point:| Herr Koenig now for thrée seasons in succession. He is our great luxury. But some of the ladies on the board of the Friends of t we should not try to afford him again. Or'if we spend so much money on one number, we should, ‘perhaps, book somebody else. You see my position.”. Mr. Kraus had no difficulty seeing “Dance orchestra work s all right | it for some. I could have three or four bands now, and send 'em around. to different towns under my nam could make big money. But tist can't do that, my ‘deboo | in these days. I'll play gram—Bach, Brahms. I'll have all the big names. G sald darkly: “If I could Marie’' on my sax, I'd go nk tomorrow an’ dle with ‘who ‘Who's like -you do can let Helfetz ha le Hall and the Auditorium, too,” says Alys. ‘Atawss the table she let her curi- oul fringed eyes do what Nature had intended; and Armand, gazing Into them, saw the long road of the concert violinist stretching ahead and found it rocky. “You should care what I do!” he said finally, and his tone was full of. meanin “Your dad wouldn’t have you playing around with a musician.” “Dad,” replied the girl levelly, “has always 1 wante She let that sink in. It seemed to Armand that he heard Gro' saying from a great distance “And he won't even let me play the ly Sorry Now? let ‘me have anything Tha violinist from Nappanee re- menzbered snuggling against fur in the %ear of a coach and being put dowh in a e at the door of his rooming house. Before he closed the door of the coach, Alys Jeaned forward and said: “Some day I want you to tell dad about the chances of organizing three or four orchestras and booking them all yourself. Of course, that wouldn't need to interfere with your career.” * K % % To Mrs. Amadee Irwin in the break- fast room of the, Firs,iAvalonia boulevard, there was nothing strange in the request of her daughter Alys that a hearing by Hans Koenig, the violinist, be arranged for young Ar- mand le Brun. In fact, she beamed. “Why, certainly, daughtér. . Mother see you 8o thoughtful 'l call up Mrs. Grater 2 |right after breakfast. Iknow she will be glad to help me out. TIl be so proud to tell papa.” Papa and Mrs. Irwin had observed ‘| ter to the elevat secretary pondered. He did not relish the thought of the rage of his chief. On the other hand, he had visions of starting a concert bureau of his own. Jonesville was good for t ollars for six recital wite and six children in East Oran, As an artist, the accompanist of the great Hans Koenig, he would have enjoyed leading pudgy little Mrs. Gra- snubbed and de- feated; as.a business man he was com- pelled to force a polite smile. t me have your telephone num- ber,” he said. “I cannot waken the master, but later, if I have the right opportunity, I will approach him. If 1 am successful, I shall telephone to you, and you may bring your young " He rose, feeling he had done his duty to both his artistic and his com- mercial natures, and opened the door. He did not v;ut to listen to Mrs. Gra- ter’s song of 3 Two minutes later she squeezed into a booth on the lobby floor of the New Trianon to drop a nickel and tell Mrs. Irwin that the machinery of the Friends of Art was operating in her behalf, and she hoped to have the hearing for the afternoon. On Avalonia boulevard Mrs. Irwin replaced the receiver with a sigh of peace and called to Alys upstairs: “You had better notify Mr. Le Brun to be ready to play for Herr Koenig! I almost have it for you, did that yesterday, mother,” Alys replied, absently. new you and Mrs. Grater would fix it.” No other 19-year-old :ho ruled a Jonesville family e: ed Alys Irwin as & mas- ter mind. Mrs. Amadee Irwin, m-fl in a full length of oppressive-l ng gray fur, ed l:!l;Mt to fill the hotel room which the lights, forced ter twilight, suddenly reduced in size. She had come along pretending to chaperon Alys, but -to meet the smt man. Laggthg nd her was rover, tall and solemn, a human pro- test against this sudden and unjust :nl“flon to music on the part of his lamily. 1)that Win. | By <Mre. “Now, Tljinski was & dancer. Didn't we see him with the Russian bally'in 'Chi- cago?” aibly yor. are” thinking of Nifinak] y ¥ are tl ki, madame’ " Before. Mrs. Irwin could l; Alys pinched her in the fold of soft flesh just under the shoulder- blade. Le Brun explained the number to Mr. Kraus. “The organist at the New Paradise Theats dying,’ it to me. It's'a bear cause. ok xn R. KRAUS transterred his bear cause,” Armand answered, holding his violin between his knees and touching a plano key for the pitch. “I guess it's Russian or something. Mr. Kraus bent over the keys, pre- tending to flex his fingers with some vagrant passages. When he could look up again, he said: “Herr Koenig is In the other room. “| He asks to be excused from coming in to meet his guests.” cloying fixed smile 3 started to speak; but again Alys' strong fingers found that soft, sensitive back through its up- holstery of fur, and the words died on her faintly tinted lips. - *“The master will listen in the bed- chamber. . The door is open a little,” went on the accompanist. ‘““This is one of his favorite encores. it night before last in Louisville. know he will be delighted when hur'7M . Le Brun's attack. Shall n?" “I'm sure he very kind,” Mrs. Grater put in, feeling the ‘situation caused by Herr Koenig's refusal to appear needed some easing comment. “He has done more for you than I ever knew him to do for other ad- mirers while on tour; but, of course, we realize what you are doing for us b'e‘!x:n the art-loving public of Jones- ville.” Mr. Kraus gave Mrs. Grater a full I he we smile. He thought he now had a fair | h chance of getting the ings for next season if ould open his own office. The le engage- ments might have their little draw- backs, but they were money in the J:n'lvl“l ‘book- re have the full benefit of his platform profile. She had erased from his mind his image of Gloria Swanson, Corinne Griffith and Barbara La Marr York, would be easy. probably would arrange that this time next year, thought Ar- mand, the critics would be proclaim. ing: “At last, an American violinist!” And so, to Mr. Kraus' delicate yet authoritative accompaniment, he his way into the berceuse that had brought tears to the eyes of so many thousands in the Paradise motion-picture theate) to | pla: of ngh Art, :How_Afic;fittAly;?‘ . laughed - n isn't that funny? I thought H Iuck!™ ‘she whispered. - “I've got to get dowit to the Olym- " ‘he muttered. , &l far motions feeling. Noodles and the rest of ti Jagzateers, lounging in the hotel lobby between numbers, their leader his mhm%lz. He had n a fool, of course, for picturing himself carrying Alys away from her circle of flat-haired vouths, fellows who belonged. He was down to earth now, for the first time since had dropped' off the interurban from Nappanee and had to be & Smalley. As hi letters across to playing Shat. form. That, certainly, was her rea- for ng the hearing by Herr Koenig. That she had not ap- peared tonight with Grover to dance was the added, the conclusive, touch. His weary eyes sought the face of his white gold wrist watch and found it was 11:30, Two more fox trots and he could close up and ride out on the midnight street car to his furnished room. Nood still loafing in the lobby, so racked the music for the next number, choosing an arrangement he had made *““The March of the imself Gnomes.” He liked the piece partly and partly because he had for itaelf altered it himself for his dance band 80 lly that et ceased is eye lighted on his| . n lles and the rest were “YOU HAVE A GIFT FOR JUST THIS SORT OF TRING,” HERR KOENIG SAID, GRAVELY. “I HAVE NEVER » > HEARD BETTER IN AMERICA” - | capitalize your chance. I have been reading about a leader being—what .| do they say in . America?—incorpo- ETRRIR A i rated. It should be your opportunity. wvfl never heard better in Amer- ‘When the visitors had disappeared, Armand let his bewildered gaze roam the Norse room. When his eyes “You saw Koenig stop and talk to me a minute ago? He says I ought to capitalize my talent. He hung his head, for he did not like to make the inevitable admission. “He says 1 ought to be famous some day, if I stick to what I can do.” The little bit of fluff came close to him and raised his head with a ges- ture of affection. “I have lots of confidence in Herr Koenig’s opinions,” she said. “T wanted you to play your deep stuff for him so——"" and | ghe put her hands over his as th: 2o oy voice was the voice of authority: “Put on ‘Rose Marie’ for the finale. I'm going to dance this one myse! A moment later Grover was wan- dering out into the lobby by himself, and' Alys and Armand were covering the circumference of the Norse room to the melody played by the leaderiess Jazzeteers. Armand, at the judicial moment, revolved the girl into an al- cove where they were partly hidden, and there released her. - They stood facing each other, and the eyes of both were eager mand spoke first here, and again she her eyes to do'‘what nature had in- she answered,. * and her voice was almost inaudible. ;Lknew_ve couldn’t be happy till you by Hi ked into her upturned face, and what he found there seemed to answer all his questions. He started to take her into his arms, but Alys pushed him gently toward the dance floor, on; let's finish ‘Rose Ma- i he murmured. “It's only & couple of minutes until closing.” (Covyright. 1926.) Belafed Hunt for Portraits of Royalty Has Been Star_ted Here by a Historian of belong to the United States? have disappeared, faded away, to exist, according to present- falled to disclose & Shon. to the of the portraits that Pl ber, the Representatives of these States may daily have before h | their eyes the first royal friends and patrons of their cause.” ‘At the “:t time with the adop- e i / sk ,. FH i i fs 23 ; § ; i zEE i - § g il i e h glgir i 'gégfx: fert gé r | are magnificent—13 feet high by adelphia the portraits remained with the Minister of France until they evi- dently betame an annoyance. Col. John May visited the City Hall in New York in 1788 and wrote: “The great. cham- tain the pictures about the ve of 6 wide—superbly grand. e 4 b ] thelr doom).” R ‘When the first C:m{nu met the Constitution in the new Hall in. New York the portralts’pre- nwnulyw!‘::u " the gon:m .Am ,- when the ret; i utho!‘nmh and he Rzubllo. on the wails of the Tesented the royal = under | portraits. ral No ent in ai record, Jjourna) oll{ytho senats or of the FHouse Splatne. _:r;-n 4O WhY the portraita ‘were n rotunds, whent they were disp! a -y d pri been found of them. and, so far as fi > " (o -:nm no one to- a story :&n thak.':t some time llur‘.ll?". portraits were dining