Two Young Men

Cynic Bromfield--Healthy Wiley first novels on the new season's lists offer an interesting comparison in The Green Bay Tree* by Louis Bromfield and The 'Education of Peter by John Wiley. They show admirably the tremendous difference in Which exists between the War and that just younger, and by generation I mean a "college generation." Both of these young men are sensitive-- artistic, well-bred. They spring from more or less the same environment , and they are both, perhaps, Naturally, fond of over-sophistication. Yet, in a sense, these books are a hundred years apart. The Education of Peter is a simple, straightforward story of undergraduate life at Yale, with its "disappointments and hopes, its minute joys and sorrows. It is not Concerned With the difficult issues of Ilife, not with shifting sex moralities. The Green Bay Tree is cynical, incisive, a Stifle weary. It is the book of a young man steeped in France and the War viewpoint

Bromfield went to the War via Cornell and Columbia. He served in the french Ambulance, then in the Army He returned to America) wrote Several novels, which he never Offered for publication, married into a Conservative New York family, works at present in a responsible post in a prominent publishing firm. Yet to talk with him means that you at once sense the restlessness, the uncertainty, the strained nerves of the War generation.

John Wiley went through Yale much 'as does his hero Peter. His book isn't quite fair to Yale in regard to its attitude toward the literary man--but that's another matter. Had young John Wiley, New York reared, fond of dancing, Who has tried his hand at reporting.-- and will probably be a successful Writer--had young John Wiley (who saw military training only in its earliest stages--his Freshman year) been to the War in any capacity whatsoever, he could never have written The Education of Peter, Yet, his is a fresher generation, a healthier generation, an unhurt generation -- a generation that should accomplish much.

I can think of no better way to understand this curious break in the continuity of modern development than to compare these two novels,

J. F.

"America" Complex

William A. Brady, theatrical producer, accused the Metropolitan Opera

Company of an anti-American complex. And Metropolitan Business Man- ager Edward Ziegler was quick to recite the convenient story of Rosa Ponselle. As everyone knows, Ponselle was born in this country, discovered in a New Haven cabaret.

Geraldine Farrar, Mary Garden, Emma Eames are recognized as Americans, and Mr. Ziegler added a new name to the American collection -- "Queena Mario."

Queena Marion Tillotson, born near Akron, Ohio, was called upon last week to substitute for Bori, famed singer. And later she sang, by her own right, the leading role in Rigoletto. Mr. Ziegler protested she had changed her name for euphonic reasons, and not because she thought a name with an "o" on the end would be to her operatic advantage. Anyway, says Mr. Ziegler, "Queena" couldn't be anything but American.

Groom, Bride

Some weeks ago the Metropolitan Opera Company entertained a composer of an opera in its repertory. Italo Montemezzi, "honored guest" at a gala performance of his own L'Amore dei Tre Re, was crowned on the stage with a wreath. Now a similar event has taken place. Max Schillings, upon visiting America, was a guest at a performance of his own Mona Lisa, which was given last year for the first time in American (TIME, May 19). Schillings was not crowned with a wreath. He does not, indeed, deserve a wreath; his opera is not half as good so Montemezzi's.

However, a certain sentimental interest is to be discovered in the Schillings affair. The leading soprano role in Mono, Lisa was sung by Barbara Kemp, the composer's wife. To hear your music properly sung by your wife retains a certain connubial glamor.

Siegfried Disappoints

From Boston came the statement that Siegfried Wagner (TIME, Jan. 28) "is unlikely to come to this city to conduct orchestra concerts." It appears that a year ago the Boston Symphony Orchestra declined to have him appear with its forces as a guest conductor. Boston holds a poor opinion of Siegfried as a director of music.

In other cities the son of the great Richard Wagner has been a disappointment. His own compositions which he has conducted have been feeble and uninteresting; and his interpretations of his father's music have been savagely criticized-- The disappointment does not arise entirely from his lack of genius, but rather from his failure to present the true tradition of his sire. It was supposed that he knew how his father wanted the music presented. This expectation, however, ignored 'the fact that Siegfried was only 13 years of age when his father died.

Said Lawrence Oilman, famed critic: "Mr. Wagner is 55 years old--of medium height, plump, white-haired, clean-shaven. In profile he looks like a blend of George Washington, Chauncey M. Depew and the composer of Tristan. His general aspect is that of a lymphatic vestryman. He is almost uncannily undemonstrative. . . . He conducts with astonishing casualness. . . . His listlessness makes the conductional apathy of Richard Strauss seem epileptic by comparison."

No Opera Trust

Samuel Insull, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Civic Opera Company, journeyed to Manhattan, payed a visit to Giulio Gatti-Casazza, General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera Company. Immediately rumors went abroad that in the long confabulation of the two functionaries there was discussed, and even arranged, a merger of the Chicago and the Metropolitan Companies. "An opera trust!" was the cry.

Mr. Gatti, however, Issued a formal statement denying the rumor. He stated that the subject matter of his talk with Mr. Insull was, interestingly enough, the mutual assurance that they would not lure stars from each other.

--THE GREEN BAY TREE -- Louis Bromfield -- Stokes ($2.00) to appear March 29. The Education of Peter-John Wiley-Stokes ($2.00)