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A Don Cossack

Steps Out to Tiffin

I was about to leave the backstage in high dudgeon, having been assured that NO interviews were given and, that anyway, there was too much re-earsal and work for new conzairt" when suddenly M. Alexandre volunteered to came out during the afternoon and talk a little about "things."

I was interested to learn that Kostrukoff, the conductor, is a graduate of the Prague University. Ah a student there, fond of singing and the traditional national music, he organised a choir of Cossacks, and trained it. developing it to its present high standard. Kostrukoff is a Cossack—so are they all. But many (and most of them) have not seen Russia for twenty years, for they fled during the Revolutions. Some of the choir were recruited in South America—Montevideo and Rio de Janiero. M. Alexandre, and his friend (who arranges all the music) joined the choir in Paris.

At the age of seventeen, M. Alexandre was an officer in the army. He went through the War. Afterwards he worked for his medical degree; that finished, he qualified as a dentist. "No content me. No never. So electrical engineering next. I finish that, and tire—but found voice," said St. Alexandre tapping his throat.

"Found I sing well," so he was opera singing in Paris just before he joined this choir a few months ago.

He is very fond of all sports—even croquet—but ballet-dancing, "Pooh No!" and a great shoulder shrug, "eet is silly. Silly. No sense."

"What I do when I go back to Paris? Don't know—No. I may zing—I may not. So much else to try."

I laughed, till he explained what an "'orrible" life the stage is. Jealousy, competition, spites and pettiness. "Dirty devil work. You understand. Yes! But eet is good, all same."

So I left M. Alexandre gesticulating vivaciously to his friend—and wondered if by the time I'm in my middle thirties, my life will have been as varied and as chock-full as his!