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Nine-Year-Old Violinist Makes Debut in New York
By FOSTER B. HAILEY NEW YORK, Oct. 23.-(P)-A brown-eyed little chap, just knee high to grand piano, who three years ago was playing in a family orchestra on San Francisco's streets, made his New York debut tonight as violin soloist with the Manhattan symphony orchestra at Mecca Temple. He was 9 years old in August. He is Ruggiero Ricel, "Roger" for short, an ardent admirer of Yehudi Menuhin. that child prodigy of the violin. who came out of the west in 1926 to win the acclaim of critics. The musical careers of the two youngsters strikingly similar. Both are pupils of Louis Persinger, dean of San Francisco music teachers. Both won the Oscar Well memorial scholarship, goal of all young San Francisco musicians, and both were born and spent the first years of their lives in the Pacific coast city. taskmaster when it comes to practicing on the violin. Roger doesn't care for fairy tales or fiction. "They're not true, so why bother them," he says. History he fairly devours. At the present time he is wading through a scholarly tone called "A History of the Ancient World." And he likes it. His crowning ambition is to play the Beethoven concerto with a symphony orchestra. Following his New York debut, he is to play his own recital in Carnegie Hall, Nov. 29. Although retiring with his playmates, he delights to play before an audience. Oftentimes when Roger is practicing in the second story apartment in Upper Manhattan, where he lives, youngsters in the neighborhood will line up in the driveway outside, intently listening. Little work is done in the neighborhoor kitchens when the windows are open and Roger feels like playing.
Training Assured Taken hesitatingly to Mr. Persinger three years ago for instruction, Roger was taken in charge by Money Sent by Air Miss Beth Lackey, a pupil of Mr. Persinger's at the time, who became Stops Run on Bank so attached to the boy that she became legal guardian of him and his TAYLORSVILLE, III., Oct. 23.younger brother, Giorgio (that's (P)-Out of the sky yesterday "Georgia," to his playmates). who dropped money bags to bring rea rather gifted violinist, too. Folnewed faith to panic stricken lowed a year of study and developtown and stave off bank run which Then, through the happy accident would almost certainly have resulted of being in Santa Barbara at the in empty vaults at the only bank same time, Miss Lackey and Roger which remained open. became acquainted with Mr. and The drone an airplane motor was Mrs. Frederick Bartlett, wealthy the signal that the day was saved and that the line of 250 depositors Chicagoans, were so impressed in front of the Farmers National with Roger's ability that they have assured his future training, asking bank need have no fears of not getnothing in return. ting their money. Almost like magic After succession of triumphs in the line faded away and another San Francisco, including the win- formed-customers redepositing the ning of the Weil scholarship and money they earlier had withdrawn. the Emperium Boys Achievement Relief was rushed by airplane to club gold medal, Miss Lackey the Farmers bank of Chicago fedbrought Roger and Georgia to New eral reserve officials as soon as they York to continue their training learned that Taylorville's other three under Mr. Persinger banks had been closed. retiring little chap, olive skinned. Today bank examiners were scanblack haired, brown eyed, slightly ning the books of the three closed built, Roger probably would not talk banks and banks in three other of his music or himself with out- nearby towns. Thus far, "frozen as. siders, even if Miss Lackey allowed sets" have been unofficially blamed it. But from Miss Lackey and from or the shut downs. Mrs. Robb, the chaperone, "grand- The banks that have been closed mother," and housekeeper, one learns are: John B. Colegrove and Comthat Roger: pany, State bank, the Taylorville Doesn't think S0 much of Fritz National bank. and the First NaKreisler's playing-he's careless. tional bank, all of Taylorville: the No "Soul" in Playing Citizens State bank and the Turner Admires the technique of Jascha State banks both of Edinburg and Helfetz, but doesn't think he puts the State Bank of Bulpitt. much "soul" into his playing. Thinks Yehudi Menuhin is the CHICAGO A. P. WRITER greatest living violinist. And for time thought that Rug- DIES; ILL TWO MONTHS giero Ricci was pretty good until they had him make some phono- CHICAGO, Oct. L. graph records. Dairymple, member of the Chicago The day the records came back staff of the Associated Press for and were played. Roger sat intently seven years and formerly of the Inlistening. excited and pleased at first dianapolis bureau, died today at St. to hear himself. The longer he lis- Francis hospital, Evanston. after tened the more downcast he became, two months' illness thought to have finally bursting into tears and cry- been precipiated by an accidental ing: "I thought I WILS much better blow on the head when he was 32 than that. years old. It taught him not to be so critical of other violinists and especially of The first palace sleeping car was Georgie, with whom he is a stern built in 1858.
