Page:Czecho-Slovak Student Life, Volume 18.djvu/168

New features which have been announced for this Winter’s book mart in Czechoslovakia include, among other matters, translations of contemporary American literature. Among these are the following works: Sinclair Lewis’ “Martin Arrowsmith” (The Aventinum Press) and “Babbit” (published by Družstevní práce), Sherwood Anderson’s “Dark Laughter” (published by V. Petr), Upton Sinclair’s “Sylvia” (Družstevní práce), and C. G. Norrie’s “Bread” (published by Laichter.)

The November issue of the Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering Magazine, New York City, contains the following interesting comment: “The Nitrogen fixation plant at Moravska Ostrava, Moravia, is now under construction and is expected to be completed before the end of the year, according to assistant trade commissioner, K. L. Rankin at Prague. A series of tests are to be instituted after the plant is ready, however, and it is not anticipated that commercial production will begin before March, 1928. The initial capacity will be 15 metric tons of ammonia daily, which may later be increased to 25 metric tons. It is understood that the Claude method will be used. It is expected in Czechoslovakia that the plant will completely fill all domestic requirements and might even produce a surplus available for export.”

At the Smetana Hall, Prague, on Sunday last Signor Pietro Mascagni conducted the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert whose program contained Tchajkowski’s Symphony Pathetique, the overture of Rossini’s William Tell, Antonin Dvorak’s Scherzo Cappriccioso, the Santa Teresa and the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana by the Conductor himself, and Bedrich Smetana’s overture to The Bartered Bride. The evening was another triumph in the long chain of successes achieved by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, and while Mascagni himself was most warmly received, the real ovation came at the Prague National Theatre on the following night when, after an excellent performance of Pagliacci, he conducted his Cavalleria Rusticana and was called before the curtain again and again.

The famous Russian baritone, Feodor Chaliapin, gave a festival in Prague arranged by the Czechoslovak Red Cross Society and under the patronage of President T. G. Masaryk. About 5,500 people listened to the great singer’s performance, and their enjoyment of his unique and unforgetable art in a series of the most prominent songs and arias of his repertoire was evidenced amply by the tremendous ovation they gave him.