Schubert Centennial

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the death of Franz Peter Schubert, the citizens of his birthplace, Vienna, arranged to hear his music. Herr Franz Schalk, conductor of the state opera, directed a splendid performance of the Symphony in C. In the public square, 40,000 people, completely silent in the late spring sunshine, gathered below the musicians to listen. President Michael Hainisch, with his hat off and his white hair blowing, made a speech.

At the little house in Nussdorfer Street, where Franz Schubert was born 131 years ago, there was singing. Pictures of the composer were in windows and on walls all through the city. The Schubert exhibition attracted thousands of persons eager to see the manuscripts of his chamber music, the pens with which he had scribbled copybooks or concertos, the clothes he had worn, his spectacles. The city of Vienna celebrated Beethoven's anniversary last year; for Schubert its populace has an even more friendly adoration. There will be concerts there all summer in his honor and most of the houses will wear flags. The dead composer will receive almost as much honor as a live aviator.