Music: $75,000 Child

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After 15 U. S. concerts Ruth Slenczynski, chubby nine-year-old pianist, sailed for Paris last week with a cabin full of books and flowers, a string of pearls given her by the San Francisco Orchestra Association (TIME, Jan. 29), a diamond brooch which an excited New York lady had pinned on her for luck and a $75,000 contract for next season. Ruth bounced along the ship's corridors shaking hands with stewards and bellhops, telling everyone she met that she was on the way home to see her mother and two little sisters. Father Slenczynski talked about the $75,000 which Manager Charles L. Wagner has guaranteed for 30 concerts to start in January.

The money will go into a trust fund so that at the end of next season the Slenczynskis will be free to retire their prodigy daughter. Impressible Ruth favors concerts for three months a year at least. Next year's performances will earn her $2,500 apiece, a fatter fee than is asked by such adult artists as José Iturbi, Myra Hess, Vladimir Horowitz, Josef Hofmann.