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The Kahn family shakes its head over Roger's "speed complex." At 14 he used to ride a motorcycle up the steep sides of the bunkers on his father's golf course. He tore down his first Ford and put it together so that it was a racing car with an underslung chassis. Never did a jerky airplane bumping through a series of air pockets make him sick at his stomach.
It must not be supposed, however, that the 18-hole golf course at Cold Harbor is used by him solely for its motor hazards. He can use driver, brassie, mashie as driver, brassie, mashie should be used; has covered the course in 72; frequently beats the "pro." He is fair at tennis. At St. Bernard's he took no more interest in athletics than he did in studies or in social activities. He was indifferent even to dress, favored $2.50 hats, and ready-made suits. When the Perroquet de Paris was opened to the elite of Manhattan's night life, Roger Kahn left his expensive tuxedos hanging in the closet, wore a $40 suit bought the day before from Brill Bros. Of course, he was only a boy then—19. Now, almost 20, he is growing more debonair. He brought back to the U. S. this summer 50 tailored suits, untold neckties, shoes, hats, from London. He has even been reported engaged to marry Miss Virginia Franck.
Some newspapers seized eagerly upon this rumor. The San Francisco Examiner printed the picture of the beauteous Miss Franck, professional dancer, heading it "PRO and KAHN." What actually happened: In Paris Roger Kahn had his picture taken with Miss Franck standing near the wing of an airplane. Shrewd, the Parisian photographers mailed both Miss Franck and Mr. Kahn 25 pictures, bill enclosed. Shrewder, Miss Franck sold them to the Daily News together with a vague rumor. Thereupon she received many thousands of dollars' worth of publicity. But she is not engaged to Mr. Kahn.
Usually he avoids company. Except for large, liquid brown eyes, he is unattractive in appearance, small, dark, easily embarrassed, almost shrinking in person. When he avoided college he probably spared himself many miseries. Though he weighs only 125 pounds, his appetite is large . . . steak and lamb chops for breakfast. He sleeps long and soundly. Despite his father's prominence, he is so carefully unobtrusive that he might have reached his present age without attracting more than statistical notice, were it not for his precipitous enthusiasms and precocious successes.
Notes
Philharmonic Conductors. The first part of the New York Philharmonic season (Oct. 13 to Jan. 8) will be conducted by Josef Willem Mengelberg. The latter part (Jan. 26 to April 1) by Arturo Toscanini. The interval will be given over to two guest conductors, Sir Thomas Beecham, England, and Bernardino Molinari, Rome.
New York Symphony Conductors. Guest conductors of the New York Symphony Orchestra were announced: Fritz Busch (Dresden Opera House), Ossip Gabrilowitsch (Detroit Symphony), Walter Damrosch (onetime regular conductor), Maurice Ravel (French composer), Enrique Fernandez Arbos (Madrid Symphony).