The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-22
Head Centre Grau Has Another Ship
In His ValiSe.
HIGH TIMES AND HIGH WORDS.
This Establishment Does Jgot Ad-
vsrtise in the Herald.
n ~ kc


among the imprssarii and musicians dslciousy dro
that the whole town rings with and laughs at it. Or
this character is the dispute between Head Cen
tire Grau and poor Marelzek.
WHO CONTROLS THE cArAcoMBs!
In spite OF all the punery Of the Bohemians Marctzek
was obliged 10 bring his to close before the
term for which no had rented the catacombs expired
This fact speaks louder than all the assertions of the
oyster stew and lager beer critics the Of his
season. When Head Centre Grau TO town with
his famous troupe Maretzek had just ceased his per-
formances, ana tho catacombs vacant
Grau proposed to bring out his company there.
Maretzek and his Bohemans had denounced and rid
cuIed this troupe until they vory believed their
stories about it, and openly predicted in their papers
that it must be failure. 1t seemed 70 Marctzek
pretty piece Of strategy TO give Grau rope enough to
hang himself with. II Graus company performed here
and failed the Head Centre Of the opera would bo de-
posed like OMahony, and Maretzek would not only
joy tho discontinue OF but would be left
Of the situation his being forgotten Grau's
frcshcr failure Reasoning in this way Maretzek deter
mined to let Grau have the catacombG lie further
induced this by the which Ora. would be
obliged to pay him whether his artists taied OF not
TIE BARGAIN ABOUT THE AFRICAN.
II is customary when manager lets q theatre 10
another allow the occupant the Of the scenery and
Centre Grau expected this courtesy from Marozek
but disappointed When he informed Marc,zek that
he intended to bring out The African, and asked for
the uso Of the properties for tho piece, Marctzck
cooly informed him that he could have them for
$50 night Grau stared, but acceded to this de-
rnand. Maretzek, however, not content. He
declared that II these properties wore wanted the
money for nights mug: be paid In advance AT this
mod st request Grau still more astonshod; but
when he wanted the properties The fact Is that both
and Marctzek very deeply impressed with the
truth Of the HxsALDs criticism that The African is
carpenters opera and that the ship and the mancana
tree are principal attractions This s Of course tho
when the opera Is badly sung II was by Ma
rczeks troupe but these two managers did not distin
guish between good singing and bad, and as Maretzek
thought the ship and indispensable he persisted in his
rather extortionatc demand, and Grau firmly
the opera could not DO sung unless the ship
and hs stage he alternative but TO
yield promise pay whatever Marezek required
II Is certainly amusing TO consider the very bewildcred
Of high art versus carpentry.
MARETZEK ALL SERENE. .G.n
Having made this good bargain with Grau, and having
instructed his Bohcmlans how prepare to let Grau
down gently Marezek retired to his retreat at Staten
Island smoked his pipe, drank his lager beer,
and thanked Providence for delivering his enemy
into his hands, Crau's company appeared and
everything worked TO Marczoks satisfaction. The Bo
hemians treated the troupe with Indifference Grau
not allowed 10 advertise the HERALD The audiences
were not large. The Head Centre losing money
every night Nothing could be more friendly than the
relations Maretzek and Gran at this stage OF the
game The old adnge that misery loves company was
never better exemplncd Marclzck, as he looked
artists and TO order bis Bohemians say good word
or two for them. As the houses, In consequence Of
| this praise, grew simmer, Maretzek grew more
frienay He condoed with crau In public and laughed
at him In private The silence Of the HERALD tickled
| him wonderfully He smoked his pipe and drank his
lager beer and chucklcd poor Grams misoruncs aud
his own shrewdncss Whom Crau proposed 10 play The
African Marctzck eagerly assented That nfy dol
lars night OF the Head Centres pocket The
| wnks and mods smiles Of tho Bohemlans we're "a
numerous rs the auditors the Opera few The
house was nlied with suppressed laughter and with
nothing else Marctzek was happy that even the COIN
plInienary notices Of Graus artists which crep into
some Of The papers did distress him He knew tina,
scarcely anybody read those papers, and What did be
| care 30 long as the people stayed awayf
4 rHuxpxR rKon CLEAR SKY.
One night Marctzek went down Staten Island beam
ing with JOY and dreamed Of seeing the Head Centre
sold GU, by the Sheriff But like the Turk in Halleck
| poem that bright dream his iastr He woke "a
lnd that The HkRALp closed tho trap upon him and
his Bohsmians by publishing all the notices that Grau
| troupe had received and comparing them with tbs
attacks which these very Bohsmans had written before
the troupe appeared here He knew what effect this
would have upon tho public mind Hc felt that Grau'
success was assured when he came up 10 the cit,
10 was In . suiisn, logged desperate mood Everybody
whom he met 10 the street, on the boat In the ON
nbus rosa 10 the Cascombs 10 secure seats fo
the opera reading and laughing over the HsrD er
poss Of the Bohemian dodges He had sxultsd owe
Grams failure; he msddcncd by the though, o.
onus assured success A. he shghted at Four,ecntl
street the sight Of long qaeu Of people waiting 70 bul
tsckeus Increased his rage. He coming dowI
the sssess toward him in suit Of clothes and fs
radiant with smiles and diamond studs, but IA
was In no mood 10 met the Head Centre
vain Grau beckoued 20 him and tried 10 ovcrtrk
him Nsrstxek slipped away and could mot b
found II had suddenly ocsurrcd TO him tia
Gran was going 10 produce The African, an'
that by Withholding the ship and the tree be might ye
defeat the Head Centre. IN spite Of the Hrslp 50 Al
that day Nase,sek dodgcd Gnu. A. Gran came In a
one door Marc,ek dashed out The other The famou
aea Of the Hibcrnan not dinscui, TO catch.
crAr Ann xAnxrzrx cHrcxxArR EACH ornER.
with thai nsilne, which Distinguishes great general,
politicians and operate managers, orau began 10 pei
ceive that something was wrong. but stn he did nc
perceive the full extent Of his danger The Africa
wss b produced until the merit evening sndther
was no immediate hurry. The Head Centre passed II
greater part Of the day in receiving the copsrssuiacr
Of his friends searching for Msre,reh, examining b
tox sheet and thanking Heaven and the HxsAID for
unexpected good fortune. Towards Afternoon ho~evs
he began 10 be ubessya ssre,seks continued sbssn'
and al the fuiliiy Of all efforts 70 discover hls wher
: abouts Like Thad stevens he began 10 experies'
tho prsmoutory rumbinss d an earthquske,4 %
sisho igh he could not tel racsly what they mean
si he thought bcs, 10 take every precsu,ion again
: possible malice Accord nsly he sen, out messs
gers N 81 a-.etc"s to hnd the c,sears Ne