The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-26
EDITION
THE FISK. .MARETZEK FIGHT.
Inside History of Opera Bouffe-What Primn
Donnas Cost and Hsw they are Engaged.
To The Editor of The World.

To the Editor of the FOrtd.
SR:-Mr. James Fisk, in your issue of to-day,
makes the following personal charges against me -
/. That l pocketed certain sums discounted from
the usual rates OF commissions allowed to theatrical
agents in Paris receiving also in fact half the
mission usually paid by the artists to the agent and
with this charges me with being thief and swim
ledge of the manner of doing business among artists
is limited his experience OF artists is that or
rather than manager, and his relationship with them,
while 1t is very extensive, is not of strictly bus-
ness character. ! may, therefore, inform him that
the taking Of a commission from an artist for
obtaining an engagement is nota swindle-so con-
sidered either here or in Paris As did not receive
one penny commission from the artists-and it would
have been strictly legitimate if / had theatrical
customs go-Mr FisSs veracty is no better than his
knowledge. In plain truth, the commissions, If any
were paid, were so paid to an agent of Mr. Fisk's
own choosing in Paris AS the artists themselves
are all here, II would be folly for to initiate Mr.
Fisk's rashness, and make assertions which thew al
any moment might disprove. The next charge that
was allowed twenty per cent. discount by the
steamship company on the passage money OF the
artists Is stupidity, not to say maliciously false. Mr.
Fisk's Characteristic is seen, however not much
in the stupidity as in the erontery Of the assertion
For the simple truth is that he made the bargain for
the transportation OF the artists himself by telegraph
with Mr. VerRer, the theatrical agent in Paris after
had left that city, and sent the money to the same
agent by telegram. 1 had nothing whatever to do
with IT. @ as his IS Own IMP papers s w show H. II he ever has
the slightest foundation in fact
! am accused @ OF charging G him n. with VIII my passage,
steamship company. l certainly did charge it, and
have got good deal more to charge.
The last accusation is that / employed another
agent at great expense to do the work for which
was paid. The facts are these when l returned
from Paris in april last, recommended opera
boufie to Or. Fisk. The recommendation in itself
would have been Of little account but fortunately
had brought with me photographs Of the Partisan
prIna donnas, Montaand and Silly, and these set
tied the matter. was instructed to telegraph i'm
medately to the agent In Paris IN. Verger to engage
these singers. They were engaged at his (Fisks)
order in May last while l was in New York The
same agent, by his Fsk's) Instructions was to take
the refusals Of many minor artists as would make
up the troupe, and then to wait for further orders,
as he would likely send me to Paris to select the
best out of the number. These things all matters
of record. Mr. Fisk engaged the agent himself that
he accuses me OF engaging. So injudciously does
q man commit himself when he loses his patience.
THE COST OF BoUFFE ARTISTS.
Concerning the great expense for Mr. Verger's
services, firmly believe that the agent never
charged Mr.. Fisk one cent, but only took the usual
commission from the artists. That, however, he
also is thief and scoundrel seems to follow natu-
rally by this connection 1t would appear to be the
policy of Mr. Fisk to apply those epithets to all men
who have been permitted to minge in his schemes.
As to the good bargains / made / still have his
written Instructions from which l quote that "all
the principal artists of the company shall not cost
more than about nine thousand dollars, gold per
month"; To show that they do not cost but trlfe
over eight, here append list:-