New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-13
CHANGES IN THE ACADEMY.

| DISCUSSION OF STOCKHOLDERS RIGHTS.
REL ATOMS OF MANAGER MAPLEsON AND THE d.
RECTORs-wHAT HAS DEEN DONE TO SECURE
HARMONY.
There was no little talk yesterday among
the directors OF the Academy OF Music about the opin
ions which Mr. Mapleson is said To hayeeKpressed In re-
gard to the relations between himself and the directors
II was SAID that Mr. MapesOns alleged charge OF the
directors nggardliness in their dealings with him was
without the slightest reason.
Said one of the directors yesterday: Mr.. Mapleson
reported saying that he expended $4,000 In htuug
out his troupe before starting for America That may
be but before he could leave Queenstown the directors
of the Academy who were very DESTROYS Of doing all In
their power rstcass opera season virtually
advanced him $4,000 in answer to his dispatch
that he could not not leave Queenstown without
money. This $4,000 was loan for the
accommodation OF Mr. Mapleson, and It has
paid recently. In the next place, the Academy Is
rented to him merely nominal sum. S75 night, Tor
two OF thirty nights each This just about pays
for the heating and lghtng so from financial point
OF view the Academy makes absolutely nothing our OF
the contract This period Of fyo years in each
Of which sixty performances are 10 be given. We
thought IL desirable to have, possible, an
opera that would lie thoroughly enjoyable, and
with that in view, we rented the Academy 10
Mr. Mapeson at these low terms There Is heavy debt
ON the property, and we have 10 look To the
balls lectures. etc. that given every year In the
buding for our receipts Mr. Maplcsous visit To this
country was venture OF course attended with consid
cradle risk and this risk the directors willingly took II
| the thing had proved failure we should have zen
Obliged TO pay the bills sur ~ these facts do not In
dicate that Mr. Mapleson was met by Inc dFcctOs ma
| nicgardly spirit.
Well in regard 10 the scenery, there was originally
cIause In the contract which provided that for ali
scenery Mr. MaplcsOn should pay half and the Academy
| half And under this arrangement new scenery was
naipted for Carmen AT u total coat Of S2,lOO OF
| D, Apa mai
dropcurtain aud Of other things that Mr. Maple"
son wanted 81 ,725 expended for them, $500 was
paid nv Mr. Mapeson and the balance was paid by the
| Academy and by private subscriptions among
feet Willingness TO aid Mr. MaplesOn IN his attempts 20
render Academy attractive The clause ia the CON
tract requiring the Academy to pay hall ct the expense
Of new scenery stricken out by an arrangement be-
tween Mr.. Phelps and Mir. Maplcson, gnd the scenery
which he has had painted at cost OF $500 since the
Carmen scenery was finished, he has paid Tor HIM
s s almost Hohhe and md he is coHtunnS trying
TO get the 70 pay TINS OH ana aat 0T al sorts
from the shareholders, and rveryO knows that the
opera performances have been 50 crowded that the pa
attention TO the danger Of allowing the
aslcs to filled. With such housed MT MaplcsOn
taIny ongl not TO complain OF poor season, ana To
night % which they reserved In the contract. For my
| mart, | am heartily tired OF the cry which
| Mr. Mapleson seems TO be continually uttering
! that the directors are treating him In q mean
| shabby manner The facts show the When Mr.
| WopIesOn saw that the directors don't know how 10
panage opera he goes out OF MS way TO say some
thing entirely unnecessary The directors have nothing
to do with his business, any more than he has with their
affairs. The contract Is ncriey between Mr. Mapleson
and the shareholders as BODY aud II he thinks that
they do not tulhl their par OF the contract be is at
| said he has threatened 10 do"
During the day TRIBUsE reporter obtained COPY Of
thC following letter received December D. which Illus
tratcs the way In which the Academy bills paid IN
| at least one instance:
ACADEMY or Music EEw-YoRK.
DEAR SIR: am IN receipt OF favor Of this date
handing me rccclutcd bills for quantities OF
cargeung, plaid dmi me-. sl1r,Tods' lannrequins
! and coInicrs amounting IN lhe aggregate To
| 1923 80, which the gentlemen named below
l5s yo Ac SS I on usc Rc.c articles we're much
wanted and will communicate this generous act the
directors at cXt meeting Thanking in their
name as well as the stockholders generally In the mean
time amsdesr sir, your most oDedi"nt servant,
| Treasurer Of Academy OF Music.
Clarence A. seward 100 90 T. b Musgraye... 1903 30
| law Gnuld ... 100 90 Total .............S52s 80
! since the announcement Of the resignation Of Mr.
Phelps from the treisurcrship Of The Academy
unlounded rumors have been N crcu aon mat his re-
rcctors prominent director said Yesterday: Since
his election Mr. Phelps has heeh at the Academy every
| Academy in a proper form, and now, after
amount Of hard work. he has got the affairs III some
what orderly form ard wishes that younger may
take place. All the talk about any trouble between
| Mr. Phelps and the directors is nonsense"
IL was thought by some that the question Of success
sOr Mr.. Phelps TO come mp nj tho meeting Of the
executive committee of the directors: held IN August
BcmOnts Office yesterday afternoon The object Of the
meeting however. was to consider another subject On
December circular letter. the substance OF Whchis
gwen below, was addressed TO The shareholders OF the
| Academy OF Muse.
GENTLEMEN: At the last meeting OF the shareholders
Of tie Academy OF Music, held November 2G last 1t
resolved iat Ia view ~ the unsatisfactory condition
the finances Of the Academy of Music the ccssity
OF dscBargnE s indebtedness, ana the aversion Of all
the shareholders to any permanent assessments,
from this dncpnt the 81 900 debt shall he PAID of the
directors nave authority, IN letting the Academy fOr all
performances except operas TO waive the rights OF the
shareholders 10 their seats, the shareholders, however,
10 have the preference OF their paying tie Teg
| lar price the lessees may have fixed upon.
Royal Phelps, December g. cent the following letter
10 August Belmont: The shareholders the Academy
OF Music must now be fully convinced that IN mpOss
bic 10 get hrscass mpressaO to lease their Opera
House. subject 10 the reservation OF ther200 seats
cept at nominal rent Is at present rented 10 Mr.
MaplesOn. Tue shareholders that the Acad-
envy has floating debt OF $4,000 which has been pro-
Yided for by short mOrtgig at interest the
! expectation being that IN couple OF years this