Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-14
MAPLEsON;s PILE.
Tho Opera Manager TAKES Back $4,000 to
g EnOlnssd.
[New.York World.1


Before Col. Maplesons arrangements for
leaving this country were completed, the di-
rectors of the Academy Of Music invited him
to consider new form Of lease Of the Acad-
envy. A conference was held at which there
was good deal of debate. Mr.. Thomas B.
Musgrave, who has taken IN active part in
the direction of the affairs Of the Academy,
gave an account last night of the struggles
through which the directors had passed.
Said he: "Col. Mapleson's first lease was
drawn last August. He was to
have the Academy at 1915 per
night and the stockholders were to-.
pay for the lighting, the heating, and for
one.half of the scenery. These expenses
absorbed all the rental. For years the peo-
pie had been demanding good opera and
abusing the directors and stockholders for
not furnishing it, and at the same time say
ing that the stockholders reserved all the best
seats. Knowing this feeling of the people, we
thought we could get Mapleson to run opera
here when it was not in season in London
and as he of course engaged his company by
the year, there would beg great saving for
him in this respect w paid Mapleson's
way here, bnt we didn't lind it necessary to
pay his way back to Europe"
"Do you think he made much money 70
81 haven't the slightest doubt of it. Ac-
cording to newspapers reports he was al
ways complaining of having lost money, but
hs told me to-day that he had made money
IN the provinces, and that he hadn't lost
anything at the Academy. He actually made
about 900 at the Academy, and alto
gether he will take away over $4,000. He
gave seventy performances in this city,
"How much did tho Academy make %
" The Ac sdemy lost, during Col. Maple
| sons seasons, about $4,000. This will have
to be made up by balls and other entertain
ments, or by subscriptions from the stock
holders"
"What has been the financial condition of
the Academy in tho past2'
"The average receipts for the past nine
years were $37,884, and the average ex-
penses $38,159. For the past three years
the average receipts were $50, 351, and the
average expenses $34,402.'
"What is the prospect for the future?''
cit is very good as matters now stand
Under the original contract with Col. Maple
son the academy would have been ruined,
It could not have possibly supported the
opera. Col. Mapleson has always given the
impression that the stockholders took all the
best seats; that he couldn't do any.
thing, and that there was great pressure OF
him. He was asked to give up hit
old lease and take new one which would be
more favorable to the stockholders. The al
Tentative was almost certain ruin to thu
Academy. Col. Mapleson declined to accept
the new agreement, but after some consid
Grafton consented. Within twenty-fou
hours he asked that the agreement be TO
five years instead Of three. That doesn'
look very much as though he was going t
build an opera house here. He told me to
day that he wants the capacity of the Acade
my increased one hundred seats, and I thinl
this can be done at little cost. It will Civ
him 5000 more night. The directors Q
the academy think besides that by the az
; pointment of sub committees, the curren
expenses can be decreased