Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-14
MAPLEsON's PILE.
The Opera Manager Iazces Bach $50, 900 to
! !
New York World.1.

New York World.
Before Col. Mapleson's arrangements for
leaving this country were completed, the d.
rectors of the Academy of Music invited him
to consider a new form of lease of the Acad-
was good deal of debate. Mr.. Thomas B.
Musgrave, who has taken an 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 be a great saving for
Elm in this respect We paid Mapleson's
way here, but we didn't find it necessary to
pay his way back to Europe"
EDO you think he made much money 20
I" I haven't the slightest doubt of it. Ac
cording to newspapers reports he was al
ways complaining of having lost money, but
he 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 100000 at the Academy, and alto
gether he will take away over $4,000. He
gave seventy performances in this city,
elbow much did the Academy make p
The Academy lost, during Gel. 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 4he past?''
sThe average receipts for the past nine
years were 1897, 1884, and the average ex-
penses $38,159. For the past three years
the average receipts were $30,351, and the
average expenses $34,402.''
'sWhat is the prospect for the future?"
tsIt 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 tn,
opera. Col. Mapleson has always given tn,
impression that the stockholders took all tn,
best seats; that he couldn't do any
thing, and that there was great pressure OF
him. He was asked to give up hi
old lease and take new one which would b
more favorable to the stockholders. The al
tentative was almost certain ruin to th
Academy. Col. Mapleson declined to accep
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
build an opera house here. He told me tc
day that he wants the capacity of the Acadt
] my increased one hundred seats, and thin
this can be done at little cost. It will Civ
him 5000 more night. The directors
the academy think besides that by the al
t pointment of sub committees, the curre1
? expenses can be decreased