Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-20

! Abbeys former experiences in Italian opera
Schoeffel refused to put cent into the Metro
politan venture. Abbey, however, has infiu-
| entail friends in musical and financial circles,
VINO Will back any scheme in which he is en-
gagged. The funds essential for starting the
Steinway and ether millionaires, whose conf
dence In Abbey is quite as strong as their bank
accounts.
DISASTROUS BEGINNING.
During the first month OF italian opera at the
metropolitan Schoeffel might have been seen
wearing an '1-told-you-so' smile at every per-
formance The season, which began brilliantly
on december IA, had long interregnum of
disaster. The initial product was not wise
seiectlon "Romeo ct Juliette" is like water
TO wine compared with Gounod's greater work,
Faust" 1t was sung in French. which was
regarded as a direct insult by German music
lovers and a disappointment to devotees of the
| ancient italian school. Mrs. Emma Eames
story, from whom much was expected, proved
TOO cold and colorless for Shakespeare pas
sionate heroine. The new tenor, Jean de
Reszke, had too much Of the baritonal quality
to be startling and his brother Edward was
given but scanty opportunity in the part Of
fffdr Laurence. The reviews next morning
were notlceably lacking in enthusiasm. The
Wagnerite critics attacked the performance
vehemently and those of the classic school were
half-hearted in their praise.
FOLLOWED BY BAD LUCK.
After escaping the Scylla Of the critics Abbey
encountered the grip Charybdis. Albani was
the first member of the company Frustrated by
the epidemic. Then followed Scalchi Edward
de Reszke, Nalero. Marie Van Zandt and many
OF the lesser singers, 1t costs $4,000 to lift the
curtain at the Metropolitan. Abbey and Grau
lost some $4,000 during the first month Of
opera IN this city. The Wagnerite critics con-
tinued their attacks and the apostles of Verdi
and Gounod were in despair.
CALM LOSER.
But Abbey is the calmest loser in the theatre
cal profession. He gathered in $4,000 in a
couple of Patti concerts, which. after deductine
5000 for the diva and incidental expenses.
left $4,000 profit. He imported the famous
French baritone, Lassalie, and put on ''L'Afri-
calne" Lassalle is great singer, O great
actor and great mascot. The ailing members
OF the company suddenly got we'll The au-
dlence which packed the big house to hear the
new baritone came back at other performances.
During the past six weeks there have been few
empty chairs at the Metropolitan.
FAVORABLE TERMS.
Abbey's terms with the directors are mar
ticularly favorable. He gets the house. light
ing and ushers free and at the close of each
performance receives check for o.. 600. in
addition to which ne pockets every dollar that
is taken in at the door: The stockholders
reserve only the boxes. There are seventy
three lodges at the Metropolitan, of which
number seventy are let at a rental of 90. 900 for
the season. The S210. 900 thus obtained goes
to pay the running expenses Of the house and
the interest on the original investment. 1t
does not pay these matters But the average
stakeholder of the Metropolitan is worth a
million, and they can easily afford to indulge
In the luxury OF grand opera Abbey will end
the season with profit.
HIS SALARY LIST
Is small compared to that of the Mapleson and
Stanton regimes Jean de Reszke receives
$1,000 performance and 20 per cent on all
houses over 6.000 Lille Lehman gets 81 ono
an evening Edward de Reszke is paid $500
for each opera in which he appears. Nine AL
bani and Sig. taiero each receives $3.50. Emma
Games and Marie Van Zandt get $780, Guilia
Ravogh gets $50 and her sister Sofia receives
800. These are small salaries, but 1t is q great
thing to sing IN grand opera. Margaret Reid.
the young indianapolis girl who made such a
phenomenal success as Opitetia in Hamlet
last week. bought 1900 worth of tickets and
received no salary for the privilege of singing
before Metropolitan audience.
THE INDIFFERENT BOX HOLDERS.
Very few people who support this luxury of
opera In New York care anything about music.
The box holders seldom look at the stage. but
spend the evening in gazing across the glitter
inghorseshoe at one another. The toilets of
the ladies are amazing In splendor Old Mrs.
William Aston, the leader of ultra-fashionable
society. and one Of the richest women in town.
covers her neck and shoulders with diamonds
estimated to be worth e., 1000 GOO. and sits
smiling like bride in the gasight She is al
ways accompanied by private detective who
sits In the ante room Of the box and keeps guard
against intruders. The old ladys daughter-in-
law, Mrs Jack Astor. wears very few Jewels
need her
regarded as the handsomest young woman
in society" Her husband, the heir
to the Astor millions, is tall, Iauky
young man, with phenomenally large
nose anu an aonormaliy small chin. He has
never been known to squander a dollar or
make brilliant remark. But he will be worth
q hundred millions some day, and his beauti-
full wife is too shrewd to receive any of the ar.
tentlons that would gladly be paid to her by
the dissolute club men that hang around the
boxes, eager to rescue pretty young wiyea from
the ennui OF their husbands.
THE SOCIAL JEALOUSY
always existent between the different asnir.nt.
for leadership in this city is very marked at the
Metropolitan. The Astors have never looked
with favor on the Vanderbilts and both fami.
lies unite only In one point, which is an omen
detestation Of the Bradley Martins All of these
great ladies vie with one another in gorgeous
ness OF apparel and wealth OF diamonds. On a
fashionable night there are from SIS 600 600 to
SI0J, 900, 600 worth Of jewels cleaning in the
two rows OF boxes. most of which belong to the
Aston family in its various branches or the
numerous Vanderbilt faction. Mrs Bradley
Martin, however, who has neither relatives nor
ancestors, makes a brave show all by herself
with a crown of diamonds worth kings ran
som and q dog collar" studded thickly over
with gems, each one Of which is valued at
&, 900. The sole link that binds these opposing
danes together is Ward McAliister. This
famous person has SO small an income of his
own that very frequently he is put to grievous
shifts to make ends meet. But he manages to
live very comfortably by paying assiduous
court to the rich, and he may be seen every
night at the opera carrying tIttle-tattle and
gossip from one box to the other. At present
Mr.. McAlhster is not in favor with Mrs. Astor.
While recently jovial over his cups he asked
Mr.. Jack Aston the genial but impoiIte ques-
lion: docs your mother know you are out?"
The young man complained to his wife and
mamma OF this impertiuence and the impolitic
querist was punished by the temporary with
drawal OF the friendship OF both ladies. Nc
Ainster thereupon went over, body, boots and
casn book, to the Bradley Martins, and is now
trying to excite the Aston jealousy by keeping
MrS bradley-Martin in screams Of laughter at
the opera
NOVEL REVENGE.
The Metropolitan at this season 10 all glitter
and gsyety. But those who attend its per-
fOrmancss regularly witness remarkable EVIL
dences that the cordially that seems to exist
In the ioges il de jure rather than de facto.