The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-01-21
LOST IN THE OPERA HOUSE.

Startling Experience Of Two Young Women
In Gotham's Vast Building.
Two young women living on the west
side had an experience In the Metropolitan
Opera House q few nights ago that they
arc not likely to forget. Like q great
many other music lovers In the city these
times, the necessity Of keeping careful
watch ovey expenditures had induced them
to forego the opera, to their regret. and
when friend sent them family circle"
tickets for one Of the best performances
the gift was accepted with unusual pleas
ure.
Arrangements were made with an elder
" gentleman, who was an old friend Of
their family, to meet the young women at
the close Of the opera at the Fortieth street
entrance, and they enjoyed the entertain
ment secure In the thought that they
would have safe escort home.
When the opera was over, however, the
young women turned In the wrong direc-
tion on leaving the gallery, and when they
reached the entrance they found they were
on the Thirty ninth street side Of the
building A heavy rainstorm had set In
during the evening, they had no umbrella,
and to ruin" their hats and dresses by
running around to Fortieth street was not
to be thought Of.
Taking counsel together, they decided
to go back to the gallery and down the
other way. They did so and found the
Fortieth street entrance closed. Pounding
on the door brought no response, and the
young ladies started back to the gallery to
60 to the other exit. Just as they reached
tho family circle again the lights were sud
denly turned off, and the frightened wom-
en- were left in utter darkness alone In the
deserted opera house.
That they were scared nearly out of their
wits goes without saying, and when ono
Of them saw the dim light Of a lantern
carried by some one walking across the
stage away down below she was too nerv-
GUS to even call out for help Her COM
panion, however, managed to scream loud
" enough to be heard on the stage and
the watchman who carried the lantern was
finally made to understand that there
were two distressed females in the gallery
who wanted very much to get out.
He shouted directions to feel along the
walls until they reached certain door,
through which they could go down stairs
to the stage Cropping their way along,
the young women entered passageway.
They crept along, an inch at a time, feel
ing for q stairway. Ono Of them came to
o door and turned the knob. The door
opened, and the two found themselves
looking in upon q party Of half dozen
gentlemen sitting around table enjoying
q midnight lunch.
1t Is hard to say whether the diners OF
| the intruders were the more astonished
but the latter were certainly moro scared
They were trying to say something t.
explain their situation when door on thu
| other side Of the room opened, and In step
ped the friend they had tried to meet. HI
had waited until the Fortieth street door
were closed, had hastened to the other en-
trance, found that also closed, and fearing
something had happened had induced tn
stage doorkeeper to lot him go into th
house in search of his friends He was OF
his way to the gallery when he steppes
into the room and met the young womeI
he was searching for.
Explanations followed, and the womel
and their escort were soon safely out Of tn
building, but the opera house has less at
traction for two music lovers than 1t ono
had.-New York Herald.