The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
MUSIC X WITH ENVY.
CONCERTS TO WHICH WOMEN FLOCK
WHEN THEY CAN.

WHEN THEY CAN
Secret OF the Success OF q Poltte Little Man
Privileges THAT Money Cannot Buy-The
Luncheon After tho Entertainuaent-A
Unique Feature or new Ysrk's Social Season.
This story shows the Importance Of reserve.
Its hero always kept something back and to-day
he is enjoying the sweets Of that wise practice.
1t is only necessary to see him at the close of
one Of his-receptions, one is almost TEMPTED to
say. They arc in reality entertainments, but as
the fashionable audience leaves the room the
well-drossed women pause to shake hands with
the imprcsario when they are lucky enough to
know him. No millionaire who had diverted
his guests with the services Of high-priced
singers could receive warmer thanks than this
polite little man, who listens TO tho expressions
Of gratitude Of the women that rustic out OF the
concert room.
1T was lovely" says one Of them, holding out
her hand; we enjoyed it awfully."
The little man smiles and answers politely.
Ne Is always polite. Everybody knows that,
from the most modish woman who comes to his
concerts down to the boys who distribute tho
programmes. Others come up and thank him,
and this little ceremony takes up enough time to
clog the progress of the departing guests. Tho
temptation to call them guests 10 irresistible.
They act so like 1t. even though they have paid
to get Unpaid enough, In fact, to make the gath
ering represent about 81. $780,. That was only
one meeting Of four. Others were to follow,
and each Of them was to draw just as much
money. That detail Of the entertainments 10
suggested before the first one is given. One
cannot buy a ticket to q single entertainment
by hook or crook. An experience In point hap.
pened this year. A girl from 81. Louis was anx.
ious to hear q singer in one of the operas. She
was a wealthy girl. accustomed to buy her tick.
ata fNr xyhotnuor chn yyantnl 70 n CO ohn
stepped up to the door and simultaneously took
her pocketbook out.
But no tickets are sold," the doorkeeper
said. 1.-The performances must DO subscribed
to-"
The young woman explained that she was e.
| pecially anxious to hear a certain singer. The
doorkeeper sent for the polite little man. The
latter heard the girl 8 story.
But no tickets are ever sold. he explained.
THE subscription for four performances is $40.
Only subscription tickets are sold"
The girl frightened her grip on her pocket.
book; but she was rich and courageous.
Then give me two subscription tickets" she
answered.
The polite little man made a deprecatory ges.
ture. But the st. Louis girl was not to be
MY cousin, Miss X, sings this morning."
Then. II you are Miss KS cousin" said
cannot sell single tickets under any circum.
stances. 1t would. he foolish for you to buy the
But S u Miss <. i IS yoar !9 COUSIN ysh "n I sS SoaiId it BE- de-:
lighted The to q have you as s my hgG guests" and :,
reality the guests of the impresario. The 9th.
ers also might have been from their demeanor.
Indeed. those were regarded as lucky who knew
bow. That was perfectly clear from the half
e~nvious looks with which some Of the women
There he is. there. the little man in tho frock
coat" said one woman; ~ses! hs's falling now
f tSr shn. M thns space IN th Se P%fp,e t IHnp piiIar See there
%Syss s ssW as,n ihi s! SsI + ru Im5sx 4 'I, sn at
some OF tho best,known women II New York.
As there are nearly a thousand IN the room they
society; but they are oil nearer to it than any
other one thousand, women in New York. and
and sit through his concerts. Not everybody is
asked to come to them, and some who apply are
refused. Possibly that is the sense in which
they feel themselves guests. ~.
reserve is. That is not clear until most OF the
sud die Isst has hsb diIsaapPTrSSr rs "a. and tr 9n1yS "a q dozen fps n or
lite little man, and within a short time after the
great room has been cleared they will be seated
about one Of the tables in the restaurant as his
the day as the guest Of honor. For this luncheon
there may be men. The function is moi so very
that 1t is going to take place. They have all
heard about these luncheons, and they leave In
wonder as to the identity of the fortunate
women selected to receive the favor Of the polite
little man who gives the concerts. sometimes
served for those guests who are to have the
honor OF sitting later at the luncheon. Into
these boxes Monte Cristo could not buy his
way. They are reserved beyond all possible
hope for the friends OF the polite little man. and
these friends are Invariably women Of reeos,
these boxes Is the ambition of every woman
who goes to the concerts. Regular attendance,
the. Acquaintance of the polite manager. and
diplomacy might ultimately get q Aomnn there.
1t Is a worth waiting for in the
opinion of the crowds that go to the concerts.
1t was this reserve that ultimately brought
such splendid success, and II began before the
polite little man gave his concerts in n great
ballroom and got several Thousand dollars
worth of people into the room every time he
did 1t. Then T. was In hls own studio that con.
subscribed. Even then the value OF reserve
had made itself clear to him. After those en-
tertainments In the unpretentious studio there
was always a luncheon to which certain of the
guests were asked to remain. 1t might not
given later in the Grand Hotel but It
established the reserve that did Its share
In increasing the attendance from fifty to
q thousand and making 1t part OF a
New York's woman soci,l regime to get to the
concerta II she could. There was always some
who went to the concerts. Calye might sing,
and Sembrich. and they might delight all of the
audience. But not all OF the audience would be
invited to wait for luncheon and be introduced
to the SINCE 8. That pleasure remained for the
elect, the happy elect who were always just a
etitute the rock on which tho polite little man
has built a fortune-or almost a fortune.