The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-25
LIVE TOPICS ABoUT TOWN.

interest that he always took in tho theatre.
Several actresses who were befriended by him
and his family at the outset Of thoir careers
have since become famous and were indebted
to him for announcement and assistance at u
time whom friends we're not 80 easily found as
when their success had been Acknowledged bv
the public His friendship with various must
clans wa, rs notable. and the practical charac-
ter Il sometimes took was shown by an Incl
dent that took place when he first became an
adm!rer OF Wagner's music A summer re-
sort was opened near New York some years
ago and an orchestra under the direction OF q
very capable conductor was brought there to
make the music an especial feature Of the
place. The conductor was u German and his
programmes were not suited to the taste o. all
the visitors. They contained many Wagner
numbers. and against those in particular were
many complaints directed. Col. Ingersoll had
Il cottage ut this resort and every nj xht he APP
peared among the audience listening to the
concert accom- panied by his family lie was
great admirer OF the director aid enjoyed
the music. even II the rest OF the audience were
disposed to consider IL much too heavy. At
last the dissatisfaction with the programmes
became SO general that the conductor was told
band band back to Gsrmany His artistic feelings
were deeply wounded and in his rhagrin he
ss4sa s% G Hh e. Ss sI ss e T H.
way toward herring him and followed 1t. He
told the proprietor that the music Of the place
Of other visitors and that he would leave and
never come back il the programmes were
lant and influential to be offended and won tho
day for the embarrassed conductor who con
ti,qed to exploit Wagner Co. Inserso was
late Anton seldi.. He was in the West when
the conductor died, and he sent by telegraph TO
was read Mt the funeral services In tho Metro:
noItan Opero House II has been asserted
auent writings through his admiration for
Wagnsr's music.
One OF the Fifth avenue restaurants. which
since il moved uptown was commonly sup
posed to have met with little success In com
pnrison with its former great profits. is soon to
be enlarged by the addition Of another wing
on a lot now occupied BY Il private residence.
This will materially increase the resources OF
the restaurant, whose business has Increased
SO much during the past year that the re-
ceipts Of one month in tho spring were S2O.-
600 in advance OF the same month OF the year
before. Just whv the restaurant was not In
the first place built to accommodate larger
mum Der Of patrons it is not easv to under
stand. AS the element OF risk in this case was
not so large as II would have been il new es-
Enlistment had been opened 70 appeal to New
Il place AS large az might be In the frse in
stance has freuuantly been observed In New
10Th, ana u now nOtel opened tnree years ago
has gradually acquired q whole block. al
though it began with only one corner. This
N, msthod 3t building IL prudent and minimizes
architectural features OF the city is not bsne-
hcial. A. the ;epdency OF nearly every place
after few wears. architects frequently make
allowance Tor future development. but even
.So @ 6ey w"u sTs b.s0 0
Striking EXAMPLES OF this have been seen in
fsus ri hTtA tnh t.t ha.a
days of improved taste and architectural meth
"ds ekrert"d to be quito as fine In their way
as she linens Of architecture not devoted en-
trely to commercial uses.
The cables bring frequent accounts OF tho
Jewels presented oy Queen Victoria to tho
fingers or musicians who appear before her.
and they are described ALWAYS as costly and
presumably chosen especially for the fortu-
nate recipients. 1t will be found that In nine
cases ont OF ten the women receive brooches
consisting Of crown surn ounting the letters
~. u. In diamonds. This is the gift which
the Queen gives to her women enter tainers
Just as regularly as she gives camel's hair
shawls TO the brides In her encourage The
brooches said to be bought at wholesale
and thew arc. far. from being the handsome
tributes one would suppose from the descrip-
tons. for the stones are small and thin On
the whole they are a rather economical sub
stitute FOR the fees which would ordinarily be
paid: The presents received by the men for
singing are somewhat more varied In charac-
'"r and range from cigar boxes In silver to
such articles AZ that given TO Tdouard dc
EesIks his summer-n pair Of ,Goblets. One
Duke testows on every singer who comes 20
II! capital is the equivalent OF salary. as only
Paid. The Grand Duke has not decorated
MANY celebrities !atey. Few singers wear the
Al the Metropolitan except on tho German psr-
formers. who seem to have more pride In them
10 due to the fact that German singers are less
Frequently provided with gems than those that
have appeared in other lands.
4 large DEPARTMENT store which provided
many philanthropic schemes for its EMPLOYEES
has lately placed circulating library at their
DISPOSAL. with only one unusual condition as to
its use. Thew are not allowed to ::read the
books on tho way home. There is no obJec-
ton to their reading every moment OF the time
while they are going to work. but tho sir they
submit in apulying, for a book contains the
promise not to read on the way home The
reasons for this rule are obvious enough. The
proprietor had seen many girls straining their
on the way home: so he decided that It would
be mixed bcnsnt 10 give HE employees fur
pleasure. and attached this condition to the use
OF the library.
When n New York woman invited tho Prince
~ Wales to take dinner with her several years
ago at HomburG. and sent him. as usual tho
list OF guests for his approval. her mothers
name was stricken off. with no further s1-
PLANTATION than the implied suggestion tina. the
Prince OF Wales did not care Tor the presence
of old persons ut dinner. SO tho hostess's
mother was not allowed 10 make her appear
ance. The Americans In London have many
similar notifications in their efforts to Sc
cure this guest, and amusing stories are told
of the changes in their plans MADE to suit the
Princes pleasure. One OF these deals with
the prsdicament Of an American who was in
formed NJ very short notice that arrange
mpntS had heen made by the Prince to dine
with her on II certain night. and who found
difficulty In getting Just the persons the royal
guest wanted to have Invited. Thsy were SO.
cured after great deal OF scurry and per
Suasion, for the notice was brief. and most OF
them had engagements already. Then tho
Prince. to the chagrin Of his expected hos tess
declined the tnytation at the last moment. on
the ground that he WAS com PEELED 10 be out O,
London at that time. Even his ouest English
acqualntances are usually ompeed to be az
careful about the selection OF the guests as
tho Americans to whose houses he goes. They
have TO make parties conROniil and IL Is said
that they are sornetimes mt to great straits to