The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-01-13
TRIALS OF THE MANAGER.



"Faust" Under Dlfficulties-The Geniu'
Who Couldn't Sleep ON Crooked
Observation-Disclosures on Whom the
Prairie PaIIed-Nevnda's Triumph In
Her own dome.
."There was a story in The Sun the
other day about the launching of anna
teur musicians" said New York
manager. 1T was all true enough; but
I'll tell you right here, that launching
an amateur is easy compared with
steering a professional musical artist
with all sails set. I've done a good deal
of BOTH and, while the financial risks
may not be so great with a successful
professional the wear and tear on a
managers temper is worth $4,000 a
year. You see the amateur usually pins
his faith to a manager and let's him
run things. It's another story with the
professional. He knows more than any
living manager, and he thinks that the
ordinary natural laws in regard to time
and space and necessity don't apply to
him at all. Someone said that all genius
is form of insanity, and / believe it..
Managing concert tours through the
country is like a travelling Blooming
dale asylum. If the artists don't end in
an asylum the manager does. Of course
there are exceptions to the rule, Some
Of the most charming men and women
I have ever met were great musicians
To-, J. 1aSc
obstreperous they are. ! don't pretend
to know the physiological reason for
that. Perhaps SUCCESS smooths them
the right way. They are as full of
whims as ever, but less violent-sort of
q mellow insanity you know.
when 1 have to act as keeper of
foreign lion, give me one that can't
roar in English. If foreigner doesn't
know anything of our language and
customs, he is helpless, and has to de-
pend upon his manager That doesn't
prevent his artistic temperament from
turning itself loose occasionally and
making things interesting for every one
concerned, but is gives the manager a.
weapon of self defence and persuasion.
"A successful manager of musical stars
must have unlimited tact, genius for
expedients, silver tongue, absolute
self-control, iron nerve and capacity
for colossal bullying, if it comes to that.
The manager who gives in, is lost, but
he wants to be very careful before he
makes a stand that it is possible for
ahinas to go his way"
II wish had record of the different
situations in which I've had to call
concerts off and refund money to the
audiences That would throw light on
the eccentricities of genius. When I
think of the apologies I've been forced
to make to the public, it makes me
break into a cold perspiration. Nothing
short of inspiration pulled me through
sometimes There's one thing about an
American audience though. It's the
best natured lump of humanity on
earth. I've tested it often enough to
know. What will make an American
audience simply angry would burn the
building and raise street riot any
where else. Why, one time, had Cam
panini and De We're in a concert quar-
tette up through New England. Things
hadn't been going so very well and the
exchequer wasn't in a state to make me |
willing to see a full house lost. l had
an italian in charge of the luggage, |
and, naturally he wasn't in. the private
car with US. We were billed for |
springfield one night and l had adver- |
tised an act of 'Faust'-new scenery /
and gorgeous costumes Just from Paris. !
We came down from Western Massa
chusetts and our car was switched off |
from the Boston division to the through
train At worcester we had to change
again, and I strolled out to look for my
Dago. No Dago; no luggage. The man
had been fast asleep at the last change |
and he and our baggage were in Boston.
] raved around and kept the telegraph
wires hot until finally it was arranged
that the luggage and the man should
come through on the next train without
checks That would bring them in time
for a late concert. To make long
story short they never showed UP until
10 o'clock that night I was desperate.
The house was all sold out and we
wanted the money.
"'Theres nothing for it, I said to the
uuartette. You must sing.
".But Get ees impossible. We hat not 4
re costumes
"Campanini ran his eyebrows into his
hair. took hold of the corners of his
tight sack coat and whirled around
" 'Eet is all haf,' he said.
emo evening clothes?'
"rEen in my trunk
"'Well, you'll sing in those
''He absolutely walled; No, nevaire!
he declared.
eyes, you will I said
"Then hunted up De We're. She had
m a shabby black skirt, low Shoes :
white stockings, and loose sack under
/ seal skin coat. All her other clothes
we're with the luggage. She said
nevaire'! too; but my blood was up. |
rhe big basso was the only one that
,aved anything out of the wreck. He
lad a frock coat that he could put on | {
With his plaid trousers. I had a tusse; ,
tut T persuaded them that the concert |
must go on, if the audience would stay !
" US. After that / wiped my forehead |
md went out to tackle the public. I /
explained the situation. J assured them |
hat personally, / world prefer return {
ng their money. only consideration
or them prevented my insisting. Cam
,anini would sail for Europe immediate
v This was probably their only chance
to hear the greatest living tenor. Cam c
,anini had refused to sing, but I had {
Headed with him; and, if the audience /
insisted, we would go on. The audience :