The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-30
ALL KINDS new YORK THERE
OPERt iTTRACTS EVERY PHASE
or THE (ITI'S LIFE.
Diamonds In the Orchestra. More In the
Partcrre Chat M the Boxes the
Titled FOrcigncrs-irs aingniiicenre
and More Enthusiasm a. You 60 ~

and More Enthusiasm a. You 60 ~. |
The hr-t-night audience at the Metro |
polnan Opera House is always "A Kind OF
social po,isse caf6. containing "A little oil
every phase of the city's life. Probably
the lowest stratum i, not represented
within the theatre, hu, il il found outside
scurrying with great sho" Of zeal TO call
carriage, ;lat will probably never appear
or trying to sell "op"ry books; books OF the
opary!" al reduction Of 10 cents from
the price asked inside 10 persons Who have
paid 81 for heir seats
When The aIdiruc" il finally assembled
ina IN, theatre, II Is a vcritahc collection
of New York life. From the orchestra
stalls mp through the part"rr" and grand
tier boxes. the dros- circl" and haitohy
40 the family Circl.. there j. a typical "is-
piav of hi, city, different social sets,
using the adjective IN it, broadcast seil@".
All are gathered under the great chandelier
that ,wing- from ia" ceiling a. they are
| assembled nowhere else in the world unless
| it he on "A transatlantic steamer.
The crowded orchestra stalls FURNISH
| a display of wealth that would anywhere
else IN the world be thought unsurpas--
! able. But at the METROPOLITAN this Is i'll
! fcrior 20 IN" display Of ia" part'rrc 70"
| Of boxes III that thr women who Ill DOWN
| stairs ii, not wear diamond tlaras nor
gowns low enough in the neck 10 show their
diamond collars But everything else that
proclaims wealth II visible.
| And now that the demand for seats by
| tha season il 80 great al the Metropolitan,
these outward and visible signs of riches
are a. common IN the back rows OF the
orchestra a. they are in the front Draugh's
from swinging doors sway aigrettes
sparkling with gems.
| And there is degree Of humiliation in
yolyed in sitting so far from the stage in
the orchestra. Such IA distance means
that the habit of opera is recent one in
that family,
Sometimes luck in getting places that
| have been abandoned enables newcomers
10 slip into more desirable seats. But that
event is rare.
Two carefully undulated heads drew
close to each other on Monday night a. a
woman walked consciously down the aisle
followed by a man. They went well down
toward the stage before the usher stopped
and showed them two aisle seats.
"One would suppose from her airs.
remarked one of the women, that she
had been sitting down there by the stag
all her life. She really got them only las
| wear. just before the season closed. Some
body died and the family transferred tn
seats to her husband Yet you'd suppos
/, | she'd never sat anyw here else in her life.
Il don't think it's fair" her companion
, ! answered. We've been here three year.
/ IL ANYBODY dies the old subscribers lik
= US ought to be moved down. Will 70
i look at that woman in that b, r."
" Then the two start the favorite diversio
Of all the orchestra seat subscribers VIII
a are not acquainted with the occupant
q of the parterre boxes by sight and nan
d both The faces Of the parterre poop
u are seen in the horseshoe and their nam.
:, are on the programmes. The fun Of Il
thing consists in joining the two.
r. It. AN interesting game to play. althoue
. il il not always easy to say when it's III
II ished For the players never know e.
actly if they really have won until the
have seen the same woman so often
the same box that it il evident that 81
must be the person whose name is prin''
there.
But there are complications in the gam
a. some Of the parterre subscribers con
only on certain nights and the program
sometimes says odd matindes' or "ev'
l
interesting problems.
Back OF the orchestra stalls stand I
rows of those who have bought admiesl
tickets. Among them arr always II
women. who are compelled To defer To I
dress requirements TO the extent OF TAXI
of their hats
Then there are in this stratum OF the ope
audience men who come to hear the ope
! and see the audience. There il always
small army that buys admission tickets
| 80 MI "a, Ia th..p lnh
A | rails.
Two of this army were talking togetl
/ on last Monday night. They were In !
peccable evening dress.
I'm all right tonight y one OF them "a
drawing on his white gloves, II am invit
to the Mrs. Tabbycat's box. II looked "
teriay until O'Clock, though, ~ thong
were going to be left. But thought then
old Mrs. T. and called on her. ! landed
invitation in ten minutes. Then got
and ran. Had TO pay my admission, i hougl
80 did |. I'm standing up until the br
of a Smithjones gets out of his wife's b
Then III 90 there. He usually leaves al
the first act, when he comes AT all.
The men parted. One started up
stairs to the parterre tier. The other W
into the auditorium. looked about and u
followed his friend upstairs To lounge in
corridor until the husband had left the wi
box.
- Two Young men walked slowly up
ing steps after them to the same parterre I
maj They were talking in French
i've That pig of d'Aux is sitting in
and box OF Mrs Y" snid one OF them, and
,a hasn't been hero week. These people tn
ON that a prince must he the greatest persol
" the world even though his family he
are years old. That mans great grandfat
ade was shopkeeper in Mars Hes; hui
Of happfnS o 40 va , and ho, Woman ha
noticed me
I'm going in to speak to her to-nigl