The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-08
Departure Of Maurice Grau
From Opera Management.
GROWTH OFLovE OF MUSIC
Man Who Gan Manage Birds Of Song
and Keep a Balance on the Right
Side Of His Financial Sheets
One In the Millions.
nv John Marthol).

Il
NEW YORK, Feb 7.-Mr. ]. l. =.
Clarke. veteran journalist. dramatic
critic and dranatist, who. Ike MI "css
some times drops into poetry has come
to the front with the somewhat musty
and ancient topic, The Nationa! Theatre.
Tho managerial bank roll Is to DO pro-
v,ded after fashion outlined by SNAKES
peare himself when confronted py the
short coming Of scenery and properties,
and the necessity OF transporting the
dramatls peysouae from England to
France. or from Venice 10 Genoa Tho
xroat master solved all difficulties by
Chorus, who told pit and galleries the
great scenic shift had been made' MT.
Clark provides the managerial bank roll
fter the method OF Chorus. namely by
suggestion. He. by poetic Inference. soes
In his minds eye Messrs. Whitney NOT
ran and Carnegie, In the guise OF an
gels" handing over bills OF large denom-
nations. 49,
hearts of many fair ladies OF the draInat-
"a profession that must be rudely dashed
to the ground. Tho time will not come
when these three solid men. as angels.
will haunt the green room Of a. National
Theatre. One may be fond OF chamner
music and pay handsomely for the spe-
clal service Of grand opera singer
another may rejoice in tho rare and DELI
cate tint Of a porcelain and pay for
tune to obtain It, and another may scat
ter whole libraries with prodigal hand.
but not one of these would DO apt 70
embark on the dangerous and trublcd
sea OF dramatic management A near
approach to It was once made by certain
gentlemen who undertook for couple
OF seasons to give grand opera at the
Metropolitan Opcra House. Their ex-
perience was lively and eventful: and the
memory Of It stands like scare-crow
in farmers corn field. A younger set
of multi-millionaires, bachelors. OF course
remembering the royal evenings of Jim
Fisk at tho Grand Opera House, might
be lured into doing something for dra-
mato art. Some OF the barbed-wire, tin
can. nickel.plated millionaires. who pass
ed their youth amid tho roar OF forges
and the clang Of anvils and arc now
resting themselves on TUFTS OF opulence,
might welcome tho opportunity ITO ict
the drama" especially II the green room
was a feature Of the establishment
do not know what Messrs. Whitney.
Morgan and Carnegie think of all the
schemes and projects which eminent
public benefactors create for them to
endow. It must be sort Of funny to pick
UP this paper or that, and to discover
in 1t evidences Of the great inventive
ness OF ones fellow man. Of his strenu-
BUSINESS In proposing plans which involve
an outlay OF a few millions. These men
have been largely .the creators OF their
own wealth. whatever It may be, Ind
they have given pretty good evidence
that they propose TO use 1t as 1t best
suits themselves individually. They give
or spend millions as their fancy inspires
them or their inclination directs but It
seems to me somewhat inprudent for
thoughtful and inventive persons to plan
their expenditures for them. Why don't
they plan something practical There
Is John Rockefeller. sadly In need OF
new stomach. He will give millions
for one. Why don't these people who
want ondowments give Rockefeller a
new stomach, and he will endow any old
thing. Or there Ia Henry Clews, with a
head that could play Yorick's skull to
Nat Goodwn's Hamlet, 1t is as smooth
as BILLIARD ball. Cover that pate
would win million or two. Joseph
W ~1aA no Wo0AA ihSo no trouble at all
to finance his National Theatre ie ha
with as much hair as there is on a hair
trunk ana the seeker OF endowmen1s
would secure a new stomach for Rookie
teller or the right hair tonic for Clews.
The departure of Mr.. Maurice Grau
from the management Of the Maurice
GrauS Opera Company. Is far more than
an ordinary everyday event. Presidents
Of railroads and banks can come ana
go. but the man who can handle tho
birds OF song and run successful II.
nancfal sheet In connection with them, Is
one out Of millions OF human beings It
leaves the Metropolitan Opera staring
out into the future with the dismal blank
city blank blankness of one of Jim Ben
nett's owls on his Newport villa gate.
Since tho original and courtly Ed. Stan.
tons delightful lmpersonation Of Man.
aging Director. aided and assisted by the