The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-15

| who figure in the seasons theatrical offer
ings. The other three are in George AIDES
opera. Peggy From France: Frances Ay
mar Mathews's comedy. My Lady Peggy
Comes to Town and adaptation of An.
thony Hopes THE Intruslons of Peggy
A man walked up to the box-office win
dow al the theater
What have you eotT' he asked in that
indefinite way In which a great many peo-
pie act when buying theater tickets
For what night asked the box-offlce
man.
why. tonight of course" said the
prospective purchaser, seemingly surprised
that the ticket-seller wasn't mind-reader
How many seats do you WANT" asked
the box-office man. still bent on getting
some definite information.
The prospective purchaser showed more
establishment.
Il asked what kind Of seats you had for
tonight" he said.
And 1T depends upon how many you
want said the boX-offce man. Il can give
you one seat in the fifth row, but I can't
give you two. I can give you two seats
IN the ninth row. but / can't give you
three. If you want four seats I'll have to
put you in the back row. There have been
several hundred persons buying seats here
to-day"
ihS tHNatSi pfitioil Two seats IN
the ninth row and went away convinced
that the man in the box office was IA very
tnsolent fellow. The office man was
convinced that the theater patron was a
crank. but he said nothing Whatever
might have been the faults of the theater
patron. he had to be respected He was
spending his money with the theater.
The week now opening will witness the
termination of the Maurice Grau regime in
grand opera. and New Workers. are mani
Testing almost a sentimental interest in the
farewell bills. Tomorrow night Don
Pasquale' and "Cavalleria Rusticana" will
be sung at the Metropolitan Opera-house
On. Wednesday .'Lohengrin'' will be the
opera. and New York papers announce "a
swan song in real earnest Friday night.
which will be the last subscription night of
opera under Mr.. Grau. La File du Regi-
ment' and Der Valid" will be sung.
Faust is the bill for the Saturday matt
nee. and Die Meistersinger'' for the last
popular performance Saturday evening. On
Anril q Mr.. Graz will have a benefit at the
Metropolitan. at which all his stars will
in bill of special numbers.
Signor Mancinelli. whom st. Louisans re-
member as the director of the Grau COM
pany's orchestra in the local season of
1894 and later in a similar capacity for
Colonel Savage and his Castle Square
opera company, recently distributed Amefl-
can dollar bills to the stage hands, who as
sisted in reviving his Hero and Leander."
1t is said that be was amazed at the size
OF the army that materialzed for the dis
tr1bution. but he stuck to his task and is
now known as 1the biIlion-dollar conduc-
tor along Broadway
1t Is positively announced by some East
ern newspapers that Richard Strauss has
resigned his position as first conductor of
the Royal Opera in Berlin and for the next
i've years will be attached to the Metro
politan Opera house in New York City The
directors Of the Conried Opera Company,
however. do not seem to have authorized
the announcement of Strauss engagement
with the Metropolitan. and Mr.. Conried
himself declines to be interviewed on the
subject.
Duss. "the millionaire bandmaster," is
evidently determined to dazzle New York
with the brilliancy of his concert engage
ment. which opens in that city on May n
next. with Nine. Nordica and Edouard de
Reszke as the soloists. Madison Square
Garden Is to be transformed into a Vene
tian fairyland. We are told. with gondolas
on the Grand Canal, the piazetta of st.
Marks serving for the music stand. backed