The reformer., 1905-01-28
ANGRY ABOUT THE
OPERA PARSIFAL.'

T ~ L.
The colored people, who are lovers
| 1t high-csas mnsical productions,
even at any cost, are ind gnant ovei
he tact that they cannot buy tickets
| % the opera, "Parsifal," which wlll be
| given at the Academy OF Music Tues
day.
Several applied for tickets YESTERDAY
nd becs me angry when il formed thai
| the house WAS tOld out.
Two Negro men offered to pay as
| 'nn"h az $40 For two ticket in the col
ole ed department..
Tie general impre ssion among the
| ,olored people is that their usua
/ uuarte rs in the gallery have Eeen given
/ .ver to the whites. and TINT e. ey Ar'
| peipg eIbowed OUT on this occa sion, re
/ sardIess of their money.
Prominent c. lored " omen OF musical
tbility are discussing the situation IL
heated way, ard it is more than
likely that they will take some step
n regard TO their future patronage If
he Academy.
Mr Rex, the manager of the Aca
lemy, to-day said that 1t is certs inly g
Cact thai the whole house is sold oui
or "FarAifal," md that if II weTt
possible for him to procure 8 hu ndrec
more seats / e would be more than glaC
. { -commodate the colored music
.veFs. The fast is, however, tha,
white people have bought the house
.Acekt the unressrved seaiS
The above which is taken f1on
he news column OF the News
Leader Of last Saturday, Is, indeed
sad reflection upun the culture
refnement, ard self-respect of the
;oloIed people of Richmond, a
east, those who a1e lovers of hisl
lass musical productions, even az
my cost, ard whose usual quarters
II the gallery are generally occn'
pied.
We know not WHO the Negro
niliionaires are who were willing
o pay as much as $1,000 for two
tickets, but we are willing 10 wage
hat they are among the numbel
v.slho complain against being jim
:roWed on the railroads, and who
use the Pullman or parlor Cal
rather than the fegular day coacl
to avoid the separate car Law
Yet, they were willing to pay $40
or seats IN the cclored quarters.
TIE Reformer has often tried t.
ooint out the folly ard the lacl
of self-respsct it showed In the best
;lass of some OF our people, Who
,ontinue to patronize the theatre
,ere which give them the very
yo0rest Of acl lommodation, anC
,ompel them to enter places OF
tmusem.nt through side alleys and
ide doors; aid as poor as the &C
:ommodations are In their quarters,
when something big Is 10 hold the
1oardS they are not allowed tC
wen 60 to those quarters. How
ong will some of cur peapie con.
Inue this practice of going where
they are not wanted, and are plain
y told By the accommodations
given that If you do come 1t will b.
made as disagreeahle as possible
;or you.
Of course, there are many who
| will argue that the plays are In.
.eresring ard elSvating, and if they
wish 10 keep pace with the thought
IF the age, they must accept tht
,est thas Is given them, Sucl
waddle Is Idle, and not suficien
20 cover the head of the insult
which they regularly cffer to theil
own self-respect, To think of t
Jew, or an Itishmaa, OF any othel
| nationality, accepting aocornmo
1ati0ns In a theatre, hotel or an,
)ther place, where he Is denied thai
| tor which he is able and willing tt
pay! Then why should the Negro
aot thousand times rather remain
unacqaainted with the opera or the
irama, save what he may learn OF
hem through reading or havint
chem played on our own instiu
nents, than become acquainted
with them through affcout and In.
Sult to our own manhood and self
respect.