The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-22

rants I suggested to tine woman in charge
that dinner for the actors ought 10 he PAID
for out of the receipts.
MY. but didn't she go up in the air:
She gave me TO understand that she wanted
every cent that came in from that benenC
for her charity and wouldn't give up a
penny for actors or anybody else. Then, to
show how unreasonable these ladies can be,
she sent me word later to order whatever l
thought the company would need, but TO
be sure and make IL good. and that she
would nav for il out of her own pocket.
a certain benefit given every other
year nets about SO OOj 10 its organizers. II
has very strong social influence, and OF
course the patronesses sell most OF the
boxes and seats for high nrices. Ttat
benefit never costs a cent.
The programmes ere donated by m
person. another pays the rent of n hell,
the Gdve rtiss ments are paid for by another
friend of the institution. Of course u
would he just az good for the institution If
this money was contributed directly 20 ~
end the expenses of the concert pSid out
of the receipts in the regular wFy. The
great disadvantage of thPt would I've the
dpcrpFse in the gross receipts.
-The ladies' are not satisfied TO sly that
they took in 5000. They ere only satisfied
when they cen add And every cent OF IL
went TO tho charity
@This view thew take com0s from the fact
that many charity concerts IRE given at
which comparatively littlN r mcins for the
object TO be benefited. Artists ere engaged
for prices Ringing from 81, 900 down, and
the cost OF hall and advertising bring the
expense up TO such n figure hat nothing
to speek Of remcins for the charity"
But advantage il somrtimas taken OF the
inexperience Of the women who hire the
artists. Here Is an ~instance:
Everybody concerned in the affair
neemed determined to square up all tho
losses Of the season, 40 far rs possible, on
the unfortunate ladies' who got I'D this
benefit late in the musical year" seid a
musical manager. ~The woman in charge
determined to meke the affair as musical
as possible and not merely a frivolous
musicale.
-One agent sold her for 81 900 a vioIinist
for whom he had never been able to get
more han $500 before. For a pianist who
was glad all during the season at the chance
10 play for $500 she a TO pay $3.50. Yet
both managers assured her that she was
getting the performers at a bargain.
The worst sting Of the whole ana air came
when a prirna donna who usually received
$500 al unloaded on the committee for
1900. IL happened that his singer was
compelled to lose one performance through
taking a slight cold when she sang for her
managers benefit.
"He swore that she caught her cold at a
supper party to which she went afterward.
She I'VE IL was on his draughty stage
at his benefit and she won out, as he nd
mitted that he owed her an appearance.
When the benent performance came his
way he jumped at the chance to pay the
prima donna her appearance and make
1900 as well.
AIn addition TO all these charges there
was an orchestra costing $500. OF course,
any business manager would rave known
that profit with such an outlay was all but
impossible, even when the prices were high.
The concert took place with the expected
result. Money was lost and then came the
payment OF the artists.
THE woman learned then for the first
time how she had been treated. The loss
turned out to be less than IL might have
been AZ her husband stepped in at this
juncture and found out what these per-
formers were in the habit OF getting. He