New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-25
KILLED BY COMPETITION.

The question is easily answered-the Astor Place
Opera House killed by competition: not the
competition of English opera with Italian, which
had been in existence for twenty-five years. but of
Italian opera with Italian opera The first lessees
of the new institution were Messrs. Sanquirico and
Patti who had first tried their luck IN Palro's
Opera House. They endured season. Then the
first American manager appeared on the field
the first American manager whose thoughts
were directed to opera exclusively distinguished
the managers of theatres who took hold OF
opera intervals, they did any other sort OF
entertainment which offered employment for their
houses. The manager in question was Mr.. l.. X
Fry, who from the counting house 10 a posi-
ton of which he can have known nothing more
than what he could acquire from attendance upon
opera of which he fond. and association with
his brother w. H Fry, who was journalist by
profession dong the musical critic of The Trbune)
and amateur composer OF more thah reSpectdoIe
attachments My. MaretZek. in his CrotcIlets ana
Quavers'-a book generally married by character
tries TO make 1t appear that MIR; Edward Fly went
into operate management for the express purpose
aniI9us Of the statement is enough to cause
be looked upon with suspicion. the TACT that
formed al the Aston Place Opera House during the
incuInbency OF Edward Fry is a complete refuta-
ton 'Leonora," the only grand opera by pro
fessonal critic ever performed in New AoTk' so
Academy of Music good nine years later. Apropos
Of this admirable and respected predecessor OF
Dana some fifteen or twenty years ago in his
"reminiscences OF Horace Greeley. Mr.. Dana pub
lished large number of letters sent 10 MN, MN az
various times while he was managing editor OF
The Tribune and Mr.. Greeley editor in chief
II was in the days just before the War u the
Rebellion, A political question Of large irlpor-
lance had arisen IN Congress. and Mr.. Greeley was
SO concerned IN II that he went 10 Washington TO
look after It in person and act as special cor,
respondent of his own NEWSPAPER Thence on a
Saturday night he sent dispatch 10 The Tribune
on the subject, but in the issue OF the Monday
following he sought in vain for his coTnmunica-
ton Thereupon ne indited epistle to Mr. Dana
which as II fingers in my memory, ran about as
follows
MY Dear Dana: Last Saturday night sent you
a dispatch about the Campbell affair. cannot
find it IN today's paper. but do find six columns
about the opera by Fry. Now you know that Fry
WILL never be satisfied until he has opera house
devoted exclusively 10 the performance OF his own
operas. What would II cost burn down the
Academy of Music? I wish you would inquire. and
If not too much have II done. and send me the
bill. HORACE GREELEY"
Fry's six columns" amiable exaggera-
ton quite in with the remainder OF the
letter: but testify from consultation OF
the flies of the newspaper which have served
Is of Mr.. FTy's successors for more than a
quarter of a century that the date in ques-
ton The Tribune's critic did occupy three and
half columns with q discussion of the Lagrange
season just ended at the Academy Of Music and