The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1909-12-17
THE HARP CAh,L LICK
Incident In the Career of an Old
Time Opera Manager.
A SURPRISE FOR MARETzEK.
II Came at . Time When Max Was
Broke and the Sheriff Had Levied
Upon All His Stage Properties-Mme
Maretzek's Thanks to the Carpenter.


Upon All His Stage Properties-Mme
Maretzek's Thanks to the Carpenter.
In the old days in New York city.
before there was Metropolitan or 4
Manhattan opera House and when the
center of the theatrical world was
around Fourteenth street. Max Maret-
zeS ana Stakusch were prominent at
the old Academy of Music. There was
keen rivalry between them Stra
koSch had Nilsson. and MaretZek was
exploiting hi MurSka
BY some error of dates both were
booked for New York ut the same
time StrakoSch was ut the Academy
and Maret2ek having closed poor
season elsewhere, had halted in New
York before going TO Philadelphia and
secured week at the Lyceum theater
OH Fourteenth street There were
strong bills AT both places Each man
ager had his friends. and the bill
posters had Il busy time of It, A round
of bills for one company was no sooner
posted than the rival blllposter GOV
cred up the poster with the rival con-
pany'S sheets
At last, for the matinee on Satur-
day, bills at both houses were sudden
ly changed, every vacant fence place
plastered over quickly. and with a
pelting storm in the morning the man
ayers began to put out paper to fill
the houses Alfred Joel was the bust
ness man for Maretzek and an adept
at ''papering" when necessary. With
a house packed from parquet to gal
lery joel had counted the boxes. found
only 500 in the house and announced
1t TO Max when the curtain fell be.
tween the acts
This WAS serious to Max. The ever
ready money lender who had put up
for him" ha@ "a lien on the box office, Il
sherin'> officer was in waiting on the
stage. and was question of re
pleyin before The properties and cos
tunes could be liberated to follow the
company T. Philadelphia early next
morning
We'll. Alfred" quietly said Max. 81
guess I'm used TO trouble. But there
is a good. biz house anyway" Then,
turning to his wife, who was the harp
isl Of the orchestra. he claspcd both
her hands. kissed her and remarked:
let your fingers do their best
want to hear you play. 1t does my
ST
there's trouble
There was hustling after the per
formance Legal talent was at a pre-
MUM. creditors were obdurate, every
thing that was supposed to be Maret-
zek'S was temporarily in hook and
Nine Mare,zek in tears. with longing
looks at the harp she valued.
The scene of negotiations was trans
ferred to the greenroom just as the of
ficers making the levy were searching
for more. and when their backs were
turned the old stage carpenter hurried
Nine Maretzek away. then called her
back again five minutes after and
pointed to he orchestra.
The harp had disappeared. Clearing
out everything on Sunday morning,
while the boxes of properties were be-
ing taken away Max and his wife
stood in the center of the darkened
stage Both were crying The instru-
ment they valued most had been taken
from them Other things had been
liberated. but 10 harp. and with
scene Of grief that no others than
themselves could have appreciated
they were silent.
Then Old Man Guernsey stood be
tween them and waved his hand above
them into space There were a creak-
ing Of pulley wheels. an injunction
from the carpenter TO look out for
your heads" and. lowered from above,
came Nine Alaretzek's harp, landing
on the stage between them.
Nov you've got it again, get it
away quick" said Guernsey. stop
crying and be thankful That's all"
He moved off without waiting for
thanks, and pathetic scene with Max
and his wife closed the incident To
them the harp was as a part of them
selves 70 lose ii was more than
misfortune. aud in a broken voice the
lady called the carpenter back to her.
Please let the harp thank you"
said she, and listen. 1t will speak
with my hands on this Sunday morn
ing"
She placed herself beside it. seated
on a box, and, with smile that
chased away tears, gave for moment
or two. as only she could give It. the
air of the doXOIogy, Praise God.
From Whom All blessings Flow
New York Times
Trouble Ahead.
4 north Gnttptry garnpar L. IN Ia I..