Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-02-11
THE HARP CAME BACK
Incident In the Career of an Old
Time Opera Manager.
A SURPRISE FOR MARETzEK.

it Came at Time When Max Was
Broke ana the Sheriff Had Levied
Upon All His Stage Properties--Mme.
MaretzeRs Thanks to the Carpenter.
In the old days In New York city
before there was Metropolitan or a
Manhattan Opera House and when the
center or the theatrical world was
around Fourteenth street, Max Maret-
EEK and Strakosch were prominent at
the old Academy OF Music. There was
keen rivalry between them. Stra-
kosch had Nilsson, and Maretzek was
exploiting Di Murska.
BY some error Of dates both were
booked for New York ut the same
time. Strakosch was at the Academy
and Maretzek. having closed a poor
season elsewhere. had halted In New
York before going to Philadelphia and
secured week at the Lyceum theater
on Fourteenth street. There were
strong bills Mt both places. Each man
ager had his friends. and the bill
posters had a busy time OF 1t. A round
or bills for one company was no sooner
posted than the rival billposter coy
cred up the poster with the rival COM
pany's sheets.
AT last. for the matinee on Satur-
day, bills ut 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 oil
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 I'D
for him" had a lien on the box office. n
sherif's officer was In waiting on the
stage, and II was a question of re-
plevin before the properties and cos
tunes could be liberated to follow the
company to Philadelphia early next
morning.
We'll. Alfred" quietly said Max. "I
guess I'm used to trouble. But there
is a good. big house anyway Then.
turning to bis wife. who was the harp
list OF the orchestra. he clasped both
her hands. kissed her and remarked:
LET your fingers do their best
want to hear you play. IL does my
heart good. you know. even when
there's trouble"
There was hustling after the per-
Torrance. Legal talent was ut a pre-
MUM. creditors were obdurate. every
thing that was supposed to be Maret-
zek's was temporarily in "hock," and
Nine. MaretEek in tears. with longing
looks at the harp she valued
The scene OF negotiations was trans
ferred to the greenroom Just us the Of
fcers 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 Eve minutes after and
pointed TO the orchestra.
The harp had disappeared. Clearing
out everything on Sunday morning
while the boxes or 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 no 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 n creak-
ing or pulley wheels, an Injunction
from the carpenter to ''look out for
your beads" and. lowered from above.
came Nine. Maretzek's harp. landing
on the stage between them.
Now you've got 1t again, get II
away quickT said Guernsey. stop
crying and be thankful. That's ali'
he moved or without waiting for
thanks. aud n pathetic scene with Max
and his wife closed the incident. To
them the harp was as a part OF them
selves. To lose Ii was more than a
misfortune. and In broken voice the
lady called the carpenter back to her.
please let the harp thank you"
said she. land listen. II VIII speak
with my hands on this Sunday morn
ing"
She placed herself beside IT. seated
on box. and. with a smile that
chased away tears, gave for a moment
or two, as only she could give 1t. the
air OF the doxology, praise Cod.
From Whom All Blessings Flow
New York Times.