The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-11-20
our HOMELIKB OPERA HOUSE
why MANY NEW iORk WB-
NRIBERs FIND Ut 10.


OF the house.
-Hon,shke," the English woman echoed.
scanning the vast auditorium. THAT -
about the last word | would think OF using
Even In Europe, where opera houses are
smaller than yours. never heard any one
call them homeike."
In expressing AN opinion On this point
an official OF the Opera House said that
none but "A New Yorker who was a regular
subscriber would be likely TO understand
the box owners remark for in no other
city Of the world was there an opera house
representing exactly the conditions ex-
sting at the New York house, and further
that it was impossible for an occasional
visitor 20 detect the atmosphere created
10y tn. gathering together night after night
he season around Of n certain number Of
persons who for many years have prac-
tically owned the parterre row Of boxes.
the most renowned and conspicuous. il
not the most important. feature Of the
house " il these box holders. he said,
who in particular find the atmosphere 80
homelike; men "a well m women. In
Europe to sec men who occupy the seats
Il the mighty descending between acts
TO sit and chat Economically in rooms
ad jacent to the box Office with paid officials
Il the Opera House would cause great
surprise. Here said the official. -on
opening night in particular. and on any
night which marks their first visit Of the
season, also on many other occasions,
the wsalthIest, most prominent New
Workers. drop in on us with IA much cor
diality rs they show when visiting friends
IN the boxes. New iork's rich men may
be stiff but il couldn't he proved by the
working force Of the Opera House"
But further points given nv tn. official
made Il plain that the hOm"liks atmoa
phsre referred 10 il the outcome more
particularly Of the feminine presence. II
- woman's influence which from first To
las has made and does make the horseshoe
a thing OF beauty and a iov not only 20
! occupants OF seats more lowiy but 10 the
box holders themselves. Those most
familiar with opera house secrets say that
20 accuse box owners of atiapding tn"
opera merely for fashions sake and being
"A good deal bored by the proceeding
shows that the accuse-s are not slightly
acquainted even with opera box wn.rs
II has come 10 pass. an authority says
that there IL no gathering Of society IN.
wear around which partakes much of
the nature Of n house warming and re-
union Of old friends as that seen at tia.
/
the season and none more ENJOYABLE to
the persons concerned. In less de-
gree the same il true Of almost every
performance The opera house il the on.
public place in New York the authority
said. where visitors from abroad and
homecoming Americans may easily get a
comprehensive view Of society ~ clos.
range note changes vi Inch hav" occurred
in one or ten wears. as the NAV he
and hest Of all meet a larG. number of
friends and acquaintance. IL il the one
public place where the personnel of box
occupants represents unfailingly tho
J socially prominent Of New York. persons
known 20 each other IL not exactly on
intimate terms.
Box owners long ago took this matter
into their own hands. a. the man at the
box Office window tried 10 make clear the
other day to an applicant for box for an
operatic performance not included in the
regular subscription nights
Except for the Sunday night concerts
the clerk told her. we have nothing 10
do with selling the boxes. which are owned
nv individuals and az their disposal for
all weekday performances
oh she said. disappointedly. But
aren't they sublet ever"
, YES but the Office where YOU go 10 see
, about that is around the corner" Hope
fully the applicant. a newcomer 10 New
York. went around the corner. found the
Office and made her plea.
With the manner OF one accustomed to
the situation clerk told briefly ~ the
private ownership Of the boxes and that
seldom they were sublet. Then saein e that
-ha was still unconvinced he went into
details and Used palmer speech.
Unless YOU are personally acaua inted
with a box owner and know his friends
there Is no possible chanc" Of renting his
box for any occasion. for the reason that
invariably he has personal friends an Nious
20 take the box az any time
With everybody knowing everybody
else and each spott ing at once n stranger
A visitor. whose identity before the end
81 tho performance has usually gone tn"
rounds NJ the boxes. II ~ not so III ffiCult
after all TO account for the NJ home feeling
experienced by regular hahItu"= and
which extends 10 nearly onc-third of the
occupants Of orchestra seats. which for
y several years have been subscribed for
10y the same persons. some 81 whom are
box holders on certain nights
A custom which has helped TO promote
q feeling OF indiviciua Possession. n sor,
OF In my own house feeling. il changing
the fittings Of boxes 10 suit the taste Of
the owner. Comparatively few Of tho
boxes in the parterre row are now fitted
with the small angular upright. gilded
six chairs representing the riginaI com
plrmpnr-h handsome cha rs IN u way. but
not ND 20 the ideas Of luxury entertained
by IN. users Of one and another box
The latter. adhering u course to the
prevailing color ~ the house have sub
-titu,ed from two 70 four roomv softly
upholstered ariuchairE. two Of which All
III. width Of the box
II il in the ant"rooIns though that
individual taste has most chanc. for
EXPRESSION. Here Colors NAV IN. changed
according 10 taste. although old Tusa.
and other warm shades are most often
seen. and floor carpets. mirrors sofa
/. and chairs may represent n -D.riod- AZ