The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-01-07
THE HARP CAME BACK
Incident In the Career Of an Old
Time Opera Manager.
A SURPRISE FOR MARETzEK.

IL Came at Time When Max Was
Broke and the Sheriff Had Levied
Upon All His Stage Properties-Mms.
Marstxsk's Thanks to the Carpenter.
In the old days in New York city,
before there was a Metropolitan or a
Manhattan Opera House and when the
center Of 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 at 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 at both places. Each man
ager had his friends, and the bill
posters had a busy time Of II. A round
Of bills for one company was no sooner
posted than the rival billposter COW
cred up the poster with the rival COM
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 Gil
the houses Alfred Joel was the bust.
ness man for Maretzek and an adept
at ''papering" when necessary. With
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 evel
ready money lender who had put ar
for him" had lien on the box office, 4
sheriff's officer was in waiting on thu
stage, and 1t was a question Of re
plevin before the properties and cos
tunes could be liberated to follow the
company to Philadelphia early next
morning.
"Well, Alfred" quietly said Max, 81
guess I'm used to trouble. But there
il a good. big house anyway" Then
turning to his wife, who was the harp
list Of the orchestra. he clasped bott
her hands, kissed her and remarked
"Let your fingers do their best.
want to hear you play. 1t does my
heart good, you know. even wher
there's trouble"
There was hustling after the per
Torrance. Legal talent was at pre-
MUM, creditors were obdurate. every
thing that was supposed to be Maret
xek's was temporarily in "hock," ant
Nine. Maretsek In tears. with longing
looks at the harp she valued.
The scene of negotiations was trans
ferred to the greenroom just as the OF
ficsrs making the levy were searching
for more, aud when their backs wer'
turned the old stage carpenter hurried
Nine Maretzek away. then called he
back again ave minutes after AM
pointed to the orchestra.
The harp had disappeared. Clearing
out everything on Sunday morning
while the boxes of properties were be
ing taken away, Max and his wifi
stood in the center of the darkene'
stage. Both were crying. The instru
ment they valued most had been take
from them. Other things had bee
liberated, but no harp, and with
scene of grief that no others tha
themselves could have appreciate
they were silent.
Then Old Man Guernsey stood b'
tween them and waved his hand aboy
them into space. There were creal
ing of pulley wheels, an injunctio
from the carpenter to look out fo
your heads" and, lowered from allow
came Nine. Maretzek's harp. landin
on the stage between them.
Now you've got 1t again, get
away quick" said Guernsey. "Sto
crying and be thankful. That's ALL"
He moved OF without waiting fc
thanks, and a pathetic scene with Ma
and his wife closed the incident. I
them the harp was as a part Of then
selves. TO lose 1t was more than
misfortune, and in broken voice ii
! lady called the carpenter back to her.
please let the harp thank you
said she, and listen. 1t will spea
,, With my hands on this Sunday NOR
ing"
She placed herself beside 1t, seate
.. on a box, aud, with a smile thl
! chased away tears, gave for momel
. or two. as only she could give it, Il
, air of the doxology, Praise Go
From Whom All Blessings Flow"
[ A. Nnrk HiInns