The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1910-03-28
THE HARP CAME BACK
Incident In the Career Of an Old
Time Opera Manager.
4 SURPRISE FOR MARETzEK.


lt Came At . Time When Max Was
Broke and the Sheriff Had Levied
Upon All His Stage Properties-Mme.
Maretzek's Thanks to the Carpenter.
In the old days in New York city.
before there was a Metropolitan or
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 a 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 It.. A round
Of bills for one company was no sooner
posted than the rival billposter COW
cred up the poster with the rival CON-
| pany's sheets.
At last. fer the matinee on Satur-
day, bills at both houses were sudden
~ 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
house packed from parquet to gal
lery Joel had counted the boxes. found
it 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. had lien on the box Office. a
sheriff's officer was in waiting on the
stage, and it was 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. Il
| LII
is good. big house anyway" Then.
turning to his wife. who was the harp
list Of the orchestra be clasped both
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 when
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-
zek's was temporarily in ''hock." and
Mime. Maretzek in tears. with longing
looks at the harp she valued.
The scene of negotiations was trans
ferred to the greenroom just as the Of
fcers making the levy were searching
for more. aud when their backs were
turned the old stage carpenter hurried
Nine. Maretzek away, then called her
back again FIVE minutes after and
pointed to the orchestra.
The harp had disappeared. Clearing
. out everything on Sunday morning
| while the boxes of properties were be
J ing taken away, Max and his wife
stood in the center Of the darkened
J stage. Both were crying. The instru
ment they valued most had been taken
from them. Other things had beer
liberated but no harp. and with g
, scene Of grief that no others thar
themselves could have appreciated
they were silent.
Then Old Man Guernsey stood be
nd iS q
them into space There were a creak
ing of pulley wheels. an injunction
) from the carpenter TO look out fol
your heads" and. lowered from above
came Nine. Maretzek's harp. landing
on the stage between them.
Now you've got it again, get /
away quick" said Guernsey. "StoI
crying aud be thankful. That's all"
He mo- ed of without waiting 70
; thanks. and pathetic scene with Ma,
and his wife closed the incident. T,
them tie harp was as a part Of them
; selves. TO scSe IL was more than
: misfortune, and in q broken voice tn
T lady called the carpenter back to her.
[ please let the harp thank you,
S said she, land listen. 1t will spea.
- Will my nduOSfO Ln1S SUNDAY morn
: ing"
5 She placed herself beside it, seate,
t on a box. and. with a smile tina
e chased away tears, gave for a nomen
+ or two. as only she could give it. til
e air Of the doxology, Praise God
s From Whom All Blessings Flow
s New York Times
IL taxes good horse to run down
" pira flo ond if 4ha 1A.4