The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1910-11-25
OPERA SEATS 500 EACH.

New York, Nov. 21.-The opening Of
the grand opera season in New York
came with rush of folk and a crush
of money unprecedented in the his
tory of the Metropolitan opera house
"a sensationalism not at all to be
accounted for by the fact that Glucks
ancient opera, "Armide," was to be
presented for the first time in this
country. Whatever the beauty of the
opera it has no pretense, theaterically
to splendor.
The audience, however, supplied
that quality in high degree. 1t went
further. That part of the population
Of New York which for generations
has found II easy to keep in steady
glow a blaze of opulence and that 9th
er part of the population Wnith has
just found itself able to have money
to burn, swept down upon the Metro
politah in silent limousine cars and
jolting, laxative taxicabs so that the
glittering vehicles were in line for
blocks in all directions.
Perfumes from jeweled coiffures and
rosy shoulders flooded the street.
Traffic policemen grew hoarse. The
ticket spectators can remember no
other such Eldorado. The gloved
hands of womens escorts reached out
feverishly to snatch orchestra chair
tickets, Haunting in return for every
single one Of them a 800 bill.
In other words, late corners last
night paid for an orchestra seat the
| price of diamond ring, suburban
real estate lot or an operation for an
pendicitis,
Money, red, yellow and green, was
shunted swiftly into the clutches Of
the spectators for stall box seats al
$50 seat,
/ In the ohe0Sh of those who woult
be there the dress circle" ordinarily
available at SO place, went aeroplan
ing till you couldn't sit in one of those
retired hooks unless you had $2t
bill to wipe across the eyes of side
walk vendor OF goldenly precious
pasteboards.
There were many hundreds VIII
passed the Spectators in scorn an
lined up at the Metropolitan box OF
fee TO ask for seats at regular prices
but WHO came back humbly to be
seech faTors of the pariahs of tn
piaylfouses. Some crumpled togethe
at the price demanded and went II
stead to a vaudeville show. But tn
majority administered obesity cure
to their money rolls.
For the first time in four years tn
Metropolitan stands this season as tn
!, sole home of grand opera. The rank
I of society and near-society that broK
i and were serried by the advent {
u Hammerstein and his Manhattan hav
t closed again to solid army. SOciet
u had to be there, even if it quit I'll
: horse show to get there. And near 81
! ciety was even under greater nece
sity to show itself. And the hypn
o tized onlookers and worshippers {
= the bediamonded population must ais
IL needs be there, even at cost of weel
q of scrimping.
: Those secure in their holding 4
subscription boxes or who had mac
E. reservations otherwise did not hee
IS the injunction that the somewhat Tor
s opera would begin at sharp"
Z O'Clock. The celebrated "diamor
g horseshoe" of the Metropolitan box
e had not been completely forged uni
e $50.
IS There was a noticeable change
the house program. In it was printt
a last night the argument" or plot
X the opera. This enlightenment hi
d never before been offered on Metr
u politan program.
l. The opera house seems to have b
l. gun the richest season 1t has ev
e known from monetary viewpoint.
d. The subscriptions already record,
lie reach 100000