The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1910-01-28
THE HARP CAME BACK
Incident In the Career of an Old
Time Opera Manager.
A SURPRISE FOR MARETzEK.

1t Came at a Time When Max Was
Broke and the Sheriff Had Levied
Upon All His Stage Properties--Mne.
Maretzek's Thanks to the Carpenter.
In the old days in New York city,
before there was Metropolitan or
Manhattan Opera House and when the
center Of the theatrical world was
around Fourteenth street, Max Maret-
eek and Srakosch were prominent at
the old Academy of Music. There was
q 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 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 busy time of it. A round
of 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 at both houses were sudden
ly changed, every vacant fence place
plastered over quickly, and with
pelting storm in the morning the man
ayers began to put out paper" to fill
the houses. Alfred Joel was the busi-
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
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 q 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, y
guess I'm used to trouble. But there
Is a good, big house anyway Then
turning to his wife, who was the harp
list of the orchestra, he clasped botl
her hands, kissed her and remarked
sLet your fingers do their best.
want to hear you play. 1t does mS
heart good, you know, even Whel
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 shock" ana
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
iicers making the levy We're searching
for more, and when their backs were
turned the old stage carpenter hurried
Nine. Maretzek away, then called her
back again five minutes after ana
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 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 q
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 We're q creak-
ing Of pulley wheels, an injunction
from the carpenter to "look out fol-
Your heads,n and, lowered from above
came Nine. Maretzek's harp, landing
on the stage between them
s'Now you've got 1t again, get II
away quickm said Guernsey. "StoT
CRYING and be thankful That's all"
lie moved Off without waiting fol
thanks, ana palnellc SCENE Will Ma9
and his wife closed the incident. TX
them the harp was as a part of them
selves 10 lose 1t was more than
misfortune, and in broken voice th'
lady called the carpenter back to her.
"Please let the harp thank YOU,
said she, ''and listen. 1t will speal
with my hands on this Sunday morn
ing"
She placed herself beside 1t, seate'
on box, and, with 4 smile tina
chased away tears, gave for . momen
or two, as only she could give 1t, til
air of the do..olegy, Praise God
From Whom All Blessings Flow
New York Times.
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