The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1914-08-20
n (a+b)-c

Here we have social New York,
chiefest problem expressed algebraic
ally. "X" is the unknown quantity
for which a given value is required
"N'' is the uncertain quantity which
the mathematician call n variant
and "a" "b" and &C" are the known
quantities which can readily be ascer,
tanned by referring to the real estate
records on file in New York city.
In word. when the rich man solves
1t he knows exactly how much box
at the opera costs to own outright. in
fee simple, he and his heirs and as
signs forever. II he has the value OF
"N"
The correct answer has only been
reached FIVE times In thirty years.
Strangely enough. too. this right result
each time Is never the same. Each
solution. where IN" has been properly
found before the lucky solver lsgins
on his problem. gives higher figures
than the one before.
Today the correct answer Is $4,000
the price for which one of the coveted
boxes was recently sold.
The symbol "N' means, in a word
the approval Of the board Of directors
Of the Metropolitan Opera. If you
can possibly get 1t and have the $780,
600 lying idle to boot. then you can
become the proud posSessor of box
at the opera-the one and greatest de
CT 10 - IA ho IN
impeccable social prestige in New
York. which means everywhere. 1t
also means that boxes IN the golden
horseshoe" are the costliest of any
opera house In the world. The right to
have your six places at every perform.
ance Of the opera Is a mere adjunct
to the ownership. 1t is the fact that
you, personally, own the box which IL
the acme Of the whole transaction. il
means that your social standing Is Al
fiawless, unimpeachable. unassailable
wholly perfect!
Now let us get right down to figure:
and solve our problem Of the opers
box. We must assume, Of course, tina
we have "N" figured down to a meet!
that Is. we have the unqualified ap
prevail of the directors of the opera
the hardest quantity of all to obtain.
Our known quantities are a mattel
Of record and easy to obtain to the las
penny. We find. then, as follows: Oul
"a" is the value Of the building; GU
"b" Is the value Of the land: our "c' 1
the mortgage upon the property as
whole. And the divisor, IS. Is tn
number Of boxes in the parterre a
the opera. Of which there can be jus
thirty-f1ve, no more and no less.
So, we can now substitute figure
for our algebraic symbols or letter
and work out the problem, by simpl
arithmetic. The building is figured a
s1.O0OOOO and the land at $500, OOt
Besides this. there Is an equity in
loft building where scenery Is storet
which Is figured at 100000. You hay
Just as much share in the dingy 10,
as you have in your brilliant red an
gold box at the Metropolitan Oper
House. So the total real estate valu
is 100000. From this you must sui
tract the mortgage, which is $1,000, 90
Our result, then, is 100000. Nov
divide this by 35. We get s102.S IS
That is the cost price of a box at Il
opera. The balance is the seller
profit
Look to this fact-the remaining o
iginal box holders Of thirty years az
have quadrupled their money. The
Clipped in $4,000 apiece then, an
now their individual holdings are S12(
600 each and growing every seaso
Death alone ever parts an owner fro
his box, and then 1t stays In the far
fy nine times out of ten. Why?
Simplest thing In the world-becau,
the box is sure Of handsome incou
every year. A man could live In sty
from what his box at the opera wou
bring him II he had to.
$500