The daily Alaskan., 1914-01-13
N (aHbJ-c

8
 Here we have social New York's chiefest problem expressed algebraic- ally. N" is the unknown quantity for which d given value is required. IN" is the uncertain quantity which the mathemaucians call a variant" and a." 70" and "c" are the known quantities which can readily be ascer- talned by referring to the real estate records on file in New York city.
 IH word. when the rich man solves 1t he knows eNGctly how much a box at the opera costs to own outright in fee simple. he and his heirs and as- signs forever, if he has the value of .'S"
 The correct answer has only been reached five times in thirty years! Strangely enough too. this right result each time k never the same. Each solution. where "N' has been properly found before the lucky solver begins on his problem. gives higher figures than the one before.
 Today the correct answer is S12O,0O0, the price for which one of the coveted boxes was recently sold.
 The symbol "N" means, in Q word the approval of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Opera. If you can possibly get it and have the S12O,- 900 lying idle to boot, then you can become the proud possessor of a box at the opera-the one and greatest de siderltum of those who would have impeccable social prestige in New York. which means everywhere. It also means that boxes in the golden horseshoe are the COStlest of any opera house in the world The right to have your six places at every perform Gnce of the opera is a mere adjunct to the ownership. It is the fact that you. personally, own the box which is the acme of the whole transaction. It means that your social standing is Al, 1awless. unimpeachable, unassailable, wholly perfect,
 Now let us get right down to figures and solve ou- problem of the opera box We must assume, of course. that We have "N" figured down to nicety that is we have the unqualified ap- proval of the directors of the opera, the hardest quantity Of all to obtain.
 Our known quantities are a matter of record and easy to obtain to the last penny. We find. then, as follows: Our "a" is the value of the building; our "b" is the value of the land; our "c" is the mortgage upon the property as whole. And the divisor, 35, is the number of boxes in the parterre at the opera, of which there can be just thirty-fve, no more and no less.
 So, we can now substitute figures for our algebraic symbols or letters end work out the problem by simple arithmetic. The building is figured at S1OOOOOO and the land at S3,5C0000. Besides this, there is an equity in a loft building where scenery Is stored, which is agured at S1O0O0O. You have just as much a share in the dingy loft as you have in your brilliant red and gold box at the Metropolitan Opera House. So the total real estate value is S4.GCO.OOO. From this you must sub tract the mortgage, which is S1O0O,00O. Our result, then, is S3.GOOOO0. Now, divide this by 35. We get $1C2,S57 That is the cost price of box at the opera. The balance is the sellers profit.
 Look to this fact-the remaining or Iginal box holders of thirty years ago have QuadrupIed their money. They chipped in $5O,OOO apiece then, and now their individual holdings are S12O,- coo each and growing every season. Death alone ever parts an owner from his box, and then 1t stays in the fam ily nine times out of ten. Why?
 Simplest thing in the wOrld-because the box is sure of a handsome income every year. A man could live in style from what his box at the opera would bring him if he had to.
 Monday is the gala night of the week at the opera. A choice box-and they are all choice except that some are choicer than the rest for ocular or auditory purposes-can be rented out at a moments notice for $3,OOO for just the twenty-four Monday night perform ances. There are 12O nights and mat inees of operative performances a week for twenty-three regular weeks and an extra week. So ninety-siX per formances are still left after you have taken in your $3.OOO. Sell your tickets dirt cheap for these, say S1OO for the si1 seatngs. and you have S960O more, or S12,G00 income in all. Throw off the SGO0 for commissions and you have q net income of $12,OOO from your tick