The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-20
OPERA TICKET SCALPERS.
Their Worst Work Is the Cheating
Of Music Students.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SrS-Sir: For
the third time this season I have been
disappointed Ia getting seats TO hear
Miss Farrar sing Carmen at the Metro
politan. Wednesday morning ! was one
of the early ones, despite the storm, TO
stand In line N await a turn at the
ticket window. There were III persons
ahead OF me In the line.
When I finally got to the box Office.
after an hour of waiting. l was suavely
and firmly told that no more tickets
were TO be had. I remarked: You have
sold out very quickly" The man In the
box office replied Certainly have"
Becoming angered because OF my third
disa appointment. due twice to my inability
10 get seats because of the house being
''sold out" although l was on the Job
quite early both times. and once owing
10 Miss Farrars illness, I told the man
in the box hat they were not dealing
/. square with the public and that undoubt-
eddy the .'scalpcrs' got all the tickets
they wanted. The man blushed and
hum his head.
Near the box office were three gem
tlemen who gave me a sneering smile
at the mention Of the word 'scalpsrs-'
They seemed To enjoy the embarrassment
OF myself and others who had TO turn
away upon learning thai no seats were
for sale for Carmen
A young lady. the 18th In line. with
tears in her eyes told the that she finds
Il difficult to get tickets worth having
for any of the operas at the box office.
but che would have no trouble In get
ting them from the "scalpers' providing
she was willing to pay their price
on leaving the theatr. I WAS con-
frorted with eight "S'alpcrs' 1oshinG
each other as to how many tickets each
one was able TO secure for the operas
during the rest of the season. over
heard one OF these public guttcrsnipcs
boast OF having two rows OF tickets for
Carmen" while another laughlngly
said that he could only get one row.
Standing near these men were four
fat. able bodied policemen. sent there
40 doubt at the request Of the opera
house management to watch the people
and keep them In order, but these min
ions OF the law had cyes that saw not
the 'scalpers." although tn" policemen
must have known why they were hang
ing about the opera house.
on opera nights these "scalpere." de-
spite the fact that there Is a law gainst
their nefarious business. brazenly ply
their trade with officers Of the law
standing about. In order TO learn
whether | could obtain tickets from the
many agencies infesting Broadway 7
! made inquiry. and WAS told. as Was ex-
pectei. that | could have all the ticket,
| wanted. but M prices double that Of
tho regular box Office charges.
From what I have learned from those
IN position TO know. the remedy for
ticket scalpinI lies In the box Offices OF
the theatres and Nowhere else. II II
alleged that they are In cahoots with the
'scaipers" and hat managers care very
little for the feelings OF the public so long
is they can get a better price, which IL
usually 80 cents or 81 and even 81
higher than the price they get from the
public. Moreover. Il Is useless to look
10 Albany for "A law s%boiishing such an
INSCRIPTIONS combination.
1t Is wicked thus to cheat the thou.
sands OF young persons who come "a
New York to study musir out Of an on.
portunity to hear the worlds great art
lists In their favorite roles.
CLINTON b. DAVIS.
New York. March rs.