Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-06-20

VT was Saturday night ct the Metropo,.
h tan Opera House In New York The
famous Caruso. most goldenthroatcd
or tenors. was &c sing. His gifted country.
woman. Claudia Muzio. was the prima
donna. The opera was "AIanon Lescaut.
From theh luxurious limousines the
wealthtcst men in the world and the love.
Hest anil best-gowncd women were alight.
ing and making their way TO their an
pointed places in the rcsplendent horse.
shoe. Not man among them who could
not sign his check for millions---not n
woman whose jewels were not worth a
kings ransom
But not all those who thronged into the
Metropolitan OH this Saturday night were
millionaire captains OF industry or kings
OF finance. With the leaders OF the smart
set there came also men and women OF the
humber classes OF socicty-peope who
could afford only seats far removed from
me respondent horseshoe. They came.
'hese workingmen and people OF modest
means. not because 1t was fashionable to
attend the opera. not because they had
me clothes or Jewels to display, but to
sratify their love for music
Italian who had come to this country some
lme ago 10 learn american banking
methods, Edgardo Mecchi was the young
mans name He had chosen this night for
his visit 10 the opera for two reasonS-be.
cause Caruso was 10 sing and because the
onera was by Puccni who had been a
friend OF Mecchi's father
He had come early in order to he sure
OF obtaining good seat lie WAS de.
hghieH. Nhcnthls inquiries in the lobby re.
Sultt-i m mis- obtaining one of the coveted
OTIS OF rasteboard.
Perhaps 1t was only good for standing
room or a gallery seattle was not at all
familiar with American ticke,s-bu, even
that was we'll worth having
imagine his delight when the usher led
MN TO 4 seat in parterre box! This eve.
ming would be one to boast OF 10 his friends
ana 10 describe in glowing terms In hts
next letter to Italy. Could there be any
better evidence OF the democracy M ms
wonderful America than the fact that he
was to near Caruso sing from seat in
the famous horseshoe OF wealth and fash.
ion of which he had read so much?
Young Mr., Mecchi made pleasing pic.
ture as he settled himself in one OF The
front chairs OF parterre box No 9 The req
curtains OF the opera house supplied an
attractive background for his dark, hand
some face, radiant with eager anticipation
OF the musical feast
ferhapS he would nave felt less a ease
had ne known that the box IN which he sat
was occupied on alternate Saturday nights
bE IN" rich and fashionable Mrs Willard
straight. Perhaps he would have felt soma
embarrassment had he dreamed that 10.
!lght THIS box was The property Of Mrs
Harr!man-Mrs. T. /! Hartman the widow
OF the great railroad nagnatc founder NJ
the Hartman National Bank. ana mistress
a. million dollar estate on the hanks OF
the Hudson.
But, knowing none of these things. Young
ar Mtcchi only settled himself more com.
ioriaoly in his chair and gave himself No
10 quiet ENJOYMENT OF the brilliant scene
mat was unfolding all around him
ne glanced at the box on his right
Could that girlish, fair haired Young
woman who was just entering he Mrs Vim.
cent Astor' He thought So for the box
was Number I, and he remembered having
read 'hat this was the one occupied by
vincent Astor, the richest young man In
the world "
Just then he felt some one tap him on
the shoulder '
Please let mo see your scat check"
said an usher
From the inside OF his coat. whore Mr.
Mccch! had carefully placed /, when NO
sat down he drew forth the precious h, or
PINK pasteboard The usher scrltinlzcd n
carefully and withdrew
by now the great auditorium was hepin
mig 10 be pretty we'll filed II was al
most time for the curtain 10 rise.