Year: 1879

BROOKLYN performance I arrive ut the Academy
ana rditi tells that the orchestra are under ne
stage like rats and won't come out to play Ihen
call them together and ask. What Is the new con-
plaint?' tDranaticallyl-Dead silence. repeat the
says to in Italian, What a cowardly iot
of fellows' One of the players finally mustered
extra pay h ad not vet been received. I told them
that thought was certainly good for those paltry
few dollars. for in the Twenty-Five years that have
been manager defy living soul i'll the universe 10
say that ever failed to pay any obligation had
contracted.


"A SET BLAcKGUARps."


81 said. This is the first unpleasant word have
ever had occasion to say this stage. and while
regret to use such unpariamentary language mus.
tell you that you are simply set of biacksuards!
They then resumed fddlng. Isaid you've got me
into corner and III concede your demands. but III
me afterward and told me that the majority wanted
to stick By me. but that the musical society pre-
vented their carrying ont their own wishes Said
I'll don't believe it, told you that il you would
stick by me and work according to contract rather
than SEQ yon left in the lurch without place by
the society would hire you all. aud might even
take you abroad with me to Her Majesty's. One
might expect that musicians would have some de-
cency but you care tor nothing but the base dollars
and cents. You had five months in which to notify
me OF any dissatisfaction with your contracts. You
have waited until the last moment. You have
played false with me. and last night, after giving
to understand that you would stick by me, you did
what equal to placing pistol at my head and
robbing me. Here is your pelf! Write me out a
Test Mind you. III get Il all back from you. for





III discharge you ali. 80


''What will be the upshot of all this?"


1.-THE upshot Of all this will be that I'll discharge
the whole lot and get new orchestra by Monday.
The Vice President of the Philharmonic Society came
to to-day and offered me his orchestra composed
OF much better players. Why the flute players did
not play last night. after all shall begin proceed
ings against them FIRST and against the rest after
ward and will have them all put i'll Jail, it possible,
and make example of them Such extortion as
these men practise would not DO tolerated III Zulu
land They cannot be trusted. and they must be r.
moved-all of them. believe the public will be
with me. even If am compelled to appeal to it, and
use two grand pianos until can organize new
chestra suppo sc the writ Is being served the
flute player who broke his contract II acontractis
worth something what's the use of having it at I'll?
Why, in England l should have had the whole lot
summoned the Marlborough Police Court and
sentenced right Off unless they carried out their
tracts played. But in this country, where your
laws in many respects moro severe than with US,
there are two laws you seem to know nothing about
the law of and the law of libel Never mind.
though, the main thing is that am determined not
to disappoint the public and give them brilliant
season OF opera"


RETICENr ACADEMY DIRECTORS.
This closed the interview with the impresaro.
The views of the leading stockholders and directors
of the Academy were sought. but could not be OBJ
cuped with business. preferred to express views
on the affi iir. Mr.. Belmont was out OF town. The
other directors also thoroughly reticent. The
feeling underlying this marked reticence manifestly
was that any continued discussion of the untortu-
nate incident would only cast cloud over the pros
poets OF the opera season, whose brilliant success
they all Lad evidently deeply at heart.