Sale of Philharmonic boxes

“Busy with affairs of Wall St. & of the Philharmonic. All seats in the Academy, except a few cavern-like positions far back in the balcony were sold before ten a.m. This is exclusive of boxes, which are to be sold at auction. I have been bombarded all day by notes & calls from people who could not get good seats, or any seats, & are sure there has been foul play somewhere. I expect a concentric fire of newspaper squibs. Subscribers generally favor the new system, & its adoption increases by thirty three percent the receipts of the Society from that source. It remains to be seen to what extent it will diminish receipts from buyers of single tickets.

Mrs. Belcher, wife of my provisional mediciner of last summer, writes me a petulant, cantankerous note—how she went to the music store, at a little after ten this morning, & couldn’t get good seats, & how she is sure there was cheating somewhere. The fact is that people waited at the doors of these shops before they were opened, and that all the good seats were sold by nine o’clock. But she accuses Pond’s shop of demanding $5, instead of $3 for a reserved seat, & I must look into that allegation.”

"Sold proscenium boxes for concerts & rehearsals, 12 o’clock, at 68 Wall St. The prices were $90.00 & $180.00, according as the box held four or eight. Boxes for which there was more than one applicant, I put up at auction, and Clarence Seward paid $30, and Otis Swan $45, above these prices. Mrs. Farnum failed to get a box because her agent (Edward Bell’s clerk) didn’t feel authorized to go above $90, & Edward Bell came here this evening to say that the lady was in deep afflictions, & I have a note from her beside. I can arrange the matter by giving her one of the seven boxes that are unsold. I wonder anyone wants these proscenium boxes. They are the worst places in the house for hearing music. Proceeds of this morning’s sale: $1,245.00." 

"At 3 p. m. to Academy of Music for auction of boxes (other than proscenium boxes). Quite a large company assembled in the “foyer,” including a few ladies—Mrs. Ruggles—Mrs. Parker & Mrs. Minnie De Neufville, & Miss M. L. Comstock. Auctioneer Muller. Sale lasted till near six, during which period I was badgered, appealed to, invoked, called upon, required to decide, & confidentially informed—by many people as to many matters. It was quite a lively & eager assemblage. There were questions whether this & that bidder was a speculator & I had to determine them. In one case I told Muller to take the bid, in others I ruled it out. We had decided not to sell to speculators, if we could help it. They cannot by wholly excluded. All we can do is to put obstacles in their way, and our efforts to do so seemed generally & heartily approved.

I bid off the first choice at $135 [illegible] price $52) for W. Muller, who liberally gave us his gratuitous services. Few of the front boxes brought us less than $110—and the lowest prices were about $65. Schaad the secretary, & Beisheim the treasurer, who were receiving pay from purchases, seemed to be considerably muddled by the crowd & the noise. I don’t believe their “cash” will come out right. But most of the buyers were people who would take no advantage of oversights, & there will be no considerable loss that way. Had I been an accurate man of figures, and an expert in the telling of money, I would have volunteered to help them. But being nothing of the kind, I thought it best for both parties that I keep wholly out of the embroilments & controversies that may, & probably will, grow out of the mistakes they have doubtless made. My interference would have merely added to their confusion & compromised 'the president.'"

"Paid over proceeds of sale of Philharmonic proscenium boxes: $1,695.00."

"Philharmonic proscenium boxes sold at my office this morning." 

"Sale of Philharmonic proscenium boxes this morning. Reserved seats sold last week, & went off like a flash, though raised to $5.00."

"Waited in 21^st St. with old Schaad for purchasers of Philharmonic proscenium boxes, but nobody came. Some half dozen are already secured, however. The coming Philharmonic season looks unpromising."

"Sale of Philharmonic boxes at the Academy of Music this p.m. They brought panic prices, & many were left unsold."

"Visit from an infuriated lover of harmony, protesting against gross fraud in sale of Philharmonic seats at Heuser’s music shop. He proposed writing to all the newspapers, & calling an indignation meeting, in which purpose I subtly encouraged him, under semblance of soothing his angry passions ('the left heel, insidiously aside, provoked the caper, which it seemed to chide'). The more fuss about this swindle the better. Schirmer and Heuser, both have acted most dishonestly & scandalously, & in direct violation of their instructions."