SCENE IN A THEATRE

Southland Times, Issue 18945, 19 May 1923, Page 2

SCENE IN A THEATRE

“ANGEL NUMBER 3892." Josef Hofmann, the pianist, had juat finished his part in the concert at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, when a man wearing huge eun glasses, an d who afterwards described himself as I - ran< Helms, and as Angel No. 3892, leaned ovet the railing of a parterre box and shouted: “Plav Chopin’s Funeral March!” Mr Hofmann and the audience looked up in surprise, and the man continued: “God Almighty sent me down to see that the Funeral played and Im going to see that it is done. ’ There was considerable confusion at Helms continued to demand the march, and an usher got Patrolman Arthur Goodwin, who took the man to the West Thirtieth Street Station. The opera house officials tried to return to the man his admitsion money, but Helms refused it, saying that he had no use for money, and suggesting that it be given to Hofmann. Helms would not give his name at first, and would not talk at all until the policeman had permitted him to use the police station piano, on which he played the Funeral March and the Berceuse from Jocelyn. Then he said he was an angel. No. 3892, and had been sent down from heaven to see that those tunes were played at the concert. “I was told to use the name of Helm* down here,” he said. The police sent to Bellevue Hospital for an ambulance, and when a nurse came in, Helms seemed to recognise him and asked about several doctors in the psychopathic ward. He was finally sent to Bellevue for observation.