Improvement

The books of the Chicago Civic Opera Company for 1923-24 have just been "balanced." The figures:

Receipts in Chicago $861,127.14

Receipts outside Chicago 649,388.72

Total operatic receipts 1,510,515.86

Miscellaneous income 53,345.00

Total income 1,563,860.86

Costs and expenditures 1,890,620.11

Deficit 326,759.25

This deficit must be met by the "guarantors" of the organization, and represents about 65% of the sum they have actually guaranteed. Mr. Samuel Insull, President of the company's Board of Trustees, spoke cheerfully in announcing this news. "Last year," said he, "the guarantors had to pay $351,718.58--or a full 70 % of their guarantee." Anyone mathematically inclined can now figure out that if the affairs of the company continue to improve at this rate, the backers will have to dig into their bankrolls for only 13 additional seasons--that is, until 1937.