The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-12 00:00:00

Torn Cooke and the Rival Musicians.

AN AMUSING ANECDOTE, FROM A CLEVER NEW MUSICAL
AND DRAMATIC WEEKLY REVIEW CALLED THE
" ORCHESTRA,"
"Mr. T. Cooke respectfully informs those ladies and gentle-
men who may require his opinion of their musical ability,
voice, &c., that his terms for such information are one guinea."
At a certain Philharmonic Society there were a Mr. Mud docks
and Popkins (nom do beadle), who were
e(xl:e'ddieng9uer
lyjree)alcus of each other's singing ; so jealous
were they, that many of their musical reunions used to end
in very un-musical ills-unions; they were always quarrel-
ling with each other ; always impertinent with each other;
and if they dared, would undoubtedly knock each other
down, every Monday and Thursday evening, on which
nights their " Choral Club" met. Such conduct, of course,
could not escape being noticed by the other "mem-
bers," who were most anxious to reconcile them, but
all attempts were ineffectual. However, one night,
when their mutual rage was at its highest, one
of the directors came forward, and said, "Really, gentle-
men, this disturbance cannot be allowed. Pray, be quiet;
do not set such an example." " But, sir," replied Mud-
docks, " this gentleman (pointing to Popkins) says ho can
sing better than me, why (tapping his bosom), the
idea is preposterous. He has no voice ; 'tie
like a mustard spoon rubbed against a worsted
stocking. He can't sing a note." "Pooh, pooh,
pooh 1" chimed in Popkins, with a lisp and most
surprising sang froul, "Now, what do you know about it,
when the moment you open your mouth you put your foot
in it ? You a singer ; why, the idea is ridiculous—non-
sensical—immensely impertinent." Muddocke, who could
not restrain his wounded feelings, burst forth,—" I bet
you ten pounds, sir, that I am the better singer of the tw.
and Tom Cooke shall decide." "Done, sir," calmly replied
Popkins, " I bet you ten pounds; and by this means let us
put a stop to this confounded bickering." With that, they
jumped out of the room; jumped into differents resided
arrived at 92, Great Portland-street, Cooke's
they knocked at the door, then jumped into the hall,
far to
their horror saw the notice. But they had
g°i2notroduccd to
recede ; so they sent in their cards ; were - the guinea;
Mr. Cooke ; explained their business ;agreed to iBand to
fano to give
paid it; when Mr. T. Cooke sat down to the
;01'1 manittes.
his opinion of the merits of these two ``,lE°76h than the
ho approached
Mudducks, the basso, who had morel: tied. With the
bass, in his voice, was the first tolubje,
phrase right
dignity and grandeur of a John IC. e_,n, OD the piano the
the instrument, and gracefully
ePalt`s'
mouth, and began
song of "The Sea," he orpier of A flat, awfully
howling and bawling it outairct_Plea-udizoical
out of tune, no time, and l',th raY,„oi difficulty, stifled his
whilst Mr. Cooke, who, Zoloring, what sort of a singer
feelings, soon seeing, scent on with the accompani-
Muddocks was, trang_g: „.hich was in C. At length they
ment placed befor:c7;
guddocks, the moment his song
was
etas evidently much pleased with his f-
came to the (3°llc:sumptuously anxious for Mr. Cookone'gs
Cooke reminded him that the other' gentle-
wheard before he could form a comparison;
yin be
starts Popkins with a smile, a lisp, per or-
wo
pai en
joovne.r ,
Bat Coo
mance.
man oust
when' complacency •
and great comp , and quietly placed on the
New r°Pkina had aasiolarlt of ocfoun"tEera-rtleyno
the old English b a smirk,
piano .ornvooielkel,obrnu-t
certainly more of the " counter" than the tenor, so that from
his style ofsinging, " Early one Morning" it might have
been "Early one afternoon," or , evening, or night; but at
he had this advantage, he instinctively felt
he was not quit, so bad as his vocal adversary Muddocks.
After the exami
nation had been passed, you may be sure
they were naturally anxious fur Mr. Cooke's opinion. Cooke
was placed in rather a delicate position—to give his candid
opinion Was certainly not a pleasant thing, especially on
ilia °cc'ision. However, they drove him to it —they would
have it; they insisted; and after much hesitation, Hr.
Cooke's opinion was as follows " Mr. Muddocks, after
mat oreconsideration, and as yon insist in having my opinion
with regard to your singing, my candid opinion is that ynup
sir, can't sing at all I and as to my opinion of your singing,
Mr. Popkins, why, I can only say, you are the worst sin
er
I ever heard !" And so ended rather an amusing
se
that Mr. Popkins, the worst singer Cooke ever heard,
a Iteoattnei.d
o ,
gotadd
tween these two amateurs and T. Cooke. But
better
the wager of ten pounds, as he undoubtedl,y," „. Tom
singer than Mr. Bluddocks, who couldn't e ta.
Cooke get a good laugh and two guineas .l