The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-27
HALF A CENTURY OF MUSICIANS
RecOIIections of Henry Phillips.

RecOIIectiOns of Henry Phillips.
Mr.. Henry Phillips is q well-known English
singer, who has been many years before the pub
Ac, and has just printed an interesting volume Of
gossip concerning the musicians he has met dur
ing his career, and also concerning his own adj
ventures Mr.. Phillips father was, we are told,
n gentleman by birth, and admitted q barrister,
with the advantage of a private fortune to sup
port him on the uphill way of his profession.
Bnt he was stage-struck, and suffered accord
ingly-threw up his profession and became the
.'Macbeih," Hamlet" and "Othello' Of coun-
Try circuit.
At Weymouth the "Ophelia" to his Hamlet
was Miss Barnett, bright-eyed lady of German
and Jewish extraction, who, at the age of nine,
had been singer at VauXhal, and had been
ssAprenticed 10 DIR. Hook, the father of Theodore
Is she never fairly cultivated the natural gifts
of her voice, she had fallen into the post of first
singer at the country theatres. At Wey-
mouth her singing took the fancy of George
III, who then frequently visited that watering,
place, and she took altogether the fancy
of MIR. Richard Phillips, still man of worldly
means, whose wife she became, and TO whose
dramatic circuits she was joined. OF the parents
Mr.. Henry Phillips was born at Bath in the first
year OF the present century. Thereupon Mr..
Richard Phil ps, the father. turned manager and
bought circuit of his own in Wales, which in a
very short time deyoured all his property, seven
70 some rows of houses in the Euston road,
London"
EARLY STRUGGLES.
When Henry was eight years old his father
book short summer engagement for himself
9ny st az @ ThTe Se The q reSa Sp spS
Sterne and Milton and to learn the rudments of
Latin. But even before be could speak plainly
he had sung many songs taught him by his
. mother. Could he not help the fortunes Of his
house by being produced as n singing ROscius
So he was duly announced for one evening only,
sang affer the play "The Bay of Biscay," was
applauded loudly, and received the kisses of the
1oAf A nuRan frI ono al Nnrir tubA fha
boy sang Arne's "Hyma of Eve" "rhe Bay Of
Biscay," and another song, helped the unlucky
family upon its way to London.
After many vain attempts to bring out the
singing Roscius, young Henry Phillips found his
first opening when singing boy was wanted at
abe old Haymarket Theatre, 10 play the robbers
boy in The Iron Chest. His first attempt having
given satisfaction, he retained to sing in that
part for five shillings a night, and in the next
season he was retained at Drury Line, to sing
for the same salary in the music of Macbeth
whenever he was wanted. The boy received q
little occupation of this sort, and some snatches
of musical instruction, being aPprenticed to Mr.
John Reeve, son of the composer of a glee then
popular. But when vergtng upon sixteen, his
voice broke. and his clear and high soprano
disappeared. Then he tried TO earn money in
sketchiDg, and having made parcel of sketches,
took them, with no profitable result, to shop in
Piccadilly.
"The next day l started early on the same
eTand, till, having exhausted all the localities
knew anything Of, l agaiu returned home, having
resolved TO convert our parlor window into q
shop, and so exhibit my drawings. All being
arranged TO my satisfaction, by tapes drawn
across, pinned my pictures to themi with the
prices marked; and assure you very respect
able and busin,ss-ke the window looked, bear
ing at the same time evidence that mine was not
an extrayagant establishment, as the highest
price was one shilling, which graduated down TO
Rpenny. soon sold some, aud my spirits rose
rapidly. Not many days elapsed ere my shop
attracted the attention of person connected with
Ackermans repository, in the Strand, who
nflefed eInDlOympnt 10 color punrayinus. guCh
ms were then the rage, viz, long strips OF su5'
jects drawn out ofa tube, like amOying panorama
some was A Trip TO Paris, the others a Trip
TO Holland, 'Ednburg,' &c, &c. This
ehterfully accepted, and prophesied a flourish
ing trade at hand. What with my employment
and my shop commercial importance grew
upon me. At this colOring labJred eight and
ten hours a day for nearly two years, and fire.
quenty earned from Thirty shi,lings t1 two pounds
a week, which not only contributed much TO the
comfort and support of my family, but also
enabled me 10 purchase cheap copies ofthe songs
Of Handel, Haydn, and Mozart, from which
commenced my study of the great masters. The
difficulty was how 10 practise them, for had no
instrument
"Fortune, however, still favored me; for hay.
ing really elaborate drawing Of a aundress's
drying ground, and placed it as the centre of at
traction In my window, il was observed by lady
living opposite, who took in washing, kept a
mangle, and had piano-fOrte. She speedily
made my acquaintance, and asked me 10 tea,
which invitation eagerly accepted. She was a
her calling, and, though elderly, skipped about
sometimes like young girl. Our conversation
referring to her younger days, IL appeared she
had been dancer and chorus singer at some OF
the London theatres. Finding that also had
found employment In that honorable branch OF
the profession, she was overjoyed, told me to
come and drink tea as often as liked, and added
that might practise on her piano from morning
tl night, every day in the week"
AN INTERVIEW WITH KKHBLE.
He had the offer of an engagement, with the
prospect of a salary after a while, at CoYent Gar
den, when Charles Kemble was manager
~An opportunity presented itself in an opera
tfhs Lato Of Jdra) which Sir Henry Bishop was
composing, and which was 10 be opened with q
eiee, or chorus, as most Of Sir Henry's opera;
were. An additional bass being required, II was
11slA9Eed that glee should be written for Mr.
s,19uioeni alto, Mr. Pyne, tenor, and myself; and
tts maA no other than the celebrated trio and
ehotusl siyhheer Nandunk' Dressed as Dutch.
men anu seated at round table on which were
Dothes ana glasses, the curtain rose after thf
overture, and our gee began It's eaect vas No
thing, and we usually walked Off The STAGE SvitS.
out round Of applause. 'H' ''~se WIN
"The understanding with Mr. Broaahnrst ,va,
that was 70 sing few nights gratuitousIv and
If approved, nigh. be offered an engas5a, e.n.,
no notice was taken ofme. IeOnunuallv losah pu s'
at the side wings 10 see il the manager was stand
ing there with proposal; bat no, all was still
and as ] went on the stage so / was suffered 4
20 off, This became very firing, especially as o.
many occasions Il prevented my accepting othe
engagements. urged Mr.. proadhursI TO ask tn