The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-11-07
"Greaf Perform q ~ -

THE PECULTARITIEs OF THE ARTISTS OP TIE
LONDON MUsiC HALLS.
A writer in the London AH the TedI
| Round says: After all, one OF the queerest
features connected with this subject are the
names selected by performers. All pre-
viOusly. conceived notions OF the names SUI.
tcing TO indicate the country must he set
at nought by the student of muslc-hall ap-
pellatves, and 1t was always so, even in the
infancy of the institutions, for remem Der,
now many Years ago. when "Derr Deani,
! the celebrated cODtOrtiOnist," was IN his
zenith. Herr Recklaw, too, Is curious
German. especially when read backward !;
while John Holtum, sometimes Herr
| Holtum, from Berlin, presents plea
sing difficulty to the linguist. We
have The Fausts, OF course, and also Tula,
who was tbe Modern Samson, the Man
with the Iron Jaw; also the Great Ohmy,
who was the Star OF the Air. There are, be-
sides, D'Onra and Nestor and the great
Stella de We're After these the Marques
de Coma sounds quite prOsaic; but VAIN
rata, the King OF the Lofty Wire, sounds
well, though cileulated TO puzzle the guess
er as to the country IN which he was "rais-
ed -; as does Steve Ethardo. On a certain
marriage OF distinction taking place a few
years back, lady, with iOfinIte presence OF
mind, advertised that her professional
name would in future be MILE Louise
! LOrne, While there is scarcely a
name in the arIstocrscy which does
not figure in the list. "Professor
| is prefix OF which music-hs II
artists are very fond; and there are conse-
quently plenty of professors. "Professor
| Blank, with hisRoyol Punch and judy" is
pretty far example OF anti-climaX. 1t is
understood that 1t is quite legitimate to Sc.
lect well-sOundng and wel-lOOking name,
and that it becomes as solely the property
OF the chOo.cr az il he or she bad been bap-
| tized in it, and in defence OF these names
| they will quarrel most eXpressiyely in print.
| doubt if single No. OF the Era appears
! in a year in which the advertisement col
umns do not contain proofs Of feuds raging
among these artists, their opinion Of each
other being occasionally given in very plain
language. A champion dancer challenged
another champion a little while back, and |
only regret that | cannot quote the indig-
nant response Of The second, who evidently
considered himself as of higher status
than the challenger; it was really worth
reading. So was a dispute as 10 which
group OF three had the greater right TO be
called Les TrOis Diabes. Sometimes a
crest artist QEey arc nearly all "great y
will launch bitter sarcasm by informing
the public that 1t his benefit the receipts
were G29 49,. od.-and no gassing; or that
he is recalled six times night, and always
asked to return to his old shOp-no gas
ing. "GasiOg" | humbly opIne to be
Dragging and boastIng with eXaggeraliOn.
The "shOp" is the place OF entertainment,
and ga comfortable shop for steady man "
is an expression Of everyday use-see Era
advertisements again. The artists are very
fond Of expressing their thanks in print to
So-and.So, Esquire, and others, for kind
offers which the said artists are unable to
accept; but this is done 30 OSientatiOusly
that one is compelled TO suspect that de-
sire Of showing how many "kind offers"
they are obliged TO refuse from their great
popularity is at the bottom OF this obtru-
siye gratitude. The gains Of successful
music-hall performer are very large; and |
may add that as no gleat training, no spe-
clal learning, not even in music, is required,
and as the most valuable qualities are a lit
tie modest self-assurance and animal spirits,
do not know any other profession in
which it is so easy to reap harvest. From
$50 TO ESQ a week, as is not unfrequently
made by these artists, would be considered
a tolerable harvest by many OF those who
fancy themselves entitled to look down on
the Great Bounce and his comfortable
shop