Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-12
WEXFORD vAwN's LIFE STORY
Once Rich and Famous-Now Earning So
Month on Wards Island.

The sound of clear, melOdiOus voice
rang out from the barracks on Wards
island last evening, followed by the pat
ter of light feet, moved in perfect rhythm
Then came storm of applause. in which
hob-nailed shoes and brawny hands com.
mingled with shouts of admiration in a
half dozen different languages. 1t was
evident that the sick and penniless emf
grants who are sheltered there had found
an entertainer of no mean powers.
That" said superintendent W. T.
OBrien, lis Wexford Vawn, our messen.
ger to Castle Garden"
"A bright man for a messenger"
bright! He's a genius and a gentle
man. There's nothing of the common la.
bOrer about him except his salary. He
receives 50 month and found. He's not
only a singer and dancer, but a prolific
song writer. l understand he has a re.
markable history, and | know he has the
acquaintance of some Of the most prOmi-
nent singers in New York. One of his
friends is Mr.. J. III. Ryley, the well known
'Buntn0rne, OF Patience who is singing
at Days Theatre, and who, like Vawn,
is an Englishman."
Wexford NaWn was sent to Wards
Island several months ago by Superin-
tendent jackson of Castle Garden. He
was destitute, and had not gained citi-
ZenShlp in this country. According to
his story, he had arrived in America with
small sum of money in his pocket. be-
lleYlng that his name was so well known
that he could at once enter on success
full career here. The physicians at the
island decided from his manner that
he was very eccentric, and that while his
reason seemed unaffected he was as
harmless and as little able to care
for himself as a child. 1t was soon
found, however, that he could be trusted
to perform any duty assigned to
him, and he was made messenger to
Castle Garden, working for some time
without compensation. During his
leisure hours he wrote almost constantly.
and sent pages of manuscript to MIR.
O'Brlen, with permission to make any
use Of them he chose. Among these
manuscripts were several new songs.
which he said had not yet been set to
music. He also presented copies of many
OF his published songs to Mr.. O'Brien. On
the title page Of his best known song.
"Al That Glitters is Not Gold" was the
printed statement that it had been "sung
by MIR. Nawn with distinguished success
for upward of five hundred consecutive
nights" A verse in manuscript had been
added to the song Vawn is a fine look.
ing man, with broad forehead, sparkling
gray eyes, and light brown hair.
y
~ es, my story is a strange one" he
said. My father was an English Judge
with large income. My early training
made me reckless of expenditure, with nc
knowledge of the value of money, fond OF
attending concerts, balls, theatres. mas.
querades and garden fetes, occupying
time that should have been devoted TO the
profession of the law. So. long as / could
draw brief, make out bill of costs. OF
engross an Indenture or will, the popular
lawyer in whose office / was artfcied. and
who practiced largely in my fathers
court, was indifferent to my pursuits
One of my hobby horses was an amateur
fashionable dramatic society, comprising
some two hundred active and honorary
members. One of the members was Louisa
Pyne. We rented a small building and
produced light operas and sterling PLAYS
Twice year we took the Theatre ROYAL
Birmingham, which will hold ZOO people
and played for hospital charities. You
must conclude from this that we held the
mirror little up to nature. Ny father
died. With my profession half learned
thought of the stage, but nv affianced
and our relatives swamped those projects
/ started as a merchant III London: was
successful for few years, and then me-
repeated disasters. | sent my two sons
to my father-m-law travelled with nv wife
through Scotland, fell in with Tom Mac
lagan, now the principal baritone of Car
Rosa's opera company, and that com
paniOnship Influenced me for the stage
Maclagan was the author of Captain
Jinks.;
''Mr. j. II. Ryley and his wife think no
body can write like me. l may take tina
as compliment or it may be flattery, OF
perchance he has had some successe.
from me. The first time | saw him her,
! af t.,I1f 1DF TnI,
Ryley once again at his office III Broad
way. He said, 'FYe told my agent {,
shop you. DO you want any money ?
NO. said |. | had So left then. | cot
! berth writing at 26, % and 80 Vese,
street, extra hand, three days per week
and promised full time shortly. As [ haC
been a subscriber for many years to thu
st. Georges Society in England and OtheI
| institutions, | called on the st. Georges
/ Society in New Church street. They sen
me down to Mr.. Jackson. He wrote
/ something on bit of paper, and l came
at once by boat to Wards Island.
/ wrote to Mr.. Ryley. He gave me some
assistance and rendered more, but suffic,
/ it to say, | have not been obliged to cal
! on him again. AS for the future, am il
no hurry to go. | am sOiOurning at The
seaside. It's very nice. | am in com
munication with home. My son is Junior
member OF the auctl0neer firm of DAME
& James, LOughbOrough, Leicestershire
They own a repository and several race
horses-goOd ones. NY son wants t
know when his versatile dad is comins
home. Eve written that Pm earning
enough to amuse myself at business. anC
will return when / have filled some en-
gagements in America. | am in the best
of health and best of spirits, voice anC
strength unimpaired, which | attribute
tony having been virtually teetotaler al
my 1ifn -