Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-20
WEXFORD VAWA's LIFE
taIfa SrO ~.
Once Rich and Famous = Now
Earning 50 "A Month on
Wards Island. q


The sound Of a clear, ~melodiouI
voice rang out from the barracks OF
Wards Island last evening, followed
by the patter of light feet moving il
perfect rythm. Then came Q storm Of
applause, In which hob nailed shoes
and brawny hands commingled with
shouts of admiration in a half dozen
different languages, 1t was evident
that the sick and penniless emigrants
who are sheltered there had found an
entertainer Of no mean power.
That" said Superintendent W. I.
l0'Brien, lis Wexford Vawn, our mes.
senger to Castle Garden au ed
He is a bright man for a messen.
ger"
Bright He is a genius and a gen
tleman. There's nothing Of the com
mon laborer about uim except his
salary, He receives s. a month and
found. He's not only a singer and
dancer, but a prolific song writer. |
understand he has a remarkable his
tory, and | know he has the acquaint-
ance Of some OF the most prominent
singers 10 New York. One of his
friends is Mr.. j. H. Ryley, the well
known Bunthorne Of Patience, who
is singing at Days Theater, and who,
like Vawn, is an Englishman."
Wexford Vawn was sent to Wards
Island several months ago BY Superin-
teudent Jackson, Of Castle Garden.
He was destitute, and had not gained
a citizenship in this country Accord
ing to his story, he had arrived in
America with a small sun OF money
in his pocket, believing that his name
was 50 we'll known that he could at
once enter on a successful career here
The physicians at the Island decided
from his manner that he was very "a.
centric, 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 com
p%ensatiOn. During his leisure hours
he wrote almost constantly, and sent
pages OF manuscript to Mr.. O'Brien
With permission to make any use OF
them he chose. Among these manu-
scripts were several new songs which
be said had never been set to music.
He also presented copies Of many Of
bis 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 1t had
been sung by Mr.. Yawn with distin-
guished success for upwards Of FIVE
hundred consecutive nights" A
verse in manuscript had been added
to the song. YaWn is a fine looking
man, with a broad forehead, sparkling
gray eyes and light brown hair.
Yes, my story is a strange one" he
said. My father was an English
Judge with a large income. My early
training made me reckless of expendi-
ture, with no knowledge Of the value
Of money, fond Of attending concerts.
balls, theaters, masquerades and gar
den fetes, occupying time that ought
to have been devoted TO the probes.
sion Of the law. So long as / could
draw q brief, make out a bill Of costs.
or engross an indenture or will, the
popular lawyer in whose Office | was
articled, and who practiced largely in
my fathers court. was Indifferent TO
my pursuits One Of my hobby horses
was IN amateur fashionable dramatic
society, comprising some two hundred
and honorary members. One
Of the members was Louisa Pyne. VIZ
q small building and produced
isht operas and sterling plays. Twice
a year We took the Theater Royal.
Birmingham, which hold 300 people,
and played Tor hospital charities. You
must conclude from this that We held
the mirror a little up TO nature. NV
died. With my profession half
learned thought Of the stage; but my
athanced aud our relatives swamped
those projects. / started as a mer.
chant in London; was successful for a
Few years, then met repeated disasters.
| sent my two sons TO my father In.
law, travelled with my wife through
Scotland, fell in love With omMoCia
gan; now the principal baritone Of
Carl kosa'e opera company, and that
companionship Influenced me foy the
Maclagan was the author Of
Captain Jinks.' la
Mr.. s IL. Ryley and his wife think
nobody can write like me. Imay take
that as compliment or il may be fat
terry, or perch.nc he has had some
successes from me. The fret time III
saw him here was M A rnhnArsal nfl