The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-04
TRIALS OF AN AUTHOR.
THE STORY OF THE COMPOSER Oh
"THE LITTLE TYCOON"
What It Takes to Put an Opera Together
and the Obstacles To DO Surmountod
In Obtaining Hearing Merit at Last
Wins Success.

the door OF the Temple Of Fame for years
without eliecting an entrance. "The Lit
tie Tycoon" was conceived in 1876, and
born, in 1889, but he was three years old
before anybody paid any attention 10 him.
Mr.. Spenser carried him about from man
ager to manager in search Of q temporary
home, but without success Those who
liked the kid wanted TO adopt il on cond.
ton that its father should rolinquish all
parental rights over him. This, however,
he declined to do, and so periorce the ten
der banting was left TO its ailectonate
parents tender minisirations for three
years or more. Mr. Spenser, in his rooms
at the Gayoso Hotel, yesterday, con6ded
the whole story to an APPEAL reporter.
Ambitious young authors and musical
composers may take lesson from his cx.
perence.
MIR. Spenscr says the best mir in the
opera, "Loyc Comes Like a Summer Sigh "
struck him one day while bathing on tho
seashorc. From that tune the opera be.
gan to shape itself in his mind, melody
after melody being added from time to
lllllt uuNll luf HluNliNl IulltNbIh MNN
complete Then he began to look about
him for libretto. lie first applied to Mr.
Alden, the famous funny man OF the New
York LINES, now Consul at Rome. Mr.
Alden undertook 90 write n librotto and "a
few dpys aftorward Mr.. Sponsor called for
IL. Mr. Alden read him q very funny and
laughablo sketch, but il was too brief for
the purpose and the author frankly adj
mittcd that his mind was 40 trained TO
COMPRISING things within the limits Of
column that he doubted very much il his
humor would expand 10 the length re-
quired in librctto. Mr.. Spenser next
tried Archie Gordon, the humorist OF the
BROOKLYN EdgF Oh, certainly hc would |
write him librctto no trouble about II at |
all. At the appointed time Mr.. |
Spenscr called and Gordon read him
something which the author aud all
his friends thought was awiully comic.
In fact Gordon thought 50 well OF IL that
lac laughed all through It's perusal. Spcnser
listened intcntly and tried to laugh, but
couldn't raise a smile to save his neck.
lie didn't buy that hbre,to.
Ne mex, tried Smith, of the New York
World, and Smith failed, justas others had.
lie then buckled down 10 work aud wrote
the libretto himself, "iaute do mlcuX," as
the French would say.
With the musical score aud librctto
complete Mr. sponsor tcndcrly wrapped
up the infant OF his brain in soft tissue pa
per, and made the tour OF the New York
theaters looking for a manager 30 produce
the opera. John Duff kept the roll two
weeks and returned IL. saving hc had cX-
nmincd II with great care and regretted 10
say II wouldn't do
That was black eve No. /, for Mr.
SpcLscr, hut others followed 10 quickly
that his face aud his heart were equally
sore.
Two years aitcrward. when the Little
Tycoon WIS an established success, Man. |
agcr John Duh admitted 90 Spcn-cr that |
lac had mover opened the manuscript |
when u was lint Submitted To him.
How this world Is giving Ia lying.
Emma Abbott offered 10 produce the
opera II Mr. Spcnscr would sell IT, This
hc declined 10 du. III Rice made him
similar proposition which was also politely
but hrmly declined.
At last, after Mr.. Spcnscr had worn out |
his heels aud felt the iron 1T despair enter |
his soul, John McCau, one fine summer |
day, sent the author Ia the White Mountains /
rviuicing with promise that he would |
produce the opera the same fall.
In the meantime the Mikado cnmc out
In London, aud NcCaul, forgetting his
pledge Ia sponsor, made preparations 10
put on Gilbert aud Suliyan's work
Nothing dauntcd, Mr.. Spcn,rr, having
exhausted the possibilities Of New York.
With a courage born Ut desperation, took
the train ior sleepy old Philadelphia aud
planted his stakes there.
one day while wandering aimlcssly
about with his manuscript IA his pocket
and his heart IN his boot he met a friend
60 whom hc c0ntdcd hiA troubles Tho
friend asked
"why don't you Try old Sinscrly2"
"Mho the deuce H. old ~ins'fly9"
"Mhy he's known M Millionaire Sing.
orly. owns the Ppilc Eouri q newspaper
Of enormous circulation, and has recently |
built a thcaicr which needs lirst.class at. |
traction 20 give II a start"
To old singrily accordingly Mr.. Sprusor
hicd himself lie found him 10 bu q man
Of bret speech, curt manner bat evidently |
of keen sagaciiy
whats the opera nhUut7'
The author explained that i had a Jap.
ancsc Culurng but was not confined TO
Oriental life
Japanese, Japsncse," was the quick
reply. THAT ought To go. fIny me some
Ui u.
Mr.. Sponsor sat down and PLAYED ior ten
minutes, when sugyfly stopIvI him
THAT will dn. hc siid, 81 think IN /
produce your opera. um 40 critic, bat .
music Which affects me like that must
have something 100 Be- Go and acc my
manager, Mr. hruthyrton"
80, Wrapping up iho baby again. Mn
SpcnHvf carried d o. liroihcfion. Brother. |
ton appointed next day fora hearing. AMI |
when Toe author came hc found Sinrrfly
there, and a number OF the managers
friends. lhc verdict Of these gentlemen
Was favorable and ~up'ry asked.
"lluw much will 10 lake 60 mount this
orcm2'
Ton thousand dollau." said Mr spsn.
htr.
IAN right" replied Singrfly, bless bis
OIL soul 'Illml twenty thousand intuiL."
And ~ Il Was sutilrd
The piece made hit the Hr,t NIGHT AMI
had a phenomenal Tuu, iu spite ui thr lirt
that Mc'aul Ciuu over from NpN NUrL
With tie "Mikado' and tried To- kll h.
Aiicrward u was taken to New York
and produced at the STANDARD Ihpaier.
after which II vas Transferred b. the Fith
Avenue lhcalor whore % ran lD2 nights.
The critics jumped uu II unl tore 10 ib
thfcds, bot they were finally compelled
20 runcolo iu merit.
Alter that Il WIS plain sailing The
opera LAS made bat wherever 10 las been
produced.
This is The story told 20 the Arrr,l 10.
porter 10y NJ Sponsor, who j. q very in-