The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1891-11-06
ANOTHER BRATTLEBORO BOY.
LOUIS X. wills and His Fine Campaign
Singing,


The Boston Globe of last Monday gave a
portrait aud sketch of Louis X. Willis who
has been doing some effective campaign sing.
ing IN Ohio. with several selections of the
| bright and powerful songs written for him
| by Mrs j. Il. Gale of Gulford. The Globe
In the course of Its article says:
Mr.. Willis who Is now singing for Gov.
| Campbell In Ohio. Is New England boy,
having lived the larger portion Of his life In
BrattlebOro, VT, where he was born. and
where his parents now reside. He was a
wood carver by trade. SUNDAYS he sang In
the choir with no less singer than Mary
Howe.
Mr.. Willis has rich barytone voice with a
TENOR quality, and sings the most diflicult mu-
sic with the greatest ease.
In comic opera Mr.. Willis has appeared In
such roles as John Wellington Wells In the
"Sorcerer," and Col. Calverly In Patience"
the duke In the "Chimes of Normandy" cap
tain In "Pinafore," and later In the leading
role in the new opera "Priscilla," produced
In Pittsteld.
When the unfortunate Comfy, of Clara
Louise Kellogy's concert company, was
drowned a few years ago, Mr.. Willis was
secured 10 take his place, but refused per-
manent position with this noted singer. pre-
ferring to remain near his parents and look
after their comfort.
Being an ardent Democrat he accepted the
invitation of the late Knowles Freeman Of
Chelsea, TO sing at the Democratic rally In
that city In the campaign of 1888. and received
warm praise from that gentleman and the
Democratic city committee for the excellent
manner IN which he rendered severe solos.
Soon after this at the request of Col. Green.
leaf, of Rochester, N Y, who, by the way.
was formerly New England man and was
elected to Congress last fall by the Democrats
of the Rochester district. Mr.. Wills went to
New York for the closing days of the 1888
campsign, and was member Of the famous
tally-hc party that stumped the state for
Cleveland and Hill.
On the day before election he left for Yer
mont, arriving In season to cast his ballot for
the principles he so firmly espoused.
Many of his verses have been composed by
Mrs. j. 4 Gale of Guilford, VT, and are Of
nature to arouse intense enthusiasm when
rendered.
He was In company with Daniel D3ugherty
at Rochester, before an audience which tested
to Its utmost the capacity of the large city
hall.
He also sang with Congressman Greeneaf
and State Senator Daniel McNaughtOn, who
came so near nomination for lieutenant.gOv-
ernor this year, and wound up the campaign
ester In tour of Monroe county. beginning
at Webster, and ending at Charlotte on Lake
Ontario.
His work was to "break the ice" for the
speakers, and very often the audience would
remain to the very last In order to hear his
closing song
Mr.. Willis says of his verses they are often
extremely simple when only read, but they
take on new meaning when set to popular
music.
At present Mr.. Willis is a resident of Pitts
field. where he Is a member of one or two
musical societies, singing each Sunday in a
leading church choir His love of home
amounts to reverence, and for this reason his
public career must naturally be limited, the
only variation being on an occasion like the
present, when his enthusiasm for the cause
of Democracy leads him to forsake all and
work for the idea of justice and equal rights