The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-19

marsh when the Slivery moon was high in
the heavens TO listen 10 tile croaking of the
frogs or catch an inspiration for a new
poem. Tie site on which is located the
new City hall. that gore bounded by Mar
ket, Polk and McAiIister down to where it
joins Market, was Yerba Buena Park,
which. as the city grew. was converted into
q city for the dead, ana the way it was
reached was by going along rough plank
road through the sand dunes from a point
near the present line of Sixth street. 1t
was within sight of this road that Jeems
had his home, which he designated by the
name 'Pipesvil!e.' L still have among my
treasures of the past pencil sketch of the
place, and the gentleman produced an
age-stained PAPER, from which the accom-
panyiug picture was drawn. Yes. he con-
tlnued, you have before you view of Pipes
Vile with all Its surroundings The home
was scarcely larger than a good-SiZed dry
goods box, and it was built on scantlings
eight or nine feet above the ground and it
had narrow porch. When you realize the
fact that it was reached by a ladder from
the ground, you may we'll imagine that he
did not have many lady visitors. Jeems
used to haul his ladder up after him when
lie got into the house, because he did not
want any one coming and knocking at the
door TO annoy him. When JeemS was flush
with cash lie always occupied frSt-caSS
room In a downtown hotel. but when grass
was short he made 'Pipesville' his domi-
Gle. 1t was very quiet place In a little
ravne without a neighbor in sight, and the
view from the porch was made up OF sand
hills, covered with vegetation and scrub
oak. and the vault Of heaven. When once
In his little boxlike shanty, over which was
a flagstaff from which proudly f1Oated the
American colOrs and underneath a white
flag on which was painted 'Pipesville."
Jeems could do his thinking and writing
without fear of being disturbed"
lie must have been queer individual"
suggested THE CALL man.
well. he was. Probably you are not
aware that he was the one who gave the
first concert ever given in this city.
mo, / thought not. Still, il is a fact On
that occasion lie strutted around, holding
high in air his massive head. which was
covered with mass of wavy black hair,
and was addressed as Mr.. Stephen c. Mas
sett, COMPOSER and balad-Singer from New
York and Boston. The concert, or, more
properly speaking, entertainment was
given in the old building on the northwest
corne- OF the plaza, since named Ports
mouth square, that served dual pur-
pose. 1t was in there that Judge Almond,
who was blunt, straightforward, honest
Judge, held court, and 1t was also used as
the public school. Massett was tine only
performer, II L except the pianist who ac-
cOmpanied him in sGngs ana ballads on the
only piano that there was in Alta CalifOr-
MIA and loaned for the occasion by the
owner, e. Harrison, who was Collector of
the Port. Here is copy of the original
handblll that was issued from the job office
Of the Alta California to proclaim the
event"
The following is a copy of the bill that the
old resident submitted for Inspection:
On Mon day evening next June %, IS4s CON
CERT VIII be given at the schOolhouse.
Portsmouth square. by
Nh. STEPHEN G. MAssErr-
Composer of "whea the Moon on the Lake Is
Beaming" and other popular ballads.
PROGRAMME-PA I'll
ssM hauf m
.........::. Words and music By s c. Massett
2. Recitation. MIR. Massett. The Frenehman
the Exquisite and the Yankee in Richard
3. Song. MIR. Massett my BOyhOOd's Days..
.......-....... ..... From the opera o! "Amilie"
1. An Imitation Of Nine. Anna bishop in her
song Of "Ihe Banks OF the ouadalquiver."
s. Song, when Ghlid Roam Roamed" ......
.......-.......w Words aud music by S. &. Massett
6. An imitation of au elderly lady and German
pEaao and ,, alto SINGERS in one OF the
5 e. Massett
PART II.
l. Song, Mr.. Massett. "when Time Hath Bereft
q Mr. Mssseti. Loss of the steamship ir res -
ME- Sn masser Sitting on the s hpfi s7rFen'
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. By W. r. Dempster
a. An imitation Of the New YORK razor,sir rp''''
8. Baad. She Wore wreath Of Roses Mr. Sni'h
8. BaiIsd' List hiie Sing $50 T. might
Z. Yankee imitation, Deacon Jones aud Seth
slope e. Mascot
g. To conclude with the celebrated Yankee.
town Meeting" in which MIR. Massett will
give limitations of seven different persons
who had assem- ed Tor the purpose OF sup
pressing the press.
Tickets, 50 each, to be had at DIR. Robipson's
chemist and druggist. on the plaza; at the Parker
House, of Dir. Msssett; at the ofice of Colonel j.
D. Stevenson, and at the door the night OF the
performance.
N.B-FroBt seats reserved for ladies.
(Printed at Tie ONCE of the Alta California;
''Well, sir" continued the old resident
when the reporter had finished reading the
bill. ''Massett did well on that occasion, the
old building was crowded to its utmost, and
those who were unable To obtain standing
room inside found it outside. and contented
themselves by hugging the windows in
order to hear the mslodi0us voice of the in-
dlvidual who could render fourteen differ
ent numbers without firing his audience.
That show Melted him nearly $780,"
II notice that the front seats were re-
served for ladies, we're there many of the
fair sex there to occupy those seats"
"Why, of course they had a representa-
ton; there were four Of the sex there, and
IL is needless to say that the performer aid
his level best to create favorable impress
sion. 1t is hardly necessary to add that for
some time after that Masse,t lived high"