The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-06
Romance of a Genius Who Went
to Rum in a Variety
Show.
The Author of Songs That Made
Alice Oates More Than
Famous.
She Had Piightcd Her Troth to tho Song
Writer, but Married y Man
With Money.

TRlmape, in a lecture In Brooklyn, said
that State street, Lesdville, WAS the wicked-
est street in the world. Talmage knew, for
he had made a Summing expedition there.
as he had in New York q few years before.
says the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
But. he added, comparing the wiokedness
Of State street with that of New York, in
Leadville vice was open, and. therefore.
much more easily avoided. There was ssr-
tainly no concealment in the carbonate
camp of those a~llnring places where a man
can put a dollar on the queen, or wait for
his urn to shout "ksno!' Everything
tlourished. from trolling mustang TO faro.
The largest gambling house in the city
was known as Marble Hall. 1t faced ON
harrison avenne along with the leading
banks and business houses, and extended
right back through half a square. Every
device to court the favors of fortune was
there, from a keno outfit to faro %layouts.
Nobody thought any the worse of the men
who conducted the business. In fact, they
were among the leading citizens.
State street held a first mortgage on
every other form of dissipation. Beginning
with an excellent variety thester, the
' WAOt0 ~ pCAlSA AS
scared into tho realm of comic opera and
high-class burlesoue, the street ran the
downward gamut of questionable amuss-
meats through four or five stale variety
shows, dance houses. winter gardens, French
rows and stuffy saloons. Many n genius had
ran to seed in some Of these wicked little
music halls.
In one of the wretched places poor
OReardon was pounding an old piano to
the strident vocal;zation of some garish
ballad shouter.
O'Reardon's songs are suns even now.
He was the composer Of The Marriage
Bells Are Ringing which is never heard
without sending a thrill Of delight through
the veins Of the listener. HIS also COM
posed The Dream Of Love Ia Over"
The two songs tel the beginning and end
Of his history. He was q young Irish
musician who went to London to make his
fortune. Success smiled upon him from
She outset. In a few years the handsome
and tslented son of the muses. was WELD.
ing the baton at one of the best theaters in
the metropolis.
Along oAme Alice Oates to crush his
heart. 1t was mutual. When her London
engagement wss over it was arranged that
they should BE- married. They agreed that
II CotoLASAy ohooAN eoNV PA0SV Al kllkS
country as soon as his contract with the
London manager expired. They parted in
England to moot again in San Francisco.
Alice took with her one of her lovers songs
which he had written in the transports of
his consuming love, like the warm. hearted
son of Erin that he was.
The song was The Marriage Bells Are
Ringing" She sang it in this country. Its
success WAS phenomenal. 1t swept the
United States like a hurricane. Three
months later VReardon set sail for New
York to meet his Alice and make her his
own for life. He was throwing up q berth
that filled the scope of his ambition and
the world-gaye it UP without a pang of re-
greet in anticipation of finding greater hap
piness in the love of this woman.
When he reached New York be picked up
a paper. A short telegram arrested his at
t%ention. 1t was dated San T anoisee, and
ried to some rich man with a military title.
OReardon did not 90 to San Francisco.
He did not return to london He PLAYED
for q while in the orchestras of New York
theatres, and then took q header into the
gulf of dissipation.
just once he rallied all his old faculties,
like the dying swan of the misty past, and
sang his last song, which he sang TO her as
a fearful protest against her treuchery. 1t
was a SOM now as famous as his first: THE
Dream of Love is Over, and I Never More
Shall See You" Alice accepted 1t with the
prove bal sang froid of the born stage co.
Quette, and added it to her reuertory, the
song sclipsing. If possible, even the success
of the first.
Down went O'Rearion. Many tried to
save him. He had admirers in every town.
He appeared a while with a second class
star who played The Old Curiosity Shop
in an interpolated act with water tumblers.
from which he extracted some exquisite
music. But he looked ~slovsnly aud bloated,
and the act did not catch on.
One Sunday night in Leadville Alice
Oates and her husband attended q PEI
formance of THE Old Curiosity Shop
seated in a box. all unconscious tina,
CResrdon was within 1000 miles. The
moment came for the tunbleronicon to do
his act. O'Rea don stepped upon the
stage with his improviaed instruments He
had quietly given the di ector of the or
chestra a tip, and there foated out upon the
theater the opening strains OF The Dream
Of Love Is Over"
OReardon sang it as il his soul was a
part OF it. ]hs house shook with ap-
plause. The actress leaned forward in her
box to see VINO it was that was paying her
the compliment of singing u song with
which her fame was so intimately inter
woven. O'lteardon slowly turned hi,
bloated face toward hers. With u suddec
start shs withdrew her head, aud = few
minutes afterwcrd passed, he ayi!r yelled
ont of the theater.
OReardon dill not leave L.eadvllle wher
the conpany left. His next step was int,
music hall. There he played a cracke;
piano for the drinks and his keop. VIA
became OF him efte ward ID Il mystery.