The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1893-10-10
uALICE OATES LOVER
Writes Two Famous Songs and
Dies a Drunken Pauper-

CdSO AnJck OCchH tbO neOA y ~ :"
strange and dramatic episode in the
life of the late Alice Oates, the prima
donna of opera bouffe. The facts are
pretty badly garbled in this version,
aud as / was an eye witness of the in
cident referred 10, and knew more or
less intimately all the parties TO il, 81
may not be untimely or. uninteresting
to tell exactly what occurred.
In 1879, when Leadville, Col, was
in its bey-day as the greatest silver
center the world had ever seen, Al
queer character, calling himself Frank
r. ardon, drifted into camp. He was
ragged, dirty, penniless and generally
demeralized, but be still possessed
some fra sments from the wreck Of q
fine musical talen:s, and when he en-
gagged as pianist at variety tbeaser
the whole town turned out to hear
him. AS usual In such Eases, there
were times when his powers seemed
momentarialy to return to him and
he played like one inspired, These
brilliant flashes yFeW less and less
freaa:ient and finally became only
reminisceEce, but they were sufficient
to firmly establish bis reputation as
genius. At length ne dropped entire
ly out of sight, disappeared in the des-
perate dissipation and hurly-burley of
the camp and was promptly forgotten.
Meantime, however, his history had
dropped out BIT by bit and it was
known that his name was not Rear
don, but O'Reardon, and that at one
time he had been composer of inter-
national fame. Two songs of his are
still known and sung, and will be as
long as sweetness and simple melody
have hold upon the public heart.
They are "The Wedding Bells are
Ringing" and "My Dream of Love Is
Ger" In a certain sense they told
tie story of his life. While in New
York and at the zenith of his fame he
met the capricious songstress, Alice
Oates. She was the divorced wife of
Jim Oates, the st, Louis theatrical
manager, and was at that time one of
the most beautiful and fascinating
women on the American stage.
O'Reardon, who was warm
hearted, impetuous Irishman, fell head
over heels in love and she, flattered no
doubt BY his attentions, encouraged
him. In few months their engage
ment was announced. 1t was then
that he wrote ''The Wedding Bells Are
Ringing" Alice Oates sang it as
none but she could and it made tre-
mendous hit. 1t was whistled and
hummed from one end of the country
to the other and the copyright which
he presented her realized thousands OF
dollars.
But the tickle songbird grew tired
of O'Reardon's devotions and finally
sent him message breaking the Ell,
gagement Its terms were brief an6
cutting and he realized the uselessnes'
of an appeal. He made no attempt tC
see her, but poured. forth all the
wretchedness and despair of his hear
in his last great song, "My Dream o
, Love Is O'er." With incredible cal
lousness the actress added it to he
, repertoire and sang it to delighted au
diences the whole land over. AfteI
, that O'Reardon went to the dogs.
So much for preface. In the wintej
of 1880 there was variety theater il
Leadville, known as Colonel Woed
Comique. Among the other "turns'
: O'Reardon was billed for specialt!
on the musical glasses. He haC
turned up, it seemed, trifie less seed!
p than usual, and secured an engage
ment on probation. He was one o
, those musical geniuses who can ex
tract melody from anything, and h,
produced quaint, tinkling effect BY
9 tapping and moving tumblers with I
, steel rod, The pitch was varied b!
filling the glasses to different degree
with water.
When O'Reardon's engagement wa
I on the Alice Oates Opera Company
r visited Leadville, playing in the Tabol
: Grand. Alice Oates heard, of course
{ that O'Reardon was in the camp ant
. expressed desire to witness his per
e formance without being seen. 1t wa
: arranged that she occupy box anC
= she was escorted to it by female i'm
q | naraonator namad mills Tbau an