Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-12-13

Harrigan, Scanlan, Annie PiXley, Tony
Pastor and Others Made Famous
by TuneS-Riches That Have Fallen
to the Lot of Others.
Nearly two hundred men during the
past fifty years in America have been
brought prominently before the public
through the influence Of popular songs
and hymns Much has been written
about how songs have been made pop
ular by singers, but very little about
songs that have immortalized men.
General Boulanger was brought to
the front mainly through a vocal set
ting Of the celebrated "Boulanger
March," sung by a Partisan music
hall singer, Paulus. Boulanger had
obtained some distinction previous to
this time, but through the singing of
Paulus he became known to the bur-
geoise, and his fame was heralded
all over France and thence throughout
the civilized world. There are many
notable instances of popularity created
in this manner.
Ira D. Sankey, the singing evan
gelist was comparatively unknown I'M
til he sang the hymn entitled The
Ninety and Nine. At the present time
when this celebrated hymn is re-
ferred to, it always suggests a picture
of Sankey seated on a platform. be-
fore an audience of from five thousand
to ten thousand persons, singing The
Ninety and Nine as only he could rem
der it.
David Wambold, now dead, one of
the original San Franciso Ministries,
who was one of the sweetest ballad
singers this country has produced, is
always remembered in connection with
the ballad Come Sit by My Side, Little
Darling. Even now, after the lapse
of nearly twenty years, many readers
of this paper will, no doubt, recall the
exquisite finish and melody with
ling to come sit by his side and lean
her brown head upon his breast.
The fame of Milton Barrow, the min
strel, rests chiefly upon his delineation
Of the character of Old Black Joe. His
singing of this famous old negro mel
ody has never been equalled. He
dressed and acted the part of the
old black refugee and sang the song
so well that it would be difficult to
find boy Of ten years Of the present
time who could not sing the refrain
of the melody.
The present generation of song low
ers has no knowledge whatever of Ed
ward Harding, but old timers will re-
member him as an EngliShman who
came to this country more than forty
years ago, and who brought with him
a barytOne voice of great strength and
sweetness. In New York city at that
time there were concert halls where
beer and liquor were sold There
were probably dozen of these places
south of Fourteenth street. and prom
inent among them was one in Lispen-
ard street, just off Broadway, which
was mainly supported by men in the
dry goods district
The concert hall at that time was
run on the English plan and was a
reputable resort. At this resort Hard
ing was a great favorite, and the song
which brought him to public notice
was the Village Blacksmith, the music
of which was written by a German
named Weiss. and the words by Long
fellow. Hardin" gained distinction all
over the state because of his rendering
of this really great song, and the place
in Lispenard street was nightly
thrOnged to hear him sing it.
Contemporaneous with Harding was
the equally well known singer Lin
gard. He attained celebrity through
his character songs, his principal sue
cesses being Champagne Charlie and
Captain links. Such an impression
did Lingard make upon the public
mind that even now after the lapse of
thirty years or more Captain Jinks
can in fancy be seen parading down
Broadway. and the inebriated figure
Of Champagne Charlie still stands out
on the records of time. Boosting of
his capacity for alcoholic stimulants.
Down in a Coal Mine did more to
popularize Tony Pastor than any of
the thousand and one ditties which
he has sung since 1t was mainly
through Mr.. Pastors efforts as a vocal
list that the fame of the old familiar
song was spread across the seas and
reached hearers in every civilized
cline.
"Oh, yes" said the genial singer as
this prominent incident in his career
was brought to his attention "Down
in a Coal Mine was perhaps the most
successful song I ever sung. There
was something wholesome and genu-
inc about it which made the song i'm
mensely popular. We don't get such
songs as that nowadays. At the pres
ent time the writer's of popular songs
strive after topical subjects which
leave no lasting impression upon the
public mind. / should like to get an
other song equally as good''
Minstrel Billy Emerson owes more
of his popularity to 'I'm as Happy as
Big Sunfower" than to any other
one song. It's success was attested to
by the fact that he sang it on nearly
one thousand consecutive nights
Thomas Dixon, the tenor minstrel, for
nearly a quarter Of century sang
Sally in Our Alley. He had a very
sweet voice, but he did not attract
any particular attention until he hap
pened to stumble across Sally, who