New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-29
pxrgos IN TIE HISTORY OF TWO SONGS.
THE STORY OF LOVE AND DISAPPOINTMENT
WHICH CALLED FORTH THE MARRIAGE
BELLS ARE RINGING" AND my

THE STORY OF LOVE AND DISAPPOINTMENT
WHICH CALLED FORTH THE MARRIAGE
BELLS ARE RINGING" AND MY
DREAM OF LOVE is DER"
Many theatre-going people are familiar with the
dir OF two songs both written by the same author.
which attained great popularity during their run.
The two songs are 1.-The Marriage Bells Ring
ing and "My Dream OF Love Is Ger" Behind
chose songs lies one OF the pathetic tales OF the
stage such as are seldom heard. because hidden
from, public view by the glare Of the footlights
and the tinsel and sparkle OF stagecraft. The
story was related a group of actors by veteran
~ the stage one afternoon recently in uptown
cafe He said:
when the name OF Alice Oates is mentioned 1t
will recall nothing hut history to the mind OF the
Younger generation but the older ones who remem-
her the theatre vi score of years ago will at
orca remember Englishwoman who reigned in
comic opera an. ~lesQue a quarter OF a century
ago II was TO IL .xd the hopeless nfatuation for
her by a muslciatif, no ability that these
songs trace their d. -.
when Alice OalesAhrs made her debut on the
stage in England she at attracted by her
sracefulness and sympathetic voice. She appeared
AT one Of the larger theatres in London ana had
hattering reception The leader of the orchestra.
bright young Englishman. who had an excellent
career open TO him. fell violently in love with the
actress. and that love his ruin. II you want
70 know his name look up the authorship of either
written there. II is also craven plain stone
slab in a graveyard just outside of San Francisco
where he sleeps his last sleep. Alice Oates either
did or pretended rcciprocate the affection of the
youns musician. 1t was in the days when their
roth was pghted that he gave vent TO his feelings
IN the song which has since been sung around the
world. and has found echo in so many hearts.
All the pent up JOY and happiness OF his life burst
forth in the words and music of the song THE
Marriage Bells Ringing" He dedicated the
song her and she sang II with fine effect The
song had merit and she had the ability to make 1t
popular. and soon it being whistled and sung
all Europe. The popularity OF Alice oates
grew and she seemed 10 grow out Of the world in
which the author OF the song lived. She became
more and more distant TO him. and then day
dismissed him altogether.
1T was then that he sat down and wrote the COM
panion piece TO the song The Marriage Bells are
Ringing He named the new piece My Dream of
Love Is Ger and before dedicated It to Alice
Oates. She accepted the song and coauettish,y
ns cry Of man she had taught to love her Only to
crush him. The song was a success at once and
WED with the other melody for supremacy The
young musician gave up his position leader OF
the orchestra and became wanderer re TOOK n
to drink and the expostuation OF friends could MOI
ut was many years later that Alice oates, then
nm sT One night in San Francisco in answer tc
an encore from crowded house she sang Ny
in the house there was a slight commoton in the
orchestra which was not noticed owing to the storm
of applause that swept over the house. She did
not know then but she knew later that the
author of that song that evening sitting In
the orchestra Playing minor instrument his
talents and ambitions crushed by drink and dss,
patton. When the last notes Of the song died Out
on the air he gave "A sigh and sank back. WheT
they tried TO rouse him II found that he was
dead. The exc;' ment had killed him, the doctors
said. .
His body carried out ana prepared foi
burial. The next day a little cavalcade made rs
way TO one Of the cemeteries just outside OF Sar
Francisco and the author of the two songs which
did more than anything else TO establish Alice
Oatess popularity was laid at rest.