Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-06-27
SINGING FOR PHoNooRApHs.
a Milwaukee Vocalist whose Trade Is
to Sing Into the Machines.

a Milwaukee Vocalist whose Trade Il
to Sing Into tho Machines
Away out in the extreme northwest
ern part of the city, near the Mil
waukee railroad tracks, Silas Leach
man puts in four or five hours every
day singing at the top of his lungs.
though not soul is in hearing but his
wife, says the Chicago Tribune. When
he gets tired OF singing he varies the
proceedings by preaching a negro SER
mon, or gives an imitation of an Irish
wake. and altogether conducts himself
In way that would lead the neighbors
to consider him fit subject for an in
sane asylum-if there were any neigh
bors, but there are not. This is the
very reason Mr.. Leachman chose the
lonely spot for his residence. No one
ever goes out there to hear him sing,
and yet he is getting rich at it. He
earns something over $50 day, though
he never sees one of his auditors. Mr..
Leachman sings for monographs, and
as he has monopoly of the business
in the west he contrives to keep busy.
and has even been heard to express
wish that he were twins. He has bet
ter protection in his monopoly than a
copyright or an Injunction, or unlimit-
ed legal talent could afford. Nature
gave him the peculiar qualities that
enable him to reproduce his voice per-
fectly on the wax cylinders. Hundreds
OF persons have attempted to break In
on MS profitable monopoly, but the re-
suit OF their efforts put an effectual
stop to their attempts. And SO Mr.
Leachman goes on enjoying the monop-
oily and reaping the profits thereof
There are four other men in the east
that also do work for the monographs,
but while they have to have a man to
play the piano while they sing. another
to make the announcement, another to
change the cylinders and fourth to
keep the machines in order, Mr.. Leach
man Is the entire show in himself.
he can give an unlimited
number of impersonations, while the
other four men are limited to few
specfalties each. Mr.. Leachman is a
natural mimic. and therein lies the
secret of his success. He sings ballads.
negro melodies, and Irish, Chinese and
SutSh eAuASSt oOh5o. I1t plays lis uWu
on the piano and takes
care of the machines. He prepares
.hree records" as the wax cylinders
are called, at one time. To do this three
are placed near the piano
with the horns at one side, pointing
away from the keyboard, at an angle
If As degrees. The horns have to be
placed very carefully, for fifth Of an
nch makes a great difference in the
one the cylinders will reproduce
When the horns have been adjusted
xactly right, Mr.. Leachman seats him
'elf at the piano, and, turning his head
lway over his right shoulder begins to
sing as loud as he can, and that is
pretty loud, for he is a man of power
ul physique and has been practicing
oud singing for four years. He has
been doing this work until his throat
las become calloused SO that he no long
,r becomes exhausted after singing a
'hort time. AS soon as he has finished
,ne song he slips off the wax cylinders,
outs on three fresh ones without leav-
ng his seat and goes right on singing
Until passing train compels him to
stop for a short time. In the four
years he has been in the business he
las made nearly 25O,000 records. So
great is the demand for them that he
cannot fill his orders. 1t is such ex-
,eedingly hard work that he cannot
sing more than four hours a day. He
gets 35 cents for every cylinder he pre-
pares. He has repertory of 420
pieces, and his work is put on the mar
ket under a score of names. He has
memory, and after once
hearing song can not only repeat the
words and music, correctly, but can
Initiate excellently the voice and ex-
of the singer.