The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1895-07-20
SINGING FOR PHoNoGR Apis.
A Milwaukee Vocalist Whose Trade Is
to Sing Into the Machines.

A Milwaukee Vocalist whose Trade Is
to Sing Into the Machines.
Away out in the extreme nor thwest-
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 a monopoly, Of the business
in the west he contrives to keep busy,
and has even been heard to express a
wish that he were twins. He has bet
ter protection in his monopoly than q
copyright or an Injunction, or unimit-
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 his 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 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.
Furthermore, he can give an unlimited
number OF representations, while the
other four men are limited to a few
specialties each. Mr.. Leachman is
secret of his success. He sings ballads,
negro melodies, and Irish, Chinese and
Dutch dialect songs. He plays his own
on the piano and takes
care of the machines. He prepares
three records" as the wax cylinders
are called, at one time. To do this three
monographs are placed near the piano
with the horns at one side, pointing
away from the keyboard, at an angle
of 4s degrees. The horns have to be
placed. very carefully, for fifth of an
inch makes great difference in the
tone the cylinders will reproduce.
When the horns have been adjusted
exactly right, Mr.. Leachman seats him
self at the piano, and, turning his head
away over his right shoulder begins to
sing as loud as he can, and that is
pretty loud, for he is man of power
full physique and has been practicing
loud singing for four years. He has
been doing this work until his throat
has become calloused so that he no long
er becomes exhausted after singing
short time. AS soon ais he has finished
one song he slips off the wax cylinders,
puts on three fresh ones without 1eav-
ing his seat and goes right on singing
until a passing train comDels A:..- -
@ton 1er 9 Short s.-ne. In the four
; ears he has been in the business he
has made nearly 250,000 records. So
great is the demand for them that he
cannot fill his orders. It is such ex-
ceedingly hard work that he cannot
sing more than four hours day. He
gets IS cents for every cylinder he pre-
pares. He has a repertory of 420
pieces, and his work is put on the mar
ket under score of names. He has a
remarkable memory, and after once
hearing song can not only repeat the
words and music correctly, but can
initiate excellently the voice and ex-
preston Of the singer.