The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-05-15
HIS IS A PHoNOGRApH VOICE.
1t Is Not Pleasant, but 1t Takes Hold Of
the Wax Cylinders.

1t Is Not Pleasant but 1t Takes Hold Of
the Wax Cylinders.
Away out in the extreme north
western part of the city near the
Milwaukee railroad tracks Silas
Leachman puts in four Or five hours
every day singing at the top of his
lungs, though not soul is in hear
ing but his wife. When he gets tired
of singing, he varies the proceedings
by preaching negro sermon OF
gives an imitation of an Irish wake
and altogether conducts himself in a
way that would lead the neighbors
to consider him q fit subject tor a
lunatic asylum if there were any
ncighbors, but there arc not. Thls
is the very reason Mr.. Leachman
chose tho lonely spot for his resi-
dcnco. No ono ever goes out there
to hear him sing, and yet no Is get
ting rich at, it. Tic earns something
over $50 every day, though he never
socs one Of his auditors.
Mr.. Leachman sings for phoDo-
graphs, and as no has monopoly of
the business in the west no cOntrives
to keep busy and has even been
heard to express wish that he were
twins. He has better protection in
his monopoly than a copyright or
an injunction or unlimited legal tai
ent conld afford. Nature gave him
tho peculiar qualities that enable
him to reproduce his voice perfectly
on the wax cylinders. Hundreds Of
people havo attempted to break in
on his profitable monopoly, but the
results of their efforts put an effcc-
tual stop to their attempts. And so
Mr.. Loachman goes on enjoying the
monopoly and rcaping the profits
thereof.
There arc four other men in the
east that do work for tho phono-
graph, but whilc they have to have
q man to play the piano whilo they
sing, another to mako the announce
mcnt, another to change the cylin-
ders and a fourth to keep the ma
chimes in order, Mr.. Lcachman is
the entire show in himself, Further
moro, he can give an unlimited num-
Der of representations, while the
other four mon are limited to a few
spccialties each. Mr.. Leachman is
q natural mimic, and therein lios the
secret of his success. He sings bal
lads, negro melodies and Irish, Chi
nese and Dutch dialect songs.
Ho plays his own accompaniment
on the piano and takes care of the
machines. He prepares three "reo
or,ls," as the wax cylinders are call
ed, at ono time. 10 do this three
monographs are placed near tho pi-
ano, with the horns at one side
pointing away from the keyboard at
an anglo of As degrees. The horns
have to be placed very carefully, for
fifth of an inch makes great diff
ference in the tone the cylinders
will reproduce.
When the horns have been adjust
od exactly right, Mr.. Leaohman
seats himself at tho piano, and turn
ing 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 powerful physique and
has been practicing loud singing for
four years. He has been doing this
work until his throat has become
callousel so that he no longer be-
comes exhausted after singing a
short time. AS soon as he has fin
ishoa one song ho slips off tho wax
cylinders, puts on three fresh ones
without leaving his seat and goes
right on singing until q passing train
compcls him to stop for short time
In tho four years he has been in
the business he has made nearly
$50, 900 records. So great is the de-
mand for them that he cannot fill
his orders. 1t is such exceedingly
hard work that he cannot sing more
than four hours day. He gets IS
cents for every cylinder he prepares.
He has a repertory of 42O pieces,
and his work is put on the market
under q score of names. He has a
remarkable memory and after once
hearing n song can not only repeat
the words and music correctly, but
he can initiate exccllontly the voice
and expression of tho singer. Chi
cage Tribune.