New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-19
CHEVALIER TALKS OF COSTRRS.
THE POPULAR MUSIC-HALL SINGER AR
RIVES ON THE TEUTONIC

THE POPULAR MUsIC-HALL SINGER AR
RIvEs ON THE TEUTONIC.
Albert Chevalier, long heralded the London
coster singer, arrived on American soil yesterday.
He came on the Teutonc. and 1t was early evening
before he escaped from the pier He was hurried
off at to Roster e. Balls Music Hail. TO see
the place where ne Is to sing and afterward to be
put through the regular ordeal Of talking to re-
porters. The reporters were all on hand In due
time and Mr.. Chevalier WAS quite ready to talk
with them
The coster singer is small man. and the best
way to tell how he looks Is TO say that he looks
very like the picture Of him printed In last Sun
days Tribune. He confesses that he is thrty-1ve
years old. When. next Monday night. he sings
THE Future Mrs. Awkins." II will be. he says the
first time that nc has ever sung In any place not
under the British flag. II have been thinking OF
coming to America" ne said. "for many years
longer, in fact than have been on the music-hal
stage. have always been little afraid to come
lest my songs should be too local to be understood
here Even In England the same consideration
made me afraid go into the provinces to Scot
land But when tried 1t found that the further
off from London got the better the songs seemed
to co.
Remembering that In his more purely dramatic
days Mr.. Chevalier used to play Sam Weller. some
one asked him what relation the modern characters
whom he represented bore to Mr.. Weer-whethcr
they were in any sense his successors. Yes. MT
Chevalier answered, 1.-THE Cockney of to-day Is the
legitimate successor OF Sam Weller. But, OF course
you understand that all Cockneye are not costers
nor are all my songs coster songs. The coster Is
only a subdivision Of the Cockney. and Sam Weller
II he had lived to-day, would not have been cos
ter 'Coster' is short for 'costermonger lie is
pedler and he is distinguished. among other things
by his peculiar dress.
II don't know where he gets his dress ana his IAN
guage." Mr.. Chevaer went on unless 1t is partly
from living along the docks There SEEMS to be
trousers are purely Mexican, think too that that
there is in 1t some survival OF the regular Eisne
dress Of a hundred years ago ct . 49,
The coster girl is picturesque too: she Is me
sister or the daughter the sweetheart or the cos
ter She A long cloak. opening IN 'front.' anu
disclosing an apron under it. and high boots. VITO
sang my songs people at the West End OF London
said there were no such costumes worn BY by any
Rundreds every Sunday Newspaper writer's told
there was no such cosume and they would S not
could see the costers and showed them"
How did you happen TO take up the coster as
Il was walking home from the theatre one night.
Mr. Chevaler replied and just ahead OF me
his around her waist and he tried to kiss her
She demurred and a regular fight followed Then
with 1t and the other gave chase. Then there was
! another fight and finally they walked of again
with their arms about each other. On that sugges-
ton j wrote my song The Courtship That was
not actually my first song. Before that had gone
vited me to go into the back room. where the Har
mony Club was. l went in and was much amused
club
As soon as Mr.. Chevslier got of the ship yester.
Irving and John Hare. He expressed himself az
much pleased with the view he had last evening OF
no, be found, he said in asy London music hall.
except one-the Palace. Somebody ventured 10 put
America - Il have been here Ave minutes said
Mr. Chevalier. "and am staggered