The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-05-29
very sincerely

ptdce, dtiu u WCu1d not nave done so
had I not been pushed to the wall at the
time OF the recital and forced to decide
quickly.
Yours very sincerely,
q. l.. sToDDARD.
The reply Of Mr.. Gilies to the above
go Fourth ST., Jersey city. N. j.
E.. L. Stoddard. d. d.
Rev Sir-I received your note of today
from Mr.. Boys this afternoon. / am well
aware that I did not sing at the recital
as well as / usually do: 1 was unable
70 DO myself Justice owing to several
drawbacks. | had sang at st. Johns
ehoir rehearsal the Friday night before,
drliled the choir on Saturday evening,
and sang Sunday morning at the Taber-
naeie. | was nervous and did not have
sufficient rehearsal on such a difficult
work as was sung on the occasion re-
ferred to.
mended me to you has heard me sing
several times. and, as he is a musician
OF nigh standing in this city, you were
Jnstlfled in engaging me simply on his
recommendation.
l think that l am being treated most
unJustiy in this matter, for / have not
Eaq a fair n TO show whether I
can MI the position satisfactorily or not.
l nave yet failed to fulfill an en-
gagement, and I cannot see any other
honorable way out Of this affair than to
Keep this one; for | cannot afford to
give It up, and will try and endure all
the persecution which / may be sub
Jected to at the hands of all dissatisfied
ones.
OF course you can engage other bass
soioists to sing when lever you choose, but
pc sure uhat the first time anyone starts
70 sing a solo which I have a right to
sing, also will sing it with him.
| expect to be on hand next rid
evening, also the following one, and viii
pc ready for work the first Sunday morn
ing in May.
Yours respectfully.
JOHN c. GILLIES.
stoddard sent this note rev. Ds.
"a Astor Pl, J. c. H..
Dear Mr. Gillies:-
AS you declare yourself in writing un-
wiling TO comply with the terms of our
verbal agreement, and say that you in
sast on singing when you think you have
a right to, that agreement is. of course.
at an end, and I am obliged to say tnat
the arrangement cannot be
! will see that you are paid for SER
wees already rendered; though you win
notice that you have not kept the terms
gt tne agreement in attendance as YOU
ma not IN the satisfactory character of
IS paid you just the same.
Yours very truly,
F. L. SToDDARD.
Now, Mr.. Gillies.p asked Mr. Tsn-
nanf, did you hear about these com
NO. replied the plaintiff. who added
mat after this correspondence he went
10 a musical bureau in New, York to get
sequently, he said, obtained a temporary
position with the Scotch Presbvteria1
Sc = as preeentor at SIS a month. The
ilsofe lrylng 70 the. voice than the sing
ing OF the high grade music of ST. Johns
because he had TO lead the congregation.
rms closed the direct examination.
After consulting a little with Rev DR.
Sfoddard, who sat at the lawyers table,
Mr., edwards began to ,cross-examine.
Mr.. Edwards.
Sing solos" was the reply.
Weren't you told that if you were
executed. with you for the year," de-
manded Mr.. Edwards.
Ne, sir! I was engaged without any
o. broke down at the Easter ser
viee?' asked Mr.. Edwards, in an insinu-
No, sir, I did not" emphatically re-
On which Sunday in April did YOU
e esal1lp break doWn?' persisted MIR.
II didn't break down.,
Nov, mt; Giilies," asked the relentless
lawyer, didn't you after a recital go to
Pr. .Stoddard and apologize for your poor
singing?'
Il old Or. Stoddard that I was in poor
trim, caused by hard work and that nv
singing. was not satisfactory to me, and
l would try to avoid it in the future"
What did DR.. Stoddard say?"
He replied that he hoped it would not
oeeur again."
Mr.. Edwards tried a new tack ana
asked the plaintiff whether he would have
70 practice for the music Of the Scotch
Presbyterian Church. Mr.. Gillies replied
in the affirmative.
But they sing simple tunes there?v
asked Mr.. Edwards.
Mot always
"Do the people of the Scotch Presbyte-
ran Church gather together to rehearse
No replied MIR. Giiies, wondering
what his tormentor was after.
Then Mr.. Edwards wanted TO know
what proportion of the Mercer street con-
gregation sang. Whether it was three
fourths, one-tlird or one-half; but Mr..
Gillies couldn't give any information as
to the number of Calves and De Reszkes
in that body.
Does anybody sing besides yoursesf?,
demanded Mr.. Edwards, and the plain
tiff replied that he was sure there were
did you think that one rehearsal on
Friday nights was amply sufficient to en-
able you to sing property the music in st.
Johns Church?'' asked Mr.. EDWARDS.
and after vigorous nh,yaof;onc fro,, NJ