The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-13
SONGS AS MONEY-riAKERS.

songs.
"A sixteen days sale Of songs Is now
In progress at the auction rooms OF
Messrs. Puttick & Simpson, of Lelces.
ter Square, and no less sum than
$4,000 has been realized by the first
five days Of the sale.
That is a big sum undoubtedly, but
! Messrs. Puttick q Simpson, who were
! seen by Daily Mail Representative yes
terday, state that, as a matter Of fact
music publishers do not make prlncely
incomes out of songs. The competition
Is keen, the expenses are very great,
and the exceptional successes very
rare.
The highest price ever given for a
song is f2,240, which was the sum paid
last week for Mascheroni's "For All
Eternity" This song has nearly its
full term OF copyright TO run. ana its
shares with Queen OF the Earth" the
honor Of being the most popular Of
modern compositions.
But il is not always quality that
brings in a handsome return. There
are many songs of exceptional merit,
both I'm the words and music, which are
practically drug on the market. while,
on the other hand, songs of admitted
mediocrity have commanded eXtraor-
dinarily high prices. The music pub
Usher who can judge of the value OF a
song as soon as he sees il Is a rarity.
He has to reckon with the temper and
varied taste Of the public. He must pa
tiently bfde his time and let the sales
tell their own tales.
Messrs. Puttick & Simpson have had
long experience in the sale OF copy
rights of songs. and some figures they
supplied our representative with yes-
terday are exceedingly interesting.
In 1871 some huge prices were paid
for songs. Bales The sailor sighs as
sinks his native Shore "a duet, fetched
e324 Blumenthal's 'Requltal" was
bought for e3l0. The royalty on this
song was as much as sd. per copy. Ar
diti's III Bacio, fetched e1i5: Gounoo's
Bethlehem El9S Hatlow's Good
by, Sweetheart. Good by" Gi62: Ilo~
der's Brave Old Oak" e2al: knights
she Wore a Wreath of Roses" e495
Macfarrens Beating .of MY Own
Heart" $780, Santley's "Only To Love"
e26s. In the same year Wallace's opera
Mariana" was sold for f2232. while
shortly afterwsrd e2,500 was paid for
his opera "Lurline"
Some well known songs came under
the hammer in 1883. many Of them be-
ing Blockley's. His Arabs Farewell
to His Steeed" went for G640; "The
Englishman" for G46s: Hearts and
Homes" for R319: Love Not for
f3o5: MANY Happy Returns Of the
Day for fs64, and Ring Out, Wild
Bells" a239.
In the same year Meli's "Nn nesoer-
andum" fetched e25S; De Fayes "Tell
Her Love Her So" e4s5: Alice Mary
Smiths Maying duet. e663; Cherry's
Shells OF Ocean e2o2. Cherry's
win the Wisp" e209: wlalace's
Sweet and Low" f2l4: wallace's
why Do. 7 Weep for Thee?" c22s. and
Arditi's '1'Ardita," e360. AS much as
e1O00 was paid for Coote's Prince Im-
perial galop; while Balfe's opera Rose
OF CASTLE" was bought for G95s. and
Weber's opera "Oberon" fer CAPS.
Many songs and piano pieces were dis
posed OF in 1890. or the songs. Lees
He Wipes Tear from Every Eye"
realized e222; Hstton.s ITO Anthea,"
ESQ. and Warmers ITO the Woods"
G6s2. Two piano pieces by Pridham-
one, sabbath Recreations." and the
other Yorkshire Bells"-fetcffed esSs
and e990 respectively. His Battle
March was sold for e1o24. Mahlers
"Old London March" was bought for
e6ss and his "Old Westminster March"
for e246
Ii was in this year that Farmers vio-
lin tutor was sold for e1.752. Small
woods Fairy Baruue" a simple piano
piece. used principally In schools.
fetched as much as G1stO. LeslIe's
song -Four Jolly Smiths" went for
S00 In 1S93 Verdrs opera "Il Trova-
tore was sold for G503.
Good prices have been paid during
the present sale. In addition to the
record price for For All Eternity.s
G $40 lbs. was paid for Mascheroni's
Land of Yesterday" b. Richards
Let the Hills Resound' brought
G222 los. Lawrence kellie's Loves
Nocturne," E351, los. and F. II. Cowens
Mission OF the Rose E5i5.-London
Mail.