St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-10-12
Discovered.


written by Clinton R. Carpenter of Low
ell, Mass, former resident Of this tow
Fitzgibbons was a musician. Their
couldn't be any doubt about that 10
the Nuhawk City Directory said So
and the publishers information "a
straight from Fitzgibbons' own lips
True, he was only a piano player in
variety theatre; but his equal at dealin,
out impromptu "overtu res" and her,
and there frightening the performance
by appropriate and pleasing airs woult
be hard to find.
Upon the street, dressed in patent leath
ers, white CATERS. light trousers and fash
ionable Prince Albert, his strong, smoot h
shaver face and snow white hair toppef
off with silk hat of the latest approved
style, he made, indeed, a striking fpur,
and looked every inch the professional
man he claimed to be. His career haf
been above the average in point of adven
ture and lack OF success; and for 80 wears
or more he had been struggling against
what he termed hard luck"-what his
friends whispered "a champagne appe.
title and beer income" The same pride
which dresses men in latest fashion while
their tailors wear last years clothing
because OF inability to collect money dne
them. had held Fitzgibbons firmly in its
grasp Tor these many years, until he had
grown out OF himself into living exam.
pie OF the ''credit SYSTEM"
But now, lured on BY he success which
had attended the Efforts OF several fellow
musicians at composing popular songs,
Fitzglbbons had decided to try his luck
on what seemed to him reasonably sure
way to repenish his much depleted ex.
chequer. So it happened that 1.-THE Dear.
est One OF ALI was being sung by Der.
nice Leslie at Hamackter's Music Hall
upon certain Monday night in SOFTEN.
Der, and Fitzgibbons was PLAYING. not
without considerable anxiety, the accom-.
paniment.
In the audience sat Benson. "musical
and dramatic critic" tor the Nuhawk
Daily Grist; man whose chief delight
and principal object in life seemed to be
to make trouble by picking to pieces
whatever might come within his reach.
so ne listened intently to this new song
winch, the programme said, was "des.
tined to be whistled and sung through
out the land" hoping that he might be
able to flnd flaw in its composition, or
at least some excuse for sharp criticism
IN the morning edition of his worthy
sheet.
Suddenly and before the singer had fin.
ished the last verse of the song, Benson
ciapped on his hat and rushed from the
theatre without waiting to witness one
OF the most enthusiastic receptions which
had ever been given the first presenta.
tion of popular song.
II there was one thing more than an
other OF which Benson felt proud it was
his remarkable memory, and upon this
occasion it had served him well.
Fitzgibbons was happy; happy because
the success of his song was assured, and
because he knew that it would yield him
a good income and make easier the mar
ket for his future compositions.
Small wonder, then, that as he sat in
the office OF the Calldorf Hotel next
morning and picked up a copy of the
Daily Grist he was we'll nigh beside him
self with disappointment as he read the
following:
A DELIBERATE STEALTH!
Acheap piano hanger in local theatre
appropriates the work of another COM
poser and under new name presents it
as his own composition.
THE EXPOSURE OF A FRAUDll!
Last night the audience at Hamack-
ter's Music Hall was treated to one of
the cheapest sbams which has been per.
petrated for many a day. During the
performance Of the olio Miss Bernice Les
lie sang THE Dearest One of ALL" which
was, claimed upon the programme, to be
the original composition OF Prof. Paul
Fitzgibbons." The song is remarkably
clever piece OF work, and reflects great |
credit upon the real composer, Mr.. Wal. |
ter S. Brown Of Redwood, Virginia, who
presented the same song to the public as
Loves Message" during the winter of
1869, Mr.. Brown was young music
teacher in Redwood at the time, and
Loves Message" was performed as his
first effort at song writing. Unfortu-
nately it failed to arouse any great
amount of enthusiasm, and was never
published. The writer Of this article was
in Redwood and heard the only public
presentation of Loves Message" he
also heard THE Dearest One of All" at
Hamackter's last night, does not hest
tate to say that the two songs are iden-
teal. No doubt If this statement reaches
the eye of Mr.. Walter S. Brown he will
lose no time in establishing his right to
proper credit Tor the sorg, and will pre-.
vent the further use of it by, and as the
work of prof. Paul Fitzgibbons of Ham
ackter's Music Hail." BENSON, Critic.
.Fitzgibbons folded the paper, put it in
his pocket, and, crossing the street, en-
tered the building where the Nuhawk
Gazette was published. An hours ear
nest conversation with the city editor in
his private office resulted in the follow.
ing article, which appeared in the even.
ing editions of the Gazette
A BRILLIANT SUCCESS!!!
Professor Paul Filzgibbons of Ham
ackter's" presents his latest composition,
The Dearest One of Alp The Song
Meets with Instantaneous Approval
FRAUD" claims of morning contempo-
rary ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT FOUN-
DATION.
One of the sweetest songs of the day
was given at Hamackter's Music Hall
last night by Miss Bernice Leslie; and
not until she had responded to tour en-
cores would the audience allow her to
leave the stage. The song is the work
OF Prof. Paul Fitzgibbons, the popular