The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-11

please do not think me rude, but I
loved her so.''
well, have had g. wonderful life,''
said Mr.. Abbott IT was born in New
Hampshire in the year 1917 and I am
therefore eighty-two years old. sprung
from musical stock and the musical
strain continued through me to my chill.
dren. Emma, OF course, was the best
known of any Of us, but all my children
are musicians. My father kept a tavern
in Main street in Heniker N, H., and for
many years led the singing in the Old
South church. I knew Daniel Webster
we'll. He came very near marrying my
mother. She taught school in Boscawn
place, where Webster lived, and he would
certainly have claimed her for his bride
If my father, Dyer Abbott had not hap
pened along just at that juncture. In
spite of the fact he was an unsuccessful
sutton for her hand, however, we always
kept up friendly relations with Web
ster.
WAS A GREAT ATHLETE.
when I was ten years old walked
thirty-eight miles to see Andrew Jack
son. I was great athlete when was
young and was considered q champion
walker and runner. In fact, I went
about the country when I was twelve
years old running for purses and, Incl
dentally, wrestling everyone that came
along. When I was advertised to ap-
pear in place have often stood beside
the stove and heard the people wondering
when the great athlete would come. They
never expected to find him in such a
young boy.
II was considered the youngest man
that ever led a brass band. When was
fifteen years old I could play seven in
struments, and at the age of seventeen
I taught and led a full professional brass
band.
IT became very proficient in music and
sixty-six years ago started West from
my New Hampshire home, travelling ~
stage from Boston to New York. I
played in theater orchestras and gave
concerts, assuming the entire entertain
ment myself. I played with all the old
well-known band players. I was not a
member of Ed Kendall's band, but
played with him in Whites band. Then
l played too with Bartlett, the great
first trumpeter, in the oratorio of Da-
Vid.' "
when did you come to Chicago, Mr..
Abbott2" I asked.
well, I got tired Of the East and
1onged to travel toward the West, to fol-
low the star of empire in its course
am still following that star, for today
live in San Diego, Cal. I suppose I
must now move on to the Philippines II
would Keep up with the extension of our
nation.
II came to Chicago in 1S4S, more than
nifty years ago. had my musical Offices
in Lake street-that was the only business
street In Chicago at that time. When 1
Trst came to Chicago the cholera was
raging In all its force so I again packed
up all my lares and penates and moved
down on Rock river. AS soon as the
cholera had spent it's force returned with
my family to Chicago and again opened
musical offices in Lake street I knew
nobody in town, for at that time Chicago
had only a population of 10000.
BIRTH OF THE SWEET SINGER.
'On the night of Dec 9, 1850, I gave an
entertainment in the old Market hall in
State street for the benefit of the children
who had been made orphans by the raw
ages of the cholera. We had an immense
crowd. Over a thousand were turned
away from the door after the hall was
crowded to overlooking. Frank Lombard
was one 1ofn our principal singers that
night. eEfihlis was another. Mrs. ;Rey-
nolds- sang and a lady from the Park
theater in New York; forget her name
now. sang and played On different in
struments. We made an immense sue
cess. and 1t was almost morning before
reached home. When I did finally arrive
debut upon the worlds stage during my
absence. Emma was born.
My life seemed centered in that child
She was always wonderfully talented and
realized from the start that she would
achieve fame for herself and her family.
was her only teacher up to the time
she went to New York to learn Italian
and 1 was the only teacher she ever had
except her Italian teacher. After she
died round dozen claimed to have been
her first teacher, but 1 never, up to the
time they came forward. heard of one of
them. want to repeat it. 1 was her only
teacher
I'm what part of the city was Emma
born?" I asked.
swered, "for family reasons. will say
however, that the house is still standing
and Is occupied by family of Italians
The neighborhood is not SO aristocratic
as 1t was fifty years ago. The most will
say about 1t is that 1t was north of Ran
dolph and east Of Halsted street.
when Emma was nine years old she
knew the full score of Norma and The
Bohemian Girl, and her delivery of these
operas was without flaw She was a
composer as well as an Interpreter OF
music. When eleven years old she COM
posed a medley of eleven tunes. Five of
them were of her own composition. She
sung the medley years afterward in New
York and every one thought she must
have heard the songs in Europe. They
were her own girlish compositions and
she never told the secret, fearing to find
herself, If the truth were known, a
prophet without honor in her own coun-
try. She played the guitar, too, and COM
posed variations for The Bells of Sc
bastopol,' to be played on the guitar,
when she was nine years old.
Her first concert was given in south
erfi Illinois. She was only eleven years