Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-08-13
MRS. MAVERICK FIRST SANG IT
''The Holy City" Composed ny Her
Husbands Brother.

Hosana to the King
IL is not difficult to imagine Mrs.
Florence MAVERICK. ouce sentenced to
death for the murder of her husband
and now released, after spending many
years in an English prison, singing
the refrain of SteDhen Adams popu-
lar sacred song, "The HOLY CITY"
Bot it is not generally known that
hers was the voice which first gave
utterance to the strains which were
destined to become as world famous
as those of Sir Arthur Sullivan s 1.-THE
Lost Chord or "The Palms, by
Faure.
The soTg was the work of the
younger brother of the man Mrs. May
brick was convicted of poisoning. Its
composer was her most relentless
enemy ADD was mainly instrumental
in securing her conviction.
Few English composers have more
successful songs to their credit than
Stephen Adams. Few have made such
fortune out of ROYALTIES as he. 1t
has been stated that Nancy Lee"
alone Melted him $3.50. 600. His War
rior Bold" Midshipmate'' and blue
Alsatian Mountains'' were scarcely
less successful
He is now extremely wealthy. a
Justice of the peace and member of
tie Victoria Yacht Club, and he has
served two terms as Mayor of Ryde,
Isle Of Wight, in which capacity he
has frequently entertained the King
of England.
''Stephen Adams" is merely the
name under which Michael MAVERICK
publishes his songs. Mr.. Maybrick
began his musical career as baratoue
singer at local concerts around Liver
pool. He is the sou of a well-to-do
shipping agent of Liverpool.
He and his brother we're widely dis
similar in tastes. character and phv-
sique. The elder was weakling,
feeble of mind and body. hypochon-
driac, addicted to the use of drugs
and with a mind fixed upon COM
mercial enterprises.
The younger. Michel, was mag
nificent specimen of humanity, tall.
broad and athletic. Of artistic tenn
permanent, he quit the counting house
and studied music IN Milan and Leip-
sic. The elder remained at home, al
ways ailing, ALWAYS scheming to Sc
cure more wealth.
The brothers had only one trait in
common. They were both enthusiastic
yachtsmeD.
Mrs. Maybrck was a good musician,
had great liking for music. an excel
len. voice and love of convivialitv.
Thus she drew together to some extent
the brothers who had drifted apart.
Her husband owned fine YACHT. q
feature of which was music saloon.
many well-knowD singers and must
clans were entertained. Michael May
brick who had just leaped into fame
as the composer of Nancy Lee,'' but
as vet had NOT gathered in enough CT
the profits to indulge his passion for
owning yacht. was a frequent guest.
1t was on one of these musical even.
ings, while the yacht was anchored in
the Mersey, that Michael Maybrick
produced from his pocket manuscripts
song which he said he had written
that afternoon while dreaming the
time awav in his cabin and listening
to the splash of the waters. He had
caught the inspiration of Weatherly's
words. but the voice part only had
still. to be filled in.
Sitting at the piano he vamped an
intl oduction and asked his sister-in-
law, Mrs. Florence Maybrick, to sing
The Holy Citv" from the voice part.
She was an excellent reader, and
readily did this. he filing in an ex-
t'mporized accompaniment.
Thus it was her voice which, for
the first time. stirred the air with
strains destined to become almost
classic.
1t was some years after the trial of
Mrs. Maybrick, and while she was
shut off from the world, buried
within prison walls, that "Tbe Holy
City" was published and became popu-
lar. Publishers to whom it was sub
mitted shook their heads, and declared
it too somber in character and tone.
Bring us another Nancy Lee, >"
they said, and name your own price.
Another waltz song with the swing of
The Blue Alsatian Mountains would
be sure winner. This is very fine,
but it.Isn't in.the Stephen Adams style,
and the public would.not stand for it. +"
How erroneous was the judgement
of those gentlemen has been proved
by the popularity of the song. Before
a year had passed they were clamor-
inc for mora of similar charactar