The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-13
POPULAR MANY YEARS.
Henry Clay Barnabee I'm Cast
Since Beginning.
Jessie Bartlett Davis and Many
Other Famous Singers.

ana greatest comic opera company u
be organized in America. has beer
heard in all the larger cities of the
country and has had a following such
as has been rarely granted TO any
company Of players.
The Bostonians were always sure OF
big audiences no matter where they
went The company has always been
popular and the people who have been
identified with IL have always been abe
TO create enthusiasm. In Boston the
company has heretofore been one of the
most popular that made the city.
The Bostonian Opera company is the
outgroWth of the Ideal Opera company,
formed in Boston in 1879 for the purpose
of singing '-Pinafore-" In 1887, in con-
naction with William H Macdonald
and Tom Karl, Henry Clay Barnabee
formed the company known as the BoS-
tonians. In the early days the com
pany was like family There was the
utmost harmony among the mempers
of the company and it was in reality
an ideal organization
The opera Robin Hood" was the
greatest success of the company Never
since that production was put on mas
the company been able to find as good
a vehicle for its talents II has always
kept up with the times in regard 70
good music, but il would never cater 70
the spectacular, hence it has fallen IN
bad lines. The managers refused 10
pander to the taste of a public that de-
manded sprightly girls in abbreviated
costumes and has attempted always 10
keep the standard OF the company on a
high plane.
Marie Stone was the first prima don
ma of the company and some OF Ine
earlier singers were Tom Karl, Henry
Clay Barnabee, William H Macdonald
Camille DArville. Jessie Bartlett DaN-
IS. Mr. rockingham and Miss t1nlay-
son. Later Eugene CowIes and Edwin
Hoff were added to the force. by Tar
the most notable figure in the company
has been Henry Clay Barnabee, VINO Is
he
has been from the very beginning
Mr.. Barnabee Acknowledges to the
age of IL. His biographer says that
he was born in 1888 at portsmouth,
the leading hotel, having assumed that
position after a career as one OF the
famous whips" of the old stage coach
time. Young Henry went to school
until his father thought he had
learned enough to help him out in life,
and then apprenticed him TO the pro-
prietor of a dry goods store IN ms
native city, and in that capacity he
acted until the year 1854 Another
dry goods store then claimed his ser
vices and during that time he became
connected with the Mercantile Library
association of Boston. This was an or
ganization in which many actors and
actresses of that day received their
early training for the stage, and it
was at the entertainments of this as
Bociation. formerly so popular with
Bostonians. that he developed the
mimic powers which have made him
the first operate comedian in the land.
His ability to closely initiate any &c
centric action or popularity on the
part of his fellow statesmen or those
with whom he came in contact, had
been frequently noticed
In 1866 Mr.. Barnabee appeared at
the Museum for Robert McClannin's
benefit, playing Toby Twinkle in "AlI
TO William Warren's Box in Mortons
famous BOX and Cox" This was his
first attempt on the regular stage
In 1865 Julius Eichberg's operetta
Chickering hall, with Mr.. Barnabee,
Miss Julia Gaylord. Allen A. Brown
and Warren Davenport dramatis
personae. He was especially success
full at this time in "Sir Marmaduke"
a musical version of the old farce
"Betsey Baker, the words of the
songs having been written by B. E. !
Wolf and the music by julius Eich-
berg. This latter work was a happy
conception of Mr.. Barnabee's and was |
given for several seasons to good bust |
hess by the Barnabee Opera company. |
In 1870 Mr.. Barnabee organized a |
regular concert company, which in !
cluded Arbuckles the famous cornet |
soloist-
Barnabee he is remarkably spry as the |
sheriff of Nottingham and the duke in |
The Serenade- One misses, perhaps, |
that nimbleness of foot which character |
one takes into consideration that twen-
" years have elapsed since we first |
saw him dancing that weird contro-
tempt in his harem the sheriff and the
duke are still two wonderful creations
I'm point of quick movement and spry-
ness of limb.
Altogether surprising is Mr.. Barna-
bees adaptability at his hale old age
to travel about the country and make
One-night stands for three and a half
months at a time.
Jessie Bartlett Davis who left the
company IN 1899. was for a long time
one OF the most noted contraltos in
America
Before she was married Mrs Davis
bore the name of Jessie Bartlett. so ii
will be seen that she has never. in ac-
cordance with the common custom, as
Eumed nom de stage. Jessie Bartlett |
was a country girl. robust and rosy
checked and full of life and vigor Her
early years she passed on farm near
Morris, Ill.
Her musical education was received
under Frederick Root in Chicago and
It was in this city that she achieved her
hrst vocal success As contralto in the
choir OF the Church of the Messiah her
voice charmed thousands. In July
Choir Pinafore company and gained
fresh laurels as Little Buttercup in the
production of the opera
She made ner debut as Siebel to
PATHS Marguerite in Faust" in New
York city. then Joined the Carleton op-
era company and later the America OPP
era company, touring America in both.
Mrs Davis studied one season in Paris
before entering into a contract with the
with which company she
was long associated
About dozen years ago MT. Cowles
was adding up long columns of figures
~ the First National bank of Chicagol :