Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-10-07
Jerusalem! Jerusalemi
Hear the angels sing;
Hosanna in the highest,
Hosanna to the King

Jerusalem. JeruSaleml
Hear the angels sing;
Hosanna in the highest,
Hosanna to the King.
It is not difficult to imagine Mrs
Florence Maybrick, once sentenced to
death for the murder Of her husband
and now released, after spending
many years in an English prison, sing
ing the refrain Of Stephen Adams pop.
ular sacred song, The Holy CITY,
But it is not generally known that hers
was the voice which first gave utter
ance to the strains which were dest1n-
ed to become as world famous as those
of Sir Arthur Sullivan's The Lost
Chord" or The Palms." by Faure.
The song was the work Of the young
er brother Of the man Mrs. Maybrick
was convicted of poisoning. Its COM
poser was her most relentless enemy
and was mainly instrumental In Sc
curing 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 netted him a quarter of a mill
lion dollars. His warrior Bold"
''Midshipmite," and "Blue Alsatian
Mountains" were scarcely less sue
cessful.
He is now extremely wealthy, JUS
tice Of the peace, and a member Of
the 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 Maybrick
publishes his songs. Mr.. Maybrick be-
gan his musical career as barytone
singer at local concerts around Liver
pool. He is the son of a wellto-do
shipping agent of Liverpool.
He and his brother were widely dis
similar in tastes, character and ply
sique. The elder was a weakling, fee
BILE Of mind and body, a hypochendri-
&C, addicted to the use Of drugs, and
with a mind fixed upon commercial
The younger. Michael, was a 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-
zig. The elder remained at home, al.
ways ailing, always scheming to Sc
cure more wealth.
hnI IN,
common. They were both enthusiastic
Mrs. Maybrick was good musician,
lad a great liking for music, an ex-
,elient voice, and a love Of conviTiali-
y. Thus she drew together to some
extent the brothers who had drifted
apart. >
Her husband owned a fine yacht, a
eature of which was a music saloon.
There many well-known singers and
were entertained. Michael
who had just leaped into
anne as the composer of Nancy Lee"
,ut as yet had not gathered in enough
# the profits to indulge his passion !
or owning a yacht, was a frequent
,uest. !,
1t was one Of these musical even
ngs, while the yacht was anchored in
he Mersey, that Michael Maybrick
'roduced from his pocket 4 manu-
en- that afternoon while dreaming the
ime away in his cabin. and listening
0 the splash Of the waters. He had
aught the inspirat ton Of Weatherly's
Eords. but the voice part only had
cen jotted down. The accompani-
lent had still to be filed in.
Sitting at the piano, he vamped an
and asked his sister-in-
aw. Mrs Florence Maybrick, to sing
The Holy City" from the vsice part.
he was an excellent reader, and read |
y did this, he filing in an extempor-
led accompaniment
Thus it was her voice which, for the !
rst time. stirred the air with strains
estined to become almost classic.
1t was some years after the trial of |
Lrs. Maybrick, and while she was
hut of from the world, buried within !
rison walls, that THE Holy City"
-as published and became popular.
ublishers to whom it was submitted |
hook their heads, and declared it too
ombre in character and tone.
Bring us another Nancy Lee"
ley said. "and name your own price.
mother waltz song with the swing Of
The Blue Alsatian Mountains would
e a sure winner. This is very fine,
ut it isn't in the Stephen Adams
:yle, and the public. would not stand
,r it." -.-.,.
How erroneous-was the judgment of
lose gentlemen has been proved by
lie popularity of the song. Before a
ear had passed they were clamoring
n more OF similar character. sThe
tar of Bethlehem" ''The Valley of
le Sea-" and Children of the CITY"
'llowed; but none of them eaualed
le success attained by the song :
hich was first sung by Mrs. May
-ick, whose tragic history has at
myth been brought to d peaceful con-
usion. and who may with special
Gaming hereafter sing: