New-York tribune., 1905-01-15
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH.
Member of old Fremont Quartet
Celebrates Birthday.

Il is seldom that hnds uvelier or better pre-
served man OF his age than Joseph ". Mathor the
retired business man. who celebrated his eighty
nth birthday IN his apartments IN the Hotel St
George last Wednesday evening Certainly there
are none more cheerful optimistic His motto is
Let US extract ali the sweetness out OF life tust
as The honey bee extracts the sweetness from the
his family is STEPHEN T. Mather. son who lives
IN Chicago. Mr. Mather finds pleasure in the asso-
citation OF old friends and particularly IN the
friendship OF the two men who members with
meetings. in the Fremont ana Dayton campaign OF
over eFltg yea M 0eR Sata 0f sn vino S ere esorsd all
lockwood, a photographer who Is himself over
seventy years old, as tie fourth member Of the
quartet. and each week they meet play cribbage
and go over the old campaign songs. 1--WE don't
says M AIathsr but we set togetSer and make
young" - 1-iO II keeps US
Mr. MEther was born IN Dar3en. Conn The Rev
Joseph Mather. his father was celebrated clergy
man there. One Sunday, while IN his pulpit p
party Of British soldiers appeared, and took him
and about forty members Of the congregation to
NeW-York as prisoners Here they were confined
IN one OF the prison ships. The old family man
sion Is still retained by Mr. Mather, and he spends
his summers there. As q young man. Mr. Mather
taught for thirteen y~~rs IN New-York City, and
"A the city In 1850 he became connected With
branches IN south America Four years later be
Went 70 san francisco 10 take charge Of marketing
rr,.-
he hey s toia q me me would inc wild life out there
-loo,,a5$,4 90 many promising young men Of my
wife and took her with me and that is what
1is son was born and educated in California being
a. a graduate Of the University Of California Mr..
Aather was intimately acquainted with many of
the pioneers Of the Pacific Slope, who after11ard
Mr. Mather returned to New-YorE as the Eastern
representative Of the Pacific Coast Borax Company
n 4eH he retired from active business.
Much interest attaches TO the old campaign quar-
tet OF nearly half century ago. which stiu meets
and Is stin able 10 render the old glees with much
Of their old vim The quartet was selected from
the Fremont and Dayton Glee Club organized to
aid the Republican party in its first Presidential
campaign. BY strange coincidence. each member
% ot the quartet was 9 native OF Connecticut end
oio not become acquainted until they met in the
.. Warner, native OF Stamford was second tenor:
Henry Camp. born in Norwalk was first bass and
FRANK FRANK 4sylor' or Westport second bass Mr. Camp
was music teacher and choirmaster and for
1S ty years a. mac eaarge OF the music in Plymouth
course, given up active work he will be eighty
5nanutaetureT Of pianos before his retirement Will
oS e1gat! -three years old in the same month The
quartet ~ addition 10 singing with the glee club
see s, 70 & sing at special OCCASIONS, and frequently
rnerpbers xae sa1e sn9 Gree!ey. Mr. Mather re
ings IN Harlem, on one occasion, because there
We're no cars All OF the members of the quartet
hsa sung as individuals in the campaign Of 1870
,s ssa me ne, song 1lppecanoe and Tyler. Too" fur
anxious 70 set the original words Of this song as
IL.
campaign the quartet sang several OCCASIONS
but in the next four years became separated II
was not until Mr. Mathers return from the West
sixteen years ago. that the three
Eether again Since then they have been meeting
regularly.
Among the most treasured possessions of Mr
Mather Is the old songbook he used in 1856 1t is
2 small paper covered volume. called The Free
mems Giee Book" and published by Miller
OrtoE & Auiligan- 1t IS yellow with age but well
preserved. The quartet has just two other copies
and has been unable 10 get trace Of any others
its weight in fine gold even South African dia-
rnonds would tempt AIr. Mather to part with
his copy he says. Among the most popular OF
the giees IN the campaign called 'SThe Rally
ing Song" air THE AarseiIlaise." the chorus or
which runs:
Arise. arise ye bavsi
be
Free speech. Free Press Free Soil. Free Men.
Fremont and Victory
Another chorus
Arise and let my empire strstch
From widening sea 10 soa.
soil forever cOIsecrate
TO blessed liberty. 10 blessed liberty.
..you should have lived ia these stirring days"
said hr AIather, talking Of the old glees. 1T was
Il eIorious lime. You see, had liberty 20 sing
sf.Suf and that a great theme
II one Of the songs, termed Fremont. The True
ana F,old' Mr. Mather called on 10 reach
dsf IYaese elees and many others the quartet
sffi sing when il gets together. Mr. Mather says
- can reach . 1iat now about as well as he ever