Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-03-21
BACK TO THE STAGE.
VERNON STILES, FORMER oTTuM.
WAN, WILL AGAIN SING IN
COMIC OPERA.
Son of Judge E. Il. stiles, Of Kansas
City, Mo-, After Two Years on
Ranch viii Again Take Up TheatrI-
cal Professional Cowboy Tenor.

>y' VIZ, HisST tWO Years on
Ranch viii Again Take Up Theatrl-
cal Professional Cowboy Tenor.
Vernon Stiles, son of Judge r. H.
Stiles, of Kansas City, Mo-, and for
mer resident Of this city, after two
Years of ranching, has, by a single
days association with his former the
atrical comrades, been induced to re-
turn to the footlights Of the comic
opera stage. The Kansas City Jour-
nal has the following article concern
Ing Stiles change of vocation, which
will be of much interest to his MANY
friends here:
Returns to Comic Opera.
Two years ago Vernon Stiles, a Kan.
sas City boy, after singing with the
Bostonians for three years, decided to
quit the stage and HE himself to a
ranch in southwestern Colorado. This
ranch had been bequeathed to Mr..
Stiles by an uncle, and when he be.
came real cattle owner he unused to
himself: mo more Of the stage for
me. fain would cowboy be-
Mr.. Stiles joined the Bostonians
when he was 20 years old. He was
Immediately given the leading tenor
roles in such we'll known operas as
"The Serenade,' 1.-THE Viceroy" and
Robin Hood" He sang with Grace
Van Studdiford, Hilda Clark and other
Bostonian celebrities. He made good
But that ranch out in Colorado
looked good to Mr.. Stiles. He decided
to quit the stage, and he did. He went
west.
Two weeks ago Mr.. Stiles returned
to Kansas City. He came back on q
cattle train with large number OF
cattle belonging to him. He sold his
cattle at the stock yards and then
naturally, strolled up town in the di
rection of theatre. He went to the
Willis Wood. "The Sho Gun" was do
ing business at this theatre. Mr.
Stiles drifted back on the stage. He
had been there only minute.
Hello, Vern," echoed voice down
the hallway which leads to the dress
ing rooms.
The person who had spoken was
William Weldon, the tenor of "The
Sho Gun" He had been with the
Bostonians and had alternated with
Vernon Stiles.
Where in thunder did you come
from?" queried Weldon, scanning the
brow complexion of the former Boston
ian.
II am the cowboy tenor from South
western Colorado, said Stiles, jok
ingly. Then he told his interesting
story OF his life on the great plains.
Miss Van Studdfford was in the city
and she gave dinner in Mr.. Stiles
honor at the Baltimore. The might
after he was the guest Of Mr.. Weedor
and other members of the "Sho Gun
company at the Baltimore. He re
manned with the tSho Gun" during
it's stay in Kansas City. The "She
Gun left town last Monday morning
and also left Vernon Stiles.
Old memories had been revived BY
this visit. Old ambitions had returned
Mr.. Stiles telegraphed to New York
Mr.. Weldon had previously done the
same thing. The result: A preliminary
contract for next season with Henry
w. Savage. Mr.. Stiles went to loca
music house yesterday and purchased
piano. 1t was started out toward
Colorado ranch last night Mr.. Stiles
will go back to the ranch today, but tt
remain only until May /. He will
close up his affairs in Colorado, re
tanning the ownership Of the cattle
interests, however, and return East IL
time to begin preparations for his re
turn to light opera next season. The
meeting with his old comrades in the
"Sho Gun" and the Red Feather
companies was too much for him, hi
decided to quit the plains and return
to the romatic atmosphere Of conf,
opera.
The "Sho Gun" is to close it's season
early in April and Mr.. Weldon, tn,
tenor, and his wife Alice Judson, for
merly prima donna with the Bostonian.
are to go out to Colorado and visi
Vernon Stiles on that cattle rancf
which has kept him away from tn.
stage for two years. Beverly Plat
| and Frank Woodward, both of Kansa.
City, are to be Mr.. Stiles guests a
the same time.
William Weldon, by the way, say!
that Vernon Stiles, of Kansas City
can be the greatest tenor in light opers
if he will only sing.
Stiles has taken him at his word.