The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-04-08
AGED COMPOSER.
Man Who Played for Kings Is Now
in the Poorhouse.

in the Poorhouse.
From Baltimore Correspondent New
York World:
Leo Wheat in the poorhouse!"
Together with a motley crowd, hope
less specimens Of humanity, the once
noted musician and composer. associate
of Sir Arthur Sullivan and Paderewski.
scion Of Southern family, was ratified
off to Bayview-that last refuge Of the
homeless and friendless.
Leo Wheat had been arrested the
night before for assaulting man on
the street with cane. He was in IL
quor at the time. The musician was
walking along tho street. pictures
que figure with his old gray felt hat
pulled carelessly over his eyes. his
clothes in disorder and a, bright red
carnation in his buttonhole. Taking
offense at the way passerby looked
at him. the odd Johnny Reb," as he
calls himself, raised his cane and
brought it down on the shoulders Of
the surprised creature. and the old man
was hauled to the station house.
Here Mr.. Wheat explained that he
had been to a concert and to the ex-
hilaration of the music he had added
that Of liquor. SO that he did not know
what he was doing. When his victim
learned who his assailant was he re-.
fused to prosecute. Then the old mu-
sician. broken in health and purse,
asked the magistrate to commit him to
Bayview. Justice Grammar granted his
plea and he sank YEARLY upon the
wooden bench.
Soon his dropping spirits revived and
while waiting for the prison van the
professor entertained his friends upon
the old piano in the station house. Po-
lice Lieutenant Cole had been asked if
the old man could harm the instrument
and had laughingly replied that he
couldn't hurt it il he played 1T with his
feet" Mr.. Wheat turned the cover
down with all the gentleness with which
he might have treated the finest piano
made. Slowly at first and with little
animation he played the old airs. He
livened up considerably on Dixie"
making the Away, away, away down
South in Dixie" echo and re-echo
through the station house. He talked
Star Spangled Banner" and he tried
to sing when in some truant fancy his
hands wandered into the strains of the
Doxology. But when he struck his own
Cradle" song, which he told his hear
ers was the best thing he ever wrote,
he began to interpolate remarks of his
own in his playing.
Now" he said, NOW she's putting
the baby in the cradle. sh! Quit!
Now she's singing to it-softly, slowly.
Now she's rocking the cradle with her
foot-a little woman's foot. Now she's
sewing, sewing" The old musician took
his hands from the keys for minute
and bent them as If using the needle.
When he ceased playing he was
asked many questions. and to one of
them he replied: You ask me If have
not played for royalty. Yes. for AL
bert Edward, I played twice. once in
rs and again in '66. I have played
for Emperor Frederick of Germany
and for the emperor of Austria. Pa
derewski and met in Poland. He was
then young man and requested me
to give him what we call listing les
sons
Leo Wheat was born near Richmond
and early manifested an unusual talent
for music. He went to Europe and
studied there for two years, forming q
close friendship with Sir Arthur Sulli-
van. On his return to America he was
considered to be among the foremost
pianists In this country. He has been
organist in many large churches In
both Northern and Southern cities. and
has played as premier soloist in many
concert. He IL a brother Of Col. Ro-
deran Wheat. Of the noted Louisiana
Tigers, and himself served in the Con-
federate army on the staff Of Gen. Lee.
He is widower, but has several grown
children In V1rRinia