The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-02-18
IN MEMORlAM
Old Friend and Co.worker Writes Of the Late
Henry Squlres.

Henry Squlrss.
Editor OF the Banner:--I first met
Henry Squires at the International no
tel, San Francisco, Cal, In 1850. He
brought US unique letter OF intro
duction. The letter contained only
four words. and three of these words
were names. IL read as follows:
"Tony know Harry. The
letter was from James r. Hall, propri.
etor OF the principal music store in
New York.
Henry Squires needed no letter OF
introduction to me, for he had come TO
California to join the noted Lyster
Opera company, OF which, (youngster
as was), was musical director. On
the same steamer came w. s. Lyster,
manager Of the opera company and
Lucy Escott, prima donna.
The Lyster Opera company had been
playing In California for about year
with great success, but AS we gave six
performances week, our one prima
donna, Miss Rosalie Durand, found
herself fairly exhausted and unable TO
continue the work OF singing six nights
a week Mr. Lyster started east TO re-
iniorce his company.
At that time ''going east" was quite
an undertaking, there being no rail.
road across the continent. Lyster
went to London via Panama and New
York. He did not succeed In get
ting any suitable singers in Eur.
ope and returned 10 New
York where he metLucy Escott, Mr.
Squires and others. They had been
members OF an opera company recent
ly disbanded. Lys,er engaged Squires,
Escott and bass singer. Squires and
Escott made their debut 10 San Fran
cisco at Maguire's opera house In
"Lusla di Lammermoor."
Squires made an Instant neous hit
aud became q great iavorIte, not only
OF the operate stage but socially. He
was at this time q very handsome
young man, short but we'll proportion
ed, fine head OF hair, clear complex.
ion and with a pleasing expression,
attributes OF great advantage to a ten
or singer. His voice was pure sym
pathetic light tenor, llenore leger.l lie
dressed with perfect taste and although
never more than an ordinary actor, he
had certain magnetism that made
him sen rapport" with his audience n,
once. Our previous tenor was very
mediocre aud 80 Il cpme TO pass that
SPUR, sang In al tho ope as excepting
Name di Figaro" Marriage Of Fig
arol and the "Cnlld Of the Regiment"
Our two prima dopnas were Lucy Il.
colt and Mi. Resale Duraud, the
former singing the tragic heavy roles,
and the latter the comic aud lighter
parts. A. tenor, squircs sang with
both aud 10 say that be was always on
good terms with each Of them goes 20
show what an amiable gentleman be
was. especially as one, Miss Durand,
vas very beautiful woman, aud the
other, Lucy Escou,, he siierwsrds mar.
rIed.
We finished GU, the year 10 Calf r.
ola and then Lysier determined to go
to Australia. Going 10 Australia In
those days vas q serious undertaking,
as 20 steamers we're crossing the Pscl.
&c and We bad 10 SAL on little freight
ship.
Lysier knew no one 10 Australia and
se started without any advance agent,
or Ia fact even a letter announcing our
coming. In January, 1881. we sailed
from San Francisco on the little sail.
ing ship. Achilles" Of 600 tons bur.
den and after . rapid voyage OF ~
days arrived In Hobson's Bay, lMel
bourne Our Little company consist d
~ fourteen price pals.
on this voy age perhaps learoed 10
snow my dear friend, Henry Sqnires.
more truly and intimately than ever
did before or aflerEards. We occ1
pied the same state room for 5, days,
and although he was much older Than
I, we became most companlonable and
many condolences we're exchanged. We
we're both ambitious 10 our profession;
both were Americans, he from Vermont
and from New York. We we're leay.
ing our country with sad forebodings
OF is future. for the secession move.
ment had fairly begun need scarce
ly say that We were both good loyal,
"Unlo1' loving Americans.
We arrived In Melbourne, the CON.
pany unknown, ADD decided ciud'
ice against us, but ,ha, vas soon tpro.
tessionallyl overcome and 10 a month
80 had become such iayoritos that The
Lysicr company became q hstare, In
fact w. s. Lys,er became resident
manager In Australia aud so remain, d
for 10 years, until bis death.
Henry squlrcs repeated his Callior
ola success and our intimacy continued
until | lef the colonies, three years
af,eruards. Squlrcs remained with
Lysier some three years longer than {
did. Whom he returned 10 New York
he travelled n few months with the
Strobosoh Opera company. Returning
70 New York he married Lucy Escott.
Both retired from the stage and went
TO live 10 Paris, where about twenty