The San Francisco call., 1910-01-09

Il TaucouS theatrical history who has
attracted more attention thany any
other II is Harry Lauder. Not that
he is a tragedian muttering impre-
rations to rhythmic. classic feet, nor
tenor whose top notes around high c
bit the heart of YOU with a golden
low of tone. nor a comic opera funny
man who grimaces before the public
for living. nor even a musical COM
edy star whose twinklings are the JOY
of pleasure seekers.
Lauder is apart He is as different
from the rest as Scotch plaid is diff
ferent from real Irish lace. We have
nor seen nor heard him yet. but we
know that he is apart. for everybody
tells us so. and what everybody says
must be believed, because there's no.
body left TO interpose a doubt 1t
would be stupid to say that LADDERS
prominence is due to the work Of his
clever publicity men. However nge-
nious advertising agents may be they
can not fool the public all the way from
New York TO Los Angeles, nor all the
way from London to New York The
commodity Of comedy isn't much diff
ferent. after all, from baking powder
or Celtic oats; if the advertised article
isn't up TO representations the buyer
VIII complain Not up TO sample" is
familiar phrase from California to
Wall street. Thus far there have been
no registered complaints about Harry
Lauder. who proposes to sing against
the big spaces at Dreamland rink be-
cause, let it be known, all other the
alters are closed 10 him. He would
eIadIv appear in a smaller -theater,
only he is starred by William Morris.
who is lighting the vaudeville syndi-
cate. Morris is carrying his fight TO
The west. and Lauder, like the Scot
guards with Wellington, is leading the
way Whether Morris wins or loses
in the fnaI hght doesn't matter now.
Lauder is coming TO the tune of The
Campbells Are Coming"
The Scotch origin of Lauder is as
definite as Burns or Barries and, like
the latter. he did not ind out about
his entertaining powers until the
knowledge was thrust upon him. Burns
lowly origin suggests LADDERS, and
though there is a gap between the
poets contribution to the worlds en-
Ightenment and Ladders. there is no
doubt that the latter's fame is as wide
spread now as the bard's though less
lasting of course You remember that
Bobby" Burns didn't know he was a.
poet when he sang his immortal lyrics
and that Barrie was likewise ignorant
or his genius. An editor Of a provin-
cisI paper near but not in London
begged Barrie for more copy, while
The gentle mother Of Peter Pan" won
dered how her son could get his stories
ia tho paper and thought truly that
while the editor was 4 great man, he
was. after all besides being philan-
thropist just "a wee bit saft.7
AUDER. it would seem from all re-
ports. is not creator. He does
- not write his own verses unaided,
and he does not score his own melo-
dies. lie is an interpretative and not
creative genius As such he viii en-
JOY an immediate fame and collect his
reward but like Mario's voice or
Booths art. the utterance Of the man
viii die with him. However, it is rea-
sonab bic TO suppose that Lauder is sat
isfed because, though he commenced
active life as worker in the fax
mills Of Arbroath. his earning capac-
ity now is only equaled by Caruso, and
he is rated a millionaire.
John Lauder. his father. was ma
tive of Edinburgh, and his mother
MacLennsn. was born on the BLACK
Isle" Ross-shire. So Harry Lauder is
Scotch to the backbone. He was born
in Musselburgh 4S years ago. In 1881
his father moved to Wilmington moor.
Chesterfield. Derbyshire, and the fam
ily followed shortly afterward Our
stay says Lauder "in Derbyshire was
brief. for nay father died at the early
age Of %. leaving my mother with
family Of seven to care for Luckily
relatives came to the rescue and the
Family went to Arbroath. 1t was there
that Lauder assumed the role Of a wage
Garner. working in the fax mill. earn
ing a wage Of two shillings week.
II was keen says Lauder, TO earn
more money than the shillings a
week. which was the half timers pay,
for the income of the family was
rnicroscopically small and / therefore
tried 10 get on the payroll as full
oed1ed craffsp1an. was II wears old
al the time and the inspector would
nut me back on half time every time
he caught me working beyond my
Years.
~It was while / was working as
mill boy declares Lauder, lin Ar
broath that J sang my first song in
public A concert company was booked
for an entertainment at odd Fellows
5laH and there was an amateur part
10 tie program IT was. in fact, the
FIRST amateur entertainment given in