The Washington herald., 1913-09-29
Court Gossip of Interesting
Epents on Two Continents

Copyright. 1918. by A. D. Jacobson.)
The Maybrick cause celebre is re-
called by the recent death of the COM
poser OF '"rhe Star Of Bethlehem"
Stephen Adams, whose real name was
Michael Maybrick. brother Of the man
Of whose death that American woman
was convicted. and at the trial Of whom
he gave accusing evidence at the Liver
pool Assizes. Mrs. Maybrick was found
guilty Of poisoning her husband, James
Maybrick. She was sentenced to die,
but the sentence was commuted subse-
quently to one OF penal servitude for
life. Some years ago she was released,
as a result Of a monster petition of
American women, and while she now
lives in the United States her two chill
dren were adopted and supported by the
composer OF The Star OF Bethlehem"
Sixty-nfhe years of age, Michael May
brick was five times Mayor of Ryde Isle
OF Wight; a justice OF the peace. and at
one time captain in the Artists Voun-
teer Corps. These activities were in
keepine with his vigorous personality
But he will be remembered best for the
haunting cadences and fthe emotional
IeTNOf OF ne HOLY lily bc -oAdE Ol
Bethlehem" and ''Thora." and for the
breezy optimism and domestic sentiment
OF Nancy Lee" They All Love Jack, -
and other songs.
His musical career began in Liverpool.
At the age of eight he was boy pianist
of repute, while at fifteen he had mas
tered the magnificent organ in St
Georges Hall. In due time he went TO
Leipzig and Milan and studied with
Moscheles, Carl Richter, and Plaidz. At
Milan he discovered his voice, so that,
when he returned to London. he ap-
peared as a barytone at leading concerts.
Later he Joined Sims Reeves in an oper-
attic tour.
He began with "A Warrior Bold and
Nancy Lee" and with the humility OF
a beginner he approached a London firm
of publishers, who refused to consider %
guineas a marketable price for the lat
ter Mr.. Maybrick had written the songs
when in bed with a cold, but as soon as
he recovered he sang Nancy Lee" at
St James Hall. The publishers imme-
diately offered El00 for II, but Mr.. May
brick held out for this and a royalty,
with the result that he received several
thousands "A Warrior Bold was sold
for IS. but it's royalties ran into four
figures.
Ills next kuCCtSS was Ait --ANohAR
mite" the words of which. as well as
many others, were written by Mr.. F. E.
lweatherIy, a Bristol barrister. Mr.. May
bricks last great hit was ''Thora-' a
song which holds the amateur Of the
drawing-roOm fascinated. Out Of the
profits Of his ballads he founded a ballad
singing prize at the Royal Academy of
Music IN London.
Thus stephen Adams" must have made
good thing out OF his songs: but from
some Of them he did not derive much
profit. as has sometimes fallen TO the
composer Of much similar ditties.
| Queen OF My Heart brought its COM
poser Gp.OoO in one year: Her Golden
Hair Was Hanging Down Her Back"
earned E9OOoO in very few months. and
/ Hush, the Bogey Man" was almost as
successfuI The Man that Broke the
Rank at Monte Carlo and The Rowdy-
| Dowdy Boys swept like a tornado over
the world and brought in tens of thou
sands OF pounds in royalties.
! II is not only the music hall type OF
song, however, that reaps golden har'
vest Sir Arthur Sullivan drew s1o.oot
! in royalties from The Lost Chord. y
/ I'm Old Madrid" rewarded composer and
| publisher to the tune OF El5,0oo. and My
/ Pretty Jane is said to have yielded a
revenue Of s2.OOO a line. Even after
many years OF popularity, some old
| favorite songs are worth a substantial
| sum. and not long since the copyright OF
For All Eternity was sold for E2,2i0.
| 1t is not always the composer, un'
fortunately. who reaps the golden har'
vest OF a songs popularity. For Come
Into the Garden, Maude" Balfe received
no more than ElO0; for Kathleen Ma
vourneen" its composer was rewarded
with a E5 note, and the immensely pOpu
lar Cheer, Boys, Cheer was sold BY
Henry Russell for e3. In recent years
Some Day" credited with having yield
ed well over $1,000. was parted with BY
its creator for ten guineas.
Queen AleNandra's reference to the late
Duke Of Sutherland as your beloved
'Strath' " in her letter of sympathy &c
the widowed duchess. recalls nickname
by which the duke was known to his in
innate friends for many years. 1t was
taken from one of his titles. the Ear
/ of Strathnavar Most society people
seem to bear a nickname at the pres
ent time. and one sometimes wonders
how they were first obtained. For in.
stance. the Marques of Crewe is knowT
as Robin" while the Marques de Sow
eral the friend OF ex-King Manuel, re-
joices in the extraordinary nickname OF
Blue Monkey
Lord Crewe generally is reputed tC
have gained his nickname through his
partiality for vivid scarlet waistcoats
but Blue Monkey is a puzzle to most
people, though there is a story current
that this was bestowed upon the Mar