South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-07-05
ENGLISH SINGER
WOULD LET THE
SUFFR FRAGETS DIE
Famous Tenor Visiting in South
Bend, Says British Like the
PettiCOat Rule of Queen
Mary.
BY MARGARET TOBIN.

The world does move. even in merry
England, and to prove it let me pre-
sent TO you an interesting specimen
of the modern Englishman, Charles
Saunders, of London, who has had
the honor of singing for their ma
jesties, the king and queen.
Said Englishman is jolly and fat,
built upon the same generous lines as
our latest eX-president, and indeed he
looks enough like him TO be his twin.
Now. whoever dreamed of an Eng
lishman like that?
Mr.. Saunders who is a famous
English tenor, happened into South
Bend on the Fourth of July. He is
spending a little vacation travelling in
the States, and while here he was
a guest at the home of his cousin,
DR.. Alta Boram. 1t was there that
1 met him and chatted awhile about
the things that are doing across the
pond. Mr.. Saunders left Saturday af-
ternOon to visit other relatives near
South Bend.
Why is the Fourth?
The Englishman was both puzzled
and surprised at the brave array of
stars and stripes that greeted him on
his arrival. But his hostess explained
that we did ii every year to express
our pleasure at being rid of King
George.
We'll, now" said he, good-humor-
edly, and with an indulgent smile at
our childishness, IF L had known
there would be such a demonstration
L should have brought along a Union
Jack to carry through the streets" "
There wasn't a bit of the Tory venom
a Britisher is supposed to have when
our independence day is mentioned.
Then he fell to gossiping of Eng
lands who's w no., and another of
my illusions about Englishmen drop
ped away. Their much advertised
reverence for blue blood and position
was charmingly absent. No Yankee
could take peers and peeresses less
seriously or hit off their shortcomings
with cleverer comment.
1T was a sad day for us when King
| Teddy died." said he; "he was a good
| old scout and gentleman, every men
of him." He isn't dead yet" L start
ed TO say, and 1 wondered what differ
ence it made to England anyway.
Then 1 got wise. Do you? Why
| King Edward, of course.
Mary is the Boss.
We've got petticoat rule now,
/ said he with a sigh. But he wasn't
complaining. Mary is good woman
/ he says, and if George is satisfied
| England is. Then he gave me his
| opinion of the political leaders
Premier Asquith is an "old woman"
and Lloyd George is a shrewd politi-
| clan, with his own game to play
Sounds like things we say ourselves
/ sometimes, doesn't it?
He talked of gay peeresses and i'm
pecunious old peers, who like as moi
| hadn't paid for the clothes on their
1 back Then he told a story of Beer
/ bohm Tree, who was recently knight
ed. We'll" said Tree, ''Maude"-
that's his wife-"will be a lady al
last" And we though that an Eng
lishman couldn't joke.
Mr.. Saunders has had plenty of op
portunity TO study royalty at close
range. He has seen crowns placed
upon two pairs of royal heads. HI
| sang at the coronation of Edward
and Alexandria and again at the cor
! onation of George and Mary.
Took Pictures of Coronation.
He told of a trick that he turned
at the last coronation that would dc
credit to Americas best yellow jour
! nalist. He was one of the great choil
of singers that took part in the cere
mony. Cameras We're forbidden with
in Westminster Abbey. but he slipped
one in under his surplice and with it!
lens slyly projecting, snapped away
1t is as a singer of sacred music
that MT. Saunders is best known il
| England. He was for three years solo
tenor in her majesty, Queen Victoria!
CONTINUED ON PAGE NINE.)