The San Francisco call., 1913-08-31


Howard proved 10 be a regular ..,ar-
former. When I went into the the
ater was under the impression that
Il the act was to be saved it wonld
oe done by Mr.. Howard's partner. Miss
Mabel Mecane. I thought. in sort.
ehat Mr. Howard's only excuse for his
vaudeville tour would be either Miss
Mecane or the popular song writer's
fame as a composer.
But instead of an apologize atti-
tude on the part of Mr.. Howard. as
Of one who would say. like baseball
PLAYERS or boxers roaming in the
strange land of the stage. ~of course,
I'm not much of an actor. but I'm
great in my regular line" 7 found
in Mr.. Howard man who knew all
the tricks of the vaudeville artist and
who sang extremely well. When he
danced it was with the grace and
something of the style of George
Primrose, and when he sang it was
as though he We're singing some other
persons music: and indeed. In all his
work he revealed the finished ''vari-
ety. actor. He could be billed" as
John Jones and "get away with it,
His fame as song writer and au-
thor of Standing on the Corner.
Didn't Mean No Harm" was not
needed at all. Instead of being some
what bored by the efforts of a man
In. strange place. the audience was
vastly entertained and disclosed its
approval in the most obvious manner.
sought an explanation from Mr..
Howard. I wanted to know how he
had learned the tricks of the stage
trade and the manner of the vaude-
william.
He might have assumed a superior
air at my questionings. but he has too
much taste to do that Instead. he
showed no resentment at my ignor-
ance. but enlightened it.
Mr.. Howard is an old time show
nan. of the school of McCree, Hopper.
De Angels and all minstrel men. He
went upon the stage when he was 16
years old. Though he baked at tell
ing me his present age, he permitted
me TO know that his debut was cir
cumstance of 26 years ago; and If you
are better at figures than am. you
may be able to determine in what
year of his age the popular song
writer happens now to be.
TT was at the old Central theater
in Denver, Colo. that my theatrical
ambitions first saw the fcotlights.
That somewhat historic house bore
the same relation to the entertain
ment of Denver that the Bella Union
did TO san Francisco in the days when
De Angels was a variety performer.
And let me tell you that it was a
great schooling-if a boy could go
through it and live. did everything
from minstrel singing and dancing to
performances in the 'afterpiece.' For
five years I was fixture in the stock
company and learned how to play
even in serious drama Then I went
on the road as a member of the
Thatcher. Primrose and West minstrel
show. About that time I found out
that could write melodies. The first
one that I put over was Standing on
the Corner, Didn't Mean No Harm
After that I wrote Hello. MY Baby.
and the third in the list was 'Good-by,
MY Lady Love
AssuredIy that is a consequential
list of popular songs, and their ad-
vantage to Mr. Howard, he tells me,
has continued to this day. They re-
main popular songs" IN spite of the
fact that nothing ages 50 rapidly as
popularity.
rOWARD never took a lesson in
n music in his life. He doesn''
1 boast about it. but admits it
ne even has a little theory Of his own
70 the effect that study. in his case
would have been of no advantage.
II leave the composition of preten-
tous stuff 10 such men as Victor Her
bert. For me, the simple under
stapdable' melody. These can think
and write. The public apparently
likes them. and 1 fear that if were
70 become a learned musician I would
torture the tunes out Of existence.
don't know an earthly thing about
harmony, and counterpoint IS a
strange word TO me- What gifts OF
melody have are not susceptible OF
learned treatment. They are more
expressive. I feel in their simple
ity
Perhaps Mr. Howard is too modest
Personally think that he is, and In
sure. if / had his gift for spontaneous
melody would cultivate it to the
utmost. Even Schubert would have
been a greater composer and so would
schumann. had their bent for mel
ody been supplemented by more con-
-trapuntal information. 1t isn't true
that "a little learning is danger
Gus thing A little learning is a
very rare thing.
roWEvER. Mr. Howard doesn't
Fl deery musical eruaition in 9th
ers. In Victor Herbert he finds Il
completely admirable, and paid Mr.
Herbert the tribute Of very warn
admiration. The admiration is al
once personal and professional. wher
one Of Mr. Howard's productions was
about to he presented to uncongenia'
New York. Victor Herberts @Scng.
birds" was also in. rehearsal at ths
same theater As Howard didn't be-
-, ,o.,l<7v