The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-11

saltic truths. Anybody can understand
them. They are as old as time. Per-
haps the expression was occasionally
what might be called coarse. but beer
is beer, and best in a pewter, though
you can, II you please, drink 1t from
Venetian glass and call 1t something
else. The halls give wisdom and not
too lively entertainment for sixpence
ticket good for four pen'orth Of re-
treatments, chiefly inky porter-and
the people who listen are respectable
folk living under very gray ski = who
derive all the light side of their life
the food for their Imagination and the
crystallized expression Of their views
on fate and nemesis from the affable
ladies and gentlemen singers. They
require a few green and gold maid
ems In short skirts to kick before them.
Herein they are no better and no
worse than folk who require fifty
girls very much undressed and a set
ting Of music or pictures that won't let
themselves be seen on account If their
cge and varnlsh or statues and coins.
All animals like salt. but some prefer
rock salt, red or black in Jumps. But
this is a depression.
Out Of my many visits to the hall
i chose one hail. you understand.
and frequented II TIL I could tell the
mood II was In before had passed
the ticket poll-was born the great
idea. served II as slave for seven
days. Thought was not sufficient:
experience was necessary pa
trolled Westminster. Blackfriars.
Lambeth. the Old Kent road and
many, many more miles Of pitiless
pavement to make sure Of my sub
ject. At even I drank my lager
among the billycocks and lost
my heart to a bonnet. Goethe and
Shakespeare were my presidents. I
sympathized with them acutely. but I
got my message. A chance caught
refrain Of song which I understand
is protected-to its maker I convey
my most grateful acknowledgements
gave me what sought. The rest was
made up Of four elementary truths.
some humor and. though I say II who
should leave II to the press. pathos
deep and genuine. spent a penny on
paper which introduced me to a
Great and Only. who wanted new
songs" The people desired them
really He was their ambassador. and
taught me a great deal about the prop
erty right in songs. concluding with a
practical illustration. for he said my
verses were just the thing and an
nexed them. 1t was long before he
could hit on the step dance which
. exactly elucidated the spirit OF the
text. and longer before he could Jingle
pair OF huge brass spurs as a dane
ing girl jingles her ankie;s. That was
my notion, and good one.
The Great and Only possessed
voice like bull and nightly roared
to the people at the heels Of one who
was winning triple encores with
priceless ballad. beginning deep down
in the bass: I'VE was shopmates-
boozin shopmates." I feared that song
as Rachel feared Ristori. A greater
IMAM l had written IL. 1t was a grim
tragedy. lighted with lucid humor.
welded to music that maddened But
my Great and Only had faith in me.
ana II c.ung to the great heart OF
he people-my people-400 when it's
all fun. sir" had not studied them
Tor nothing. l must reserve the de-
scription Of my triumph for another
turnover"
There was no portent in the sky on
the night Of my triumph. a barrow
full Of onions. indeed, upset itself at
The door, but that was a coincidence.
The hall was crammed with billycocks
waiting for I'VE was shopmates." The
great heart beat healthy. went to
my beer the equal Of Shakespeare and
Moliere at the wings in a first night.
What would my public say? Could
anything live after the abandon of
We was shopmates"? VIVA, II the
redcoats did not muster in their usual
strength. oh my friends. never in
your songs and dramas forget the red
coat. He has sympathy and enormous
boots.
/ believed in the redcoat: in the
great heart of the people: above all in
myself The conductor, who adver-
tised that ne "doctored bad songs" had
devised a pleasant little Hitting air for
my needs, but il struck me as weak
and thin after the thunderous surge
of the "Shopmates." l glanced at the
Salery-the redcoats were there. The
fiddle bows creaked. and. with a Jingle
of brazen spurs, a forage cap over his