The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-04
IL PESCEBALLO.
James Russell Lowell's Part in the
Ballads History.

! T EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str: Among
my books / find n copy OF III Pesceballo.
an Opera in One Act. Italian Words by
Francis James Childs. English version by
James Russell Lowell" published by ne
Caxton Club Of Chicago in 1889. an issue
Of 2l0 copies.
1t is an artistic reproduction Of the
opera OF the same name, Musica del
Maestro Rossibelli-D onimozarti. Cam
bridge. Printed at the Riverside Press,
1862" The Introduction is written by
Charles Eliot Norton. The little opera
was presented in 1862 for the benefit
or the Sanitary Commission and IL
founded on THE Lay OF the One Fish
ball. "The theme of the 'Pesceballo,' -
said Professor Norton. was suggested
10 him tChildsl by a local ballad which
had had great vogue, written not many
years before by his classmate and life
long friend Lane, the genial and emf
nent professor Of Latin at Harvard"
The account OF It's origin Ia given in
a recent memoir of Mr.. Lane by Pro-
fessor Morgan. He says: MAN fables
about the origin OF this song have been
told, and one was even printed with the
song itself but / know from Professor
Lanes lips that II was based upon an
adventure OF his own. Arriving in Bos-
ton one day after a Journey. he found
H''hH'Ai huHSIy tlu WIN only 20 cents
In his pocket. Half that sum he had to
reserve to pay his fare to Cambridge.
With the rest he entered "A restaurant
with modest face. and ordered half a
portion of macaroni. What followed Is
described. doubtless with humorous ex-
agyeratIon. in the ballad itself"
The opera set the verses to airs from
Moses in Egypt" Barber OF Seville
La Cenerentola," Magic Flute"
.Lucrezia Borsia.' dor Giovanni
Norma Lucia and ia Favorlta,'
The interludes were arranged by PRO
fessor Paine. After arranging tho
Italian verse. Professor Childs asked
Mr. Lowell TO revise H." and, with his
quick wit, he dashed on tho English
version"
The little piece was presented At Cam
bridge and Boston. Tho text:
There was . man went round the town.
To hunt q supper UP and down;
For he had been right far away.
And nothing had to eat all day.
He feels his cash to count his pence
And all he had was Jus, 9 cents.
Wretch that I am. Il happens meet
Why did I leave my Kirkland street!
H''HN 49, - sOV - WtAy IoTOhAe
Who raspberry jam and wanles maksa
III ! wers now ssfs out Of town
ia give my bran new dressing gowu.
But yet I'll mako . start and try
To SEQ what my 6 cents will buy"
He nnds At last . right cheap p,aos.
And stealeth In with bashful face,
Tho bill Of fare ne runneth through.
To see what his 6 cents will dc.
The cheapest OF the viands all
Was l2h for two ishball.
Tho waiter he to him Doth cal,
And whispers softly. ono fshball.'
The waiter roars Il through the hall.
The guests they start At "One nshbalI.
The waiter brings one nshbau on,
The guest he looks abashed down.
The scantiness Of the fare he sses;
"a piece Of bread, now. II you please"
The waiter roars II through tho hail.
W DOR GIVE BREAD WITH ONE vIsHsALL,'
Then. whose orders ono nshbalI
Must get bread frst or not at all.
And who would two with nxin's eat
should got some friend to stand a treat.
remember singing the song in the
SOS. WILLIAM w. HEAToN.
M~AMARoNEcK, July 3.