Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1916-07-22
LIFE STORY OF
RICHARD ]. JOSE

wall, England. III is wen kOIWH lde
that the Cornish miners favoritt
every year in singing contest which
pastime is singing. Priscs are giver
attract a great many notable music
lovers from all parts OF the British
Isles. among them many Londo1
managers seeking talent. 1t was II
this way that Harry Lauder was dis
covered. The we'll known Scotch
comedian and singer worked IN the
mines there.
When Dick Jose was hardly able to
toddle, his father would sit at the
organ with the baby Dick on his
knee, and play and sing, so that al
most the first words lisped by little
Dick were the words OF church hymn
Before he was three years OF age he
could sing "Will Yon Meet Me at
the Fountain.
At the age OF eight he was known as
the phenomental boy soprano. HIS
fame spread all over the country ana
he was taken to London, where nc
sang before the crowned heads. alter
which the boy was heard all through
the provinces.
Owning to a sudden attack OF Ill
,ass of his fathers, from which he
never recovered, the boys tour ceas-
ed. The mother, who was an inVaiid
was left alone with little Dick, two
other sons and two daughters OF tend
err wears. The father had brothe
located in this country in mining
camp at Virginia City, New, who al
ter hearing from his sister-in-law
sent her money and persuaded her te
allow little Dick to visit him, as ne
was the oldest of the children. %
at the age of ten, the little lad LET
Cornwall with tag sewed to the
lapel of his coat bearing the address
of his uncle in Virginia City, Nevada
He made the entire trip alone. When
the boy reached his long journey
end. he found that his uncle had diee
while the lad was on the ocean, Sc
at that tender age when child needs
the guidance OF parent most, llttie
Dick found himself homeless and
alone in a strange land and in one o
widest mining camps OF America
that time, and often he was forced Il
sleep with but the sky for blanket.
One night, hungry and weary, he
found himself peering through the
window of concert hall and gamb
ling house, where the toughest eie-
ment OF the mining camp gathered
nightly. The boy was cold, hi
sockless feet were lacerated from Ia
well-worn and broken shoes. As ht
listened to the rebald song accom-
panied by 9 piano, ne was ciutched
from behind by powerful hands which
shook him until his teeth chatter
ed and harsh voice rang in his ears
demanding to know what he was do
ing there. Little Dick, not knowing
what to say to the man, muttercd
can sing. mister" The man laughed
and took Dick by the hand and led
him into the gambling house and call
ing the proprietor said, "Hey, Doc
here's a kid that seq he hin sing ant
with that he pushed the boy toward
the owner OF the place. The latte
ordered little Dick to get out ant
! pointed to the door. Dick, IN
trembling voice, while big tears be
gan to flow, told the proprietor thai
| he could sing. Several OF the player:
were then attracted to the scene b.
this time, and as the boss grabbed
the boy to throw him out they inter
coded and put the lad up on the little
stage and told him to sing. Will
hunger pains gnawed at his little bod,
he sang in sweet plaintivc tom
Silver Threads Among the Gold"
The place was soon hushed in silence
the roulette wheel stopped, the clink-
ing of the chips and coins were sill
ence, and from that gathering OF fear
less gamblers not sound came, while
most OF them were actually crying
When the song was finished and the
tension was at the breaking point
someone said, do you know any
more songs, Bub" Dick nodded ant
started to sing the hymn he loved
the best, Nearer My God To Thee
Men who had not seen the inside
OF :. church for years removed their
hate and fell to their knees on tho
floor. The boy was forced to sin.
this hymn three times All gambline
was suspened for the night, and til,
boys presence threatened to put til,