The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-15

While Chattanooga does not boast
of grand opera, in Charles Alfred
Gray she has q baritone of interna-
tional fame, CARRIED in the working
clothes of tiller of the soil. with
complexion as tan as the most hard :
| ened rustic; gray hair, pleasant
face and an altogether pleasing man
ner. one would never recognize IN
Mr.. Gray, now ardent farmer and
hog breeder, the popular singer who
| left the fOotlights in his very prime.
The ex-singer may be found most
any day toiling enthusiastically be-
meath the broiling sun on his farm,
located on one of the principal ar
teries which extends from the city
through the prosperous farming sec
ton east OF Missionary ridge. With
out previous experience, never hav-
ing lived on a farm in his life, the
artist has accomplished wonders on
his seventy five-acre tract located
on what is known as the Gun Bar
rel" road, which extends without a
waver from the Birds Mill road to
the Cleveland pike.
Mr.. Gray has been singer for
more than twenty years. He has
visited every country on the face OF
the globe in that time and has suns
in many of the metropolitan cities
of Europe. He has the distinction
of singing before the largest audience
ever Observation-Disclosures people. The
occasion was the memorable pageant
| and masque held at st. Louis several
years ago. The singer chanted the
part of Wasedar. The press char
acterized his performance as remark
haA hA could
be heard for two miles. Mr.. Gray's
principal time has been spent with
bands. although he has taken quite
a number of grand opera roles.
Promise TO Wife.
The singer left the stage nearly two
years ago in accordance with a
pledge made to "the sweetest woman
in the world" his wife. that he would
sing no more after his forty-fifth
birthday. He is nearly AZ now. The
singer said that he had always 'ad-
mired outdoor life, and upon quitting
his profession decided to settle In
the country. firing of the cold eli
| mate of New Jersey, he determined
to seek a milder climate. He was at
loss to decide upon a place. His
decision to come to Chattanooga was
reached in a novel manner. At din
ner one evening in Philadelphia with
Henry w. Westcott attorney gen
eral of New Jersey, he preached the
| subject.
why not go to Chattanooga p
asked the lawyer, who, by the way
| is well-known among members of the
profession here. Mr.. Gray came to
| Chattanooga to see for himself, and
| has been a booster ever since, he de-
| clared. The singer-fa farmer asserted
| that nowhere in the world could the
! climate of this section be surpassed
| For the past year the star has beer
| hard at work on his place just ten
miles from the heart of the city
| There was much to be done. Fields
had to be cleared and the site of his
| house was a thickly wooded hill ano
a stubborn underground.
Has Camp.
At a distance from the pike, on tor
| of the beautiful hill, is located his
camp" The residence he has
| planned has not yet been built Ir
the meantime a model double garage
| two stories in height has been built
| of rock found on the place. The up
| per rooms are used as temporary
| quarters, while on the lower floor is
space for two machines, with ar
electric lighting plant to furnish
lights and a second generator plant
which rs used to charge Mrs. Gray's
electric car. Mr.. and Mrs. Gray, to-
| gether with their youngest son, re-
side in temporary camp" built
| bungalow type. The camp has cleo
trio lights and all modern con-
veniences. 1t is beautifully finished
inside with hardwood floors and is
most tastefully furnished. The fur
niture is mahogany. Gerald, the
eldest son, is at sea. He is not quite
| II and has already sailed around the
| world on a sailing vessel.
Mr.. Grays old home is in Cape
Cod. while Mrs. Gray is from Can
| ada The household of the GrayS is