Evening star., 1946-09-29
By W. H. Shippen, Jr.

OFF," in which he was Lord Null
berry, in pursuit of jack"
During this period, however, his
stage career failed to interfere with
his education at Gonzaga High
School, st. Johns Military Academy
at Alexandria, Georgetown Univer-
sity and National University Law
School
| InterSpersed with the hand-bills
in Mr.. O'Connor's scrap-books were
numerous programs for school bene-
fits and recitals of the Georgetown
University Glee, Banjo and Mando-
lin Club, an organization which his
son, George H., jr, later joined.
The elaborate program for the
new season Of 1897 at the Lafayette
Square Opera House listed Mr.
O'Connor as a feature attraction
with the Carroll Institute Players.
Other performers listed that season
were John Drew. Mansfield and
Lillian Russell.
At the benefits for the Christ
Child Society, the Holy Name Com
mandery and the Art Students
League, he made big hits with min
strel end songs like MY Gal Is a
High-Born Lady" number he sang
with great success to succeeding gen.
erations. ii
- Favorite of Taft's. -
Mr.. OConnor's rendition of 1.-THE
Preacher and the Bear. was
favorite of the late President Taft's.
Mr.. Taft was leaving the White
House for the last time and his
friends arranged small stag party
to give him a cheerful farewell.
Mr.. O'Connor's friends said the re-
tiring Presidents heavy body rocked
with laughter when Mr.. O'Connor
got to the part where the colored
preacher shouted, "Oh, Lord, if you
can't help me, don't help that
grizzly bear!"
Among the entertainers cherished
momentoes is steel engraving Of
Mr.. Taft autographed for George
with gratitude for his songs which
are thing of joy forever"
The late President Franklin D.
Roosevelt was another of Mr.. o OCon-
nor's admirers, as was the late
President Coolidge.
The scrap book contains several
|congratulatory messages from Mr..
Roosevelt. Two of them, penciled
on the backs of place cards at
White House Correspondents din
ners, Mr.. O'Connor had framed,
along with the Taft engraving.
One, written in 1888, said Dear
George: Like special vintage wine
you improve with age. More years
to you" 1t was signed IF. D. r."
The second. dated year later
requested: Dear George, for the
next dinner, will you sing Father
O'Flynn?'"
Mr.. .O'Connor. however, never had
opportunity to fulfill this request for
the old Irish ballad 1t was just as
well, his friends pointed out, since
the song called for a deep bass
and Mr.. O'Connor was a baritone,
and had been since his boyhood
days.
Popular at Smokers.
Back in the eos, O'Connor was
popular at the kind of stag smokers
which offered "salubriolls suds. tin
tinnabulating talent and scrump-
tious sailed" along with chalk talks"
by The Stars cartoonist, Clifford X.
Bergman. and other entertainment
features. He was described as the
irresistible, inimitable coon song
shouter with the tink-a tank sup
piled by the incompatible Matt
Horne"
The late Martin Edward Horne,
| who died in 1885 at the age of IS,
had accompanied Mr.. O'Connor at
the piano at innumerable appear
ances. His death broke UP a team
which had responded to calls for
entertainment from all sections of
the city without regard for race
or creed.
In later years. Mr.. O'Connor de-
voted much of his time to charity.
He was a leading spirit in Milk
Fund benefits, and gave his talent
to numerous church entertain
ments.
Among honorary pallbearers at
Mr.. O'Connors funeral are many
old friends who shared his enthusi-
asm for the songs and humor of
another generation.
Honorary Pallbearers.
Honorary pallbearers are John
Russell Young, chairman of the
Board of District Commissioners;
Commissioner Guy Mason, B. M.
McKelway, Thomas w. Brahany,
Joseph H. Hines, Sidney Taliafer-
ro, Mark Lansburgh, Z. H. Johan-
sen, Robert v. Fleming, Corcoran
Thorn, Jesse H. Jones, Henry Spen-
Ger, DR.. James Mitchell, James Coli
flower, John Reilly, M. r. Calnan,
Earl Goodwin. Clifford X. Bergman,
| William e. Leahy, Carter Barron,
DR.. Edward Larkin, william Has
sett. Harold Crooks, Leslie BifIle,
Martin McNamara, Edward Cur
ran. Joseph p. Tumulty. Eugene