Boston Post from Boston, Massachusetts • Page 45

BOSTON SUNDAY POST, APRIL 15, 1917 rHE LOVE ROMANCE OF JOHN McCORMACK How the Famous Singer Won the Heart of Lily Foley and Then Began His Great Career McCORMACK AT THK TIMIC OF illS AMIOMCAN OPI-RATIC DEBUT. John McCormack as he appeared when he came to America to sin'; at tlie Manhattan Opera House in hrom left to riglit, Mrs. McCormack, John McCormack and Miss Josephine B. Mrs. McCormack's sister.

Photo (C) H. 1'. Foley, X. 'i'. Great interest has been manifested in the Sunday exclusive life story of the popular singer of today, written especially for its columns by one of its staff.

The anecdotes, reminiscences and detailed facts embodied in the tale have been obtained by Mr. d'oye through intimate -talks with Mr. McCormack himself, as well as with scores ot Mr. friends in private life and associntes in professional life. Maity hitlirrto pholotjyaplis add tn the interest of this series.

The Real Life Story of John McCormack Mis and His First Public Appearance in America IVIinRIi riili SHANNON f.As suiift by John McCormack.) There's a pretty spot hi Ireland I ahvays claim for my land, the fairies and the blarney Will ne: er, lus'cr die. It's the land i.f the Ny heart there I the yirl I lejt behind me II hen Zi'C bissi'il tind CltONl'S. IVhcrr dear old floioinii. Where the thrcc-lcaird Shamrock Where niy heart is I am To my liitle Irish rose. And the moment that I meet her.

With a and kiss greet her. For there's not a colleen Where the River Shannon flozvs. inihllshrfl by ponn1- ion nf M. Witmark A own- ori of By JOE TOYE (X'opyrighf, Icilnt cConiiiick curccr us from the he won the medal at the singing conifietition open to all residents of the Hritish Jsles, held at Dublin on May 14, 1903, when he was 18 years old. Under the direction of the Dublin choinna.ster, he continued to sing at llie Alarlhorough Street t'atlu-dral.

and appcarml at various small concerts in Dublin and near-hy towns. In the spring of Lily h'olvy. the pretty young 1 luhlin girl, who liad won first prize lu her class at the Dublin music festival on the same night wofi the gohl nu-dal, was engaged to go to America and ing i the at tiie St. Lotii IvNpo-'ition. h'olcy had appeared at many ('(jnccrls in Ireland and was at that time called most pojtitlar girl in 1 )nhhti." So a (Pieer wa arrangtd to he held in Dnhlin a farewell totimoniai to lier.

A of local singers volunteer'cd liieir at the concert. incent Bsked McCormack to appear, lie agreed. the concert 1 just met the lady casually." is the way told ahoitt it. 'I'hc concert was cnndnclcd liy illiam Ludwig, an eminent mnsician ot tliat day. Incidentally, when anyone compliments on his singin.g, he frcqnenlly says, dear sir, yon should have Iicaiaj William Ludwig.

t)f all the memories 1 liold nothing can ever obliterate that of Ludwig singing ('ircen Jlill Ear End wig died a few years ago. HOW HIS ROMANCE STARTED was Ludwig introduced me to Xliss said Mct'ormack. was giving a concert in shortly before Miss Imley was to leave ffir Ameriea. lie had engaged the both of ns to appear witii him there. were instructcfl to meet ai the Atnicns street railroad station in Dnhlin.

That is the station that in the thick of the recent revolution. 1 got there aiul it was indeed a nasty day, chilly and dami). 1 had a cold, anyway, and after had joined l.ndwig 1 coughed a hit. said lie, need somebody to take care of yon. got the girl riglit here for he introduced me to Miss Foley and she has been taking care of me ever since.

after that too, signed a contract to go to America and sing at the fair. Miss Jmley and her sister, Josephine, left for and I followed about two weeks later. It was a good, old-fasliioned case of love at first sight. got a week for sin.ging twice a day. and Irish seemed to he the favorites at the'fair.

Miss l-'olcy made a big liit with Kerry a pojiular song, iind in addition she did a number of folk dances. If are a mental arithmetic sharp you can sec tliat Mr. McCormack's frst appearance in netted him $4 per concert. HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED! he gets about $4 a note, and not a note at that. on acct-pt that statement inst l.ecanse it good, 'lake a look at a few interesting stali.stic.-..

'Ihe least ev('r takes away from a concert $3(KK). 'I'he mo't he sings is two encores. hours arc DO minutes--I'lastern lime. 'I'hat means that in a dozen years this (luict young man's income has increased from $4 a concert to $25 a minute. Imagine what a fortune he'd make singing, a Hundred Cireen Bottles A-Hanging On tlie That will he about enough fnancial chatter for today.

Maybe later on we will talk about another source of income that enables this extraordinary young man of 32 to pay $225,000 for a couple of Rembrandts, and some more money to buy a coniile of Plvmonth Rocks (u- White for his beautiful new estate. for the we will go on with the detaiK of his lean at concert. Hue (lay ornuick, who was then 20 years Old, came into the Irish and saw what wa supposed to he an Irish vaudeville act. 'The actor who took the lea'l was a typical stage Irisli- man. Did John McCormack stand up and applaud? ask fooli.sh (pieslions.

Brian Born stalking into battle had nothing on John McCormack as he descended upon the management and announced that either that act was killed deader than the well known and widely-advertised doornail, or he, John McCormack, would go hence to tile hcncest point availalilc, the same being Athlone, Irehind, on banks of the v8han- non. partly in County Wcrlmeath and partly in Rf.iscoiiimon, hut particularly in Westmeath. AND TWAS WET WALKING HOME got to hand it to him for doing it, he- ctinse it was a hit tough, even in those days, saving carfare to Ireland out of $4 a concert. As a matter of fact, John have his carfare home. But listen.

Some discerniug folks in St. Louis heard the young man sing and tliey told him it a was shame to abuse liis voice singing twice a day, particularly at $4 a performancc. 'riics'c folk- linally got him released from his coneerl atifl sent him home, l)ut he stayed long enough to fall profoumlly and permanently in love with Lily I lilev, aforementioned, saw to it that were securely engaged, and hack he went to Irelav.d, leaving the lady and his heart behind liini Amenea. But your tears, for lind them happily married about two or three eolumns to the right. Befoie we go on with the story you might he iulercsted to know that the last time he was HIS WIFE.

This picture sliows John McCormack in his home. The great Icnor spends Tlie great tenor and his wife as thev appeared at the time several hours every dav at the piano. hard work first appearance'in Boston, in 1910. said the singer to Mr. Toye.

I like it. It is real (Photo A RARE PICTURE OF McCORMACK. by Anna Frances Levins, X. in St. Louis, about a year ago, Mr.

McCormack sang to a $5000 audience. so McCormack came back to Dniilin and Vincent who was quite enthusiastic about sending him to Italy to study for grand operatic roles. Mr. O'Brien arranged for some concerts by McCormack, and with what money he had and what he got from tlic concerts, he left for Italy to study under the direction of Alberto of Milan. His reason for choosing Sahhatini was because other aspirants for musical honors had gone from Dublin to study under that particular Italian master.

McCormack received all his early operatic training in Italy. that tlie teaching is he explained. 1 could live 500 years over there for w'hat it costs for one year in Xew )'ork." In speaking of Iiis maestro, Sahliatini, McCormack said old man that lie was, he me. placed your voice, it's best to leave it h'or two and one-half year.s sliuliod under in Milan. my says Sabliatini to liis later pupils.

is the nearest of all to the licrfect nicthod of voice production. I am prouder of him than of any other singer who has come under my tuition. Anyone can get a valu- alile singing lesson from voice, a voice that was placed by AND SO THEY WERE MARRIED In 1905. when McCormack was 21. tlic St.

I.ouis fair clo-ed and Miss Lily hkilcy went hack to Dublin and John McCormack took a leave of aliscnce from his music master and lie. too. went to Dniilin. When went a-courting in Dull- lin, his future father-in-law. a busy man, used to join the I'oley family party at the close of the evening and always ask McCormack to sing Irish F.migrant.” seen McCormack come the concert said a friend, tears in his eyes after the song, so that he couldn't take an When he first sang in Sacramento he broke down completely and could not tinish.

McCormack and Idly h'olcy were m.irried at ihc Marlhorougli Street athcdral by h'athcr John O'Reilly, the same chnreh wliere X'inccnt was and where McCormack had sung in the choir. After the marriage McCormack and his wife started out on tlicir honeymoon. They went to London and Paris and finally tn Milan. McCormack and 1 lived practically on spaghetti in said the singer. McCormack had so much sjiaghetti she dislikes it to this day, hut I still like made my first operatic said McCormack, a snhnrhan opera house near Cicnoa, in On liiv next chance, in he opened his mouth for a toji note that wauddn't hm the orchestra noise covered it and tlic audience gave him an ovation.

The following night lie sang tlic note and got hardly a hand. HE DOES SOME GYMNASTICS At his third opera, in another small town, he walked off the stage in terror, an impresario explained to the Italians. The house was amused and flattered by the young fright, and when he came hack their friendly attitmie carried him tlirough to the end. Tn another town he found that the townspeople were offended because a favorite tenor of theirs had not been chosen to simg. so Mcf'or- inack bad an audience of 12.

f)f these (lays of inexperience the loner tclb- an interesting story. intended to startle the dramatic world by my acting," be said, I swung my arms around until tlie director of the house implored me to stoj), beca'ise lie said that 1 was frigliten- ing the people in Me then decided that he had acquired enough practice, so he sent a letter of appeal to Bishop John Clancy of Sligo, who sent him $250. Out of the first money McCormack made in London he repaid the debt, besides giving a beautiful chalice to (he bishop. So McCormack wont back to London and searched for an engagement. McCormack was 22 years old wlien lie ro- luruod from Italy.

He found that in the vast metropolis lie was only one of thousands of young singers striving to battle their way to recognition. He was nut even a name in the musical world of London. He called upon a certain manager and offered to w'ork for $25 a week. 'Die manager refused. Prior to the out- of the war tlie same manager offered $12.50 an appearance for a series of 20 concerts in the British Isles, just 50 times as mttcli as the figure he refused to give seven before.

HIS FIRST BIG HIT If McCormack had not been a genius be never could lune accompbsbcd what be did in the short space of seven yeais. But chance came (o the aid of genius. A friend obtained for him an engagement to appWr at one of tlie Boosey Ballad Coneerts in London. It was the big conecrt of the season. On tlic programme were the names of some of the best known ers.

The name of McCormack meant nothing to anyone in the audience except to a few of his friends. AlcCormack was down for only one number. 'I'he others on the programme had two apiicaranccs. house was like an icicle when 1 stepped out on the said McCormack, the ice 'The other artists got the usual single encore, hut the young Irish hoy was called out live times. 'I lie next morning Iiapcr in London spoke of tlie remarkable young tenor who had created siicli a sensation at the concert in I lall.

But all that please McCormack anywhere near as much as a little iclegrain he had received from Dublin, where his wife was stopping with her folks, announcing the arrival of ril Ikitrick now comes Mary the great tress. While the McCormacks were in Italy they mot this famous woman and her son, Xavarro. a medal of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music, 'fhiv medal was liicsscd liis lloliness, the late Pius when both the donor and Mr. and Mrs.

AlcCormack were received in private audience at the A'atican in l'X)7, when AfcCor- mack was finishing his studies in Italy. HAPPIEST MOMENTS OF LIFE Incidentally. McCormack W'as asked what he considered the liafipicst moments of liis life. will relate them in the order of their sc- not their rt'lalive said McCormack. was when I received a check for from the best friend over had, the late Dr.

Clancy. hi.slu)p of Flpliin. in Sligo. 'I'hi- happened wlien 1 was a student in Italy, and it made it possible for me to complete my studies there. next was when Lily Foley took tlie name of Airs.

John McCormack. third was when 1 sat at tlic feet of His Holiness the and received his blessing. the latest was when 1 knelt in the pri- chapel of His Cardinal Fkirlcy, and saw my boy receive his first communion from the liands of that saintly and distinguished prince of the Afary was in while McCormack was singing at the Irisli Clnh. She succeeded in John Alnrray-Scott in the young singer. Alcan while Irish mcmliers of Parliament were praising his work about London.

this was directly for Alc- getting a contract to sing at Covcnt Ciarden. He made his debut at Covcnt Carden, Oct. 15, 1907, as Turiddit, in Carmcn-Alelis sang opposite him. AlcCormack was the youngest man ever to sing leading roles at Covcnt Carden. He was 2.5 when lie made his first ajipcarance llierc.

Alct'ormack ma(le a wdiidcrfnlly f.iwirahlc imprcs.sion upon musical i.ondon. of them were moved to tears by the of the voice of this blond, hlnc-eyed Irish hoy who had brought to opera the rcfrcsliing buoyancy of youth. It was a night of triumph for him. 'The next morning the newspapers licralded the fact that AlcCormack had justilied fame as the Land of Bards. There was a lilt in his voice that comes only to those who love music.

But it was a lilt that could never have been made. It simply had to he horn in a singer, a lilt like that of a beautiful bird. THE WAY HE SANG I lis singing (lolled analysis, f(W it seemed to he of no particular school, unless it w.as the chool of McCormack. 11c jii'-t sang, that was all, and that was all he needed to His soiu- pulled at the heartstrings, lie showed that he was not only gifted with wonderful vocal powers, hut also witli the power to use his voice at Its fullest wortli. vStanding before his first big audience, at the pivotal point of his life, he became a wizard song bird, swaying the emotions of those knowing I.ondoncrs as thougli he knew the hidden spring of their liearts.

He showed himself a master of heart throbs and a dictator of smiles. Witbin a week all I.ondon was talking of this young tenor with the fresli, Irish complexion, the hluc-grav eyes and the wonderfidly sweet and true lyric voice. 'I'he cntbnsiasin which greeted the young singer of Athbmc extended far and wide and lie was invited to sing jirivatoly the lafe King Ivdward. 34ic audience with the King was dcliglitfid, for AlcCormack sang by request the hcxt historic ballads of Ireland. And just to convince yon that AlcCormack is really Irish, it might be well to here relate a little incident that occurred on this particular King Fdward introduced AlcCormack to guests as "tlie great British AlcCormack didn't enthuxe about this.

He wondered what t'l do and linally did it. ONCE CORRECTED THE KING beg your Xkiiir lie. ''Irisb McC'ormack remained at t'ovciU Carden singing the leading tenor roles in "Don ani Contes "La and other operas. after his dchnt he sang with 'retrazinni. Tctrazinni became a sort of fairy godmother to tlie Irish hoy.

One night when he was sntiering with lioarseness she sang high A with liim in In all the ducts that she told him to save his voice while doubled the strength of her ow n. TETRAZINNI A GOOD FRIEND It was through tlie kindly interest of Tctra- zinni that AlcCormack was brought to a gift for which America should thank the Italian prnna donna, for McCormack liked so well that lie has renounced his allegiance to King Ccorgc and has recently applied for citizenship, and he says that America is now his home. One great difticulty he had to overcome was liis reserve with liis public. I hey like you, said his manager one clay. yon think they do, asked Mc- b'onnack.

know tlicy do." and the manager repeated a few of the comments he had heard throughout the house. The news kindled the inflammable Irish heart. exclaimed the tenor. Sure, I like to gather them all to my One evening at ovent Harden an American girl vyas singing with AlcCormack in Bo- hcnic. the first act the curtain dropped and Mc- orinack and the singer started to go out to acknowledge the applause.

But the wav icadiiig to the footlights was piled high with scenery and miscellaneous stage things. The singers c-onld not get by. AlcCormack turned to the prima donna and said; right here, 4 hen he called the stage manager. said he, few nights ago one of your singers sang in this same opera with ine and the way was clear here. Now a little American girl is singing and all cluttered up.

It out of there, 'F'liey did. said AlcCormack to the take our curtain call. they lot of them. HE COMES TO AMERICA ACiAIN fame extended across the so when Hscar Hammerstcin instructed Director Campanini of the Manhattan Opera House to get AlcCormack, America was ready to welcome the flower that had bloomed unnoticed ill the Iri.sli village at St. Louis five years before $4 a concert.

In the meantime, in IW. came Hwendolyn I liiis (lid 111(1 happiness rush in upon I lie young singer. But never once did he let il get tlte best of him. McCormack bolds no brief for what is usually called artistic teitqicrament. i.s no such he declared, emphatically.

is merely a pose adopted by the man who requires an excuse for running away with his best wife. He calls his caddishness and the world then tolerates On Oct. 15, 1909, John McCormack, Mrs. McCormack. the two children, and Mrs.

sister. Josephine Foley, sailed for little thinking what great things were in store for them. On Xov. 10, AlcCormack made his operalic dclmt at the Manhattan Opera House, Xevv ork'. as in Fwo heforo his delnit wa-i -toiiping at the old Hoffman lluiise ork, taken ill with a iiad cohl.

physician remained at his side for -18 hours, even going to the Alanhattan Opera House with him and remaining in his dressing room during the performance, for AlcCormack was threatened with la grippe and penumonia. On the night of the performance AlcCormack, his wife, her sister and the doctor took a taxicab to the opera house. Afc- Corniack was very calm and quiet, but just a wca hit anxious. HIS OPERATIC DEBUT stepping through the stage entrance of the i.pcra house a reniarkahlc change came over McCofiiiack. He liciame boyish, jovial and happx.

'Fhcn he went out to sing. 'I'he house was were standing four and live deep at the hack. It was an extraordinary night, even lor Xew AlcCormack, sick as he was, won that wonderful audience. He won them solely on merit. His voice alone do it.

He had in addition youth and a splendid personality. His hoyishncss was so umisuai to operagoers that he went right into their hearts and the audience ap- precirited his hashtnlness and modesty, h'or his good friend, Mmc. was singing opposite him and lie tried in way lie could to to it that orcnpicil the centre nf tlie Ho tried to let it he known to liis andi- cnce that she the gnat and not he, and tlte audience liked him for it. h.vcn (he other artists itkcd him, and that is indeed the acid lest. McCormack subsequently became a member of AIRS.

JOHN' AlcCORAIACK. Before her marriage. Airs. AlcCormack, then T.ily holey, was called the most girl in Dnhlin. She, too, is an artist of I'onsid- having won lirxt prize at tlie Dnhliii and is also an on Irish folk dances.

tlie Philadclphia-Chicago Opera C'onipany and appeared as at the Metropolitan Opera House, Xew on several occ.isions, liui- dentally, alter his (iclnit at L'ovcnl Harden. lie was engaged to sing there every season until the opera elosi'd in F)14 on aeeounl of the war. After his great sneeess at the M.inhattan Opera House, Alct'ormack was approached by representatives of talking machine company. Hi made deal with them, 'i'he In- record hr- made. Hear A'ou Calling Ale," is todav hi, hig-ae seller.

"I lie talking machine eornpanv (piieklv signed a contract witli the great singer' hindmg him tliem nntil I'cbriiary, FHg, ineome (luring the past year, from his records alone, was $100,000, and in addition to this was an item of about from conecrt s. And then, on Alarch 29, 1010. McCormack came to Boston and. as nsnal. be conquered.

He made bis debut in here at the 'I'heatrc. with the Alanhattan Opera Coinpaiiv. It was certainly old home week for John, Xext Sunday Toye zcill tell of Mr. spectacular rise to fame and fortune, and oj hozv he cared jor his old mother ami father in Ireland. Pictures of parents, taken recently, U'ill be reproduced for the first time in any publication, Mr, Toye zvill tell many hitherto unpublished facts Mct'orniack's phenomenal career in America and of his triumphant tour of the world.

Heard John Very Earliest Vocalizing National Home, II, To the Boston Sunday I am sending a few remini.sceneeH of MeCormaek, as well a.s I can recall them, amt muj aie at liberty tu make such use of tlnun as (tii Ihitdc proper. Andrew McCormack, father, came to Atlilone to work as a fliii.shcr in the woolen miliH. William was owner- ami riianager of tho miihs at tho time, which, I ludlcvc, was tne year 1R.C0. The fatlier came to live at niy home and there tur a period after, he rented a house, tit f(-r hi.s wif--. and in ncwlv reiitfd liuure wax horn.

was utily alMiuf. a hundred liutne. was uid.v a li-vv hours u)d whi his father iciii I'ur uu' to coiuc lu sf lum. I want, and I caii assuie (in Unit had lung.s at this time, i liim uj) in my arm.s for a few tnomeni.s, and lie y. li: it was the tni.6ntion at tiie lime tiuii I was i)e for tho child, but someluiw nr other something turned uj) that prevented me from acting as such.

Some time after-wards a young lady by tho name of Miss Alary Curley w-hose brother Is now a bishop In Florida) and myself sang a duet at a concert. The name of the duct was (j.vpsy The next day the organist. Airs. Hopkins. came to rny home and extended an Invitation for mo lo Ping tenor at Church, told her that I was willing to do su if Andrew AlcCor- m.acl-; would al.so Joiu.

we both lite choir. 1 remained tur a numlier of as one of its members, wliilu gre tireri ur it ai.d gave it up. tins nine 1 playing euiilioiiit-ni in th" I.e.igu,. ut Die Cross Band, (m we would a few ilistrumetits iilur willi us anil tliem in Ihe cliui-clt clioir. I )ui- hand room was lu tlie same Idock as was the M.irl.st S(-liool, so can see tliat I must hiive known Brotln Buderh 11.

Aloore and also Brother Hugh very Intlngitely. When John AlcCormack Avas about 14 years cld his frther and I were of the Ancient Order of Foresters, Court (luod Intent, and one night while having a social party, Andrew asked pernilssion to take John, the son, along up wltn him. We were all delighted to have him. Jolin came. his arrival the first song that he was the next larr.ey.” and I ran as.sute you thai lie more than surprised us all.

I.afer on Il(i)d(ins. the organist, lui'l taken clmrge of i's ciioir. and I wi-ut ah iig with lier as nor, Il was diiriiig the fiiiie I was singmg at this i-liurch that 1 lirst 1 egan to take moro than a interest Auung He vvouid come tu tlie re- hear.sais and to the mass ami would always stand next to me while I would he singmg soles. At such tirne.s would always sure tu turn the score for me. After a time, at evening service.

If 1 should happen to be missing, John would fake my place. Cur bass singer was Hilly Oakley, manager or sawmill. After church Bundays we would both go to Billy's home, and u.suaily when would get there we would timi rlaying all the he knew on iirmuuiuru th.iL ililly Oakley had for his ciuldn f. who is im iitior in la Min d.av’.'-, article, a hi i- frycti mine, lie sang lia; Uir oreaius: wa- in giand- moiher, se on may st-e ttiat. I iiaidien to know i.iorc iil.oul oniiaek lit; i I sa any perse.n in America, liis fatiu ami I ucial- Irg together for years.

MICHAEL C. BKUDEKICK..