History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 140

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340

USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time > Part 140

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Lucia. .Signora R. De Vries.

Elgardo. .Signor Pozzolini.

Lord Asthoro. .Signor Taffanelli.

Lord Aurthur Bouchsland. Signor Barattini.

Raimond ... .. Signor Candi.

This was no doubt a meritorious company of artists and were well received by both press and public.

Among the musical events for the year 1853, none equaled in importance the coming of those justly cele- brated characters in the musical world, Adelina Patti and Ole Bull. These famous artists made each their first appearance in this city, at Tremont Music Hall, April st. of that year. The season of this company consisted of three concerts given April 21, 23, and 26. The appended programme of the opening night illus- trates the excellent character of the entertainments.

PART I.

1. Overture from Rossini's Grand Opera of " William Tell," per- formed by M. Strakosch.

* See History of the Drama.

2. Madame Sontag's celebrated Cavatina from "I.indi di Chamouni" " I'luce di quest' anima," sung by Adelina Patti.

3. The Mother's Prayer. A Fantasia Religeoso, composed and executed by Ole Bull.

4. "Ah non giungi," the celebrated Rondo Finelle from " La Son- nambula," sung by Adelina Patti.

5. Paganini's famous Witch Dance, performed by Ole Bull. PART II.

I. The banjo, a new Capricio Characteristic, composed and per- formed by Maurice Strakosch.

2. "Comin' through the Rye," the favorite Scotch ballad, sung by Adelina Patti.

3. Grand National Fantasia, for the violin, alone performed by Ole Bull.

4. Jenny Lind's " Echo Song." sung by Adalina Patti.

5. " Tbe Carnival of Venice," by Ole Bull.

Tickets of admission to these concerts were one and two dollars, and with each one was given a certificate, bearing the number corresponding to the ticket. These certificates were to remain in the hands of the original holders, and established their ownership to their seats. In May following, Ole Bull and his company returned and gave a concert in the same hall, for the benefit of the Norwegian Lutheran Church ; the affair was a success, netting five hundred dollars to the beneficiary. On the 18th of June, an excellent home concert was given at Warner's Hall by the pupils of Henry Lippert, who was, at that time, a popular and efficient teacher of music in Chicago. On June 29, Signorina Balbina Steffamore, a prima donna, assisted by Mrs. Amelia Patti Strakosch, and the wonderful boy violinist, Paul Julien, appeared at Tremont Hall two nights, June 29 and 30.

In November was announced the revival of the sub- scription concerts of the Philharmonic Society, under the direction of Christoper Plagge. In that month the New York Italian Opera Company returned, singing this time only in operatic selections. On the last night of their stay they gave a " grand sacred concert." Early in March, 1854, the Blakey family appeared at Tremont Hall, and on the 21st, 23d and 25th of the month Ole Bull and Adelina Patti gave a series of their popular performances at the same place. In May the Philhar- monic Society held its yearly meeting for the election of officers. Charles N. Holden was re-chosen as presi- dent: the other officers were A. D. Tittsworth, vice- president; R. G. Green, treasurer; and I. D. Cole, librarian. The directors of the society were J. W. Bogue, Henry Johnson, C. H. Lawrens, J. Q. Thomp- son, A. D. Tittsworth, J. T. Jewett, C. O. Thompson and W. H. Rice. This organization was at this time in a flourishing condition, having in January and February of this year given a series of concerts which, aside from being popular and pleasing entertainments, had netted it handsome financial returns. On the 24th of May the Germanic Musical Society gave a concert at Tremont Hall, in which appeared in solo parts MI'lle Caroline Lehman, a vocalist from his Majesty's Theater at Copen- hagen, Carl Zarrhn, flutist, W. Meyers, English horn, I. Shuetz, clarionetist, and F. Thriede, bassoonist. Sep- temher 21. the Philharmonic Society gave a re-union in the First Baptist church, on which occasion the musical exercises were conducted by Prof. Carl Bergmann, sub- sequently one of America's noted musicians, the newly elected director of the association. On the 26th the new Metropolitan Hall was opened with a concert by Frank Lumbard, assisted by the best musical talent in the city, including instrumental selections by the Gar- den City Band. Of this new hall, and this the initial performance, the editor of the Press said, " This is the finest hall in the city. We would rather hear Frank Lumbard and his assistants sing one evening in plain

500

HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

Saxon, than to hear all the Italian artists in christen- dom screech and squall until doomsday."

The vocal score was made up of the following per- sons: Miss C. Hugunin, soprano, Miss Mary Bristol, alto, A. Marechall and H. C. Boutwell, tenors, J. B. Thompson, baritone, J. G. Lumbard, basso. In Octo- ber a local company, the Metropolitan Serenaders, gave a concert at Metropolitan Hall, and on the 17th of the month the Chicago " Freier Sangerbund," a new musi- cal organization, gave its first concert at North Market Hall. In this month the New York Italian Opera Com- pany en route for St. Louis, New Orleans and other southern cities gave one entertainment at Metropolitan Hall. At the same hall November 21, the Philhar- monic Society gave a concert, composed of classic and modern selections; this was conducted by Professor Bergmann and was a pronounced success. In the early part of this month the Ole Bull and Strakosch troupe again visited the city, playing to packed houses, and giving a rich and varied programme, which in excellence and style of rendition was of the very highest order. In the closing month of the year concerts were given by the Philharmonic Society and an Italian Opera Company, headed by Madam Rosa de Vries, who it will be remembered, sang here in the previous year.

It is worthy of note that in the year 1854 the first music printed in Chicago, from movable music type, was set in the composing rooms of the Literary Budget, by Joseph Cockroft; the words to the music being written by Francis Clarke. In January there appeared in the Budget a piece of music, a song-" It will be all right in the morning." The words were from the pen of the poet Benjamin F. Taylor, the music by J. Dyhren- furth. Also another a few weeks later, "The Moon- light Serenade." This piece was composed and arranged by George P. Graff, of this city, and dedicated to Miss Anna M. Edwards, of Rockfort, Ill. The piece was sung by a club calling itself the Moonlight Har- monists.

The year 1855 opened with a concert, by the Phil- harmonic Society at Metropolitan Hall, being a benefit tendered to Henry E. Lippert, the popular music teacher. In February came the Continental Vocal- ists at South Market Hall, and early in March the American Harmonic Opera Troupe appeared at Metro- politan Hall. In April, the Peake family of Swiss bell ringers, and a few concerts by local companies, made up the list. Among the leading companies here during the remainder of the year were, Madame De Vries, the Campbell Concert Company, M'lle. Theresa Parodi, the Hutchinson family, Christy's Minstrels and Adelina Patti. A 'notable local entertainment was given at Phelps's Burlesque Opera House, by Frank Lumbard's " Best Quartette in the World," which consisted of Frank Lumbard, J. G. Lumbard, R. Sylvia and M. J. Ritter.

In January, 1856, the Ephonians, a local society, gave a concert at the Metropolitan Hall, and in Febru- ary an entertainment at the same hall was given by volunteer performers, for the benefit of St. Paul's Lu- theran Church. In May the Alleghanians returned and appeared at Metropolitan Hall. In this month, too, MI'lle. Theresa Parodi, assisted by Mme. Amelia Patti Strakosch and Mr. Arthurson, under the direction of Maurice Strakosch, gave two concerts, which were among the notable musical events of the year. June 27 Ole Bull, assisted by Adelina Patti, surnamed the young Malibran ; Signor Morino, baritone ; Louis Schreiber, cornet player, and Franz Rath, pianist, were at Metropolitan Hall. In July, at the same place, appeared Madame Albamowicz and Herr Ernest Jaeger,

pianist. August 20 and 22 the Pyne and Harrison English Opera Company gave two excellent concerts at Metropolitan Hall, the programme embracing selections from the popular English and Italian operas. In Sep- tember a local company gave, at German Hall, a comic opera, " The Village Barber," and the papers also an- nounced others in course of preparation. On the 29th Mrs. Emma Gallingham Bostwick, assisted by Henry D'Antin and W. H. Curry, and orchestra by the Great Western Band, gave a grand concert at the Metropolitan Hall. In November Henry Ahner began a series of Saturday afternoon concerts at this Hall, and on the roth of the month M'lle. Theresa Parodi and company appeared for the second time during this season.

The only event of note in the closing month of the year was the appearance of a troupe, the New England Bards, in a series of holiday concerts. On Christmas night a benefit was tendered to Frank Lumbard, at which the New England Bards assisted.

In this sketch of the growth of musical culture in Chicago, no attempt has been made to discuss it as an abstract theme. Glancing over the subject in its mere chronological presentation, the deductions are apparent, in fact unavoidable, that in the earliest days Chicago was made up of a music-loving people. The fact is also broadly presented that in this, as in everything which tends to ennoble, elevate and refine, its people have ever striven, and with that success born of earnest effort, to attain the highest standard of excellence. Marked as has been the progress in musical taste and culture from 1835 to 1857, the period treated in the present chapter, yet a still more surprising advancement remains to be noted in the succeeding years, the history of which must form a part of the other volumes of this work.

EARLY LITERATURE.

WILLIAM ASBURY KENYON. - It is not strange that in the earlier history of Chicago there is a paucity of local literature. A people engaged in the work of building for themselves homes and habitations, in a comparative wilderness, and in reclaiming the soil from a state of nature, until it blossoms and teems with the fruits of their civilizing labors, have but little time at their command which they can devote to literary pur- suits. Still, among those who were pioneers in this particular spot in the West, there were those who have left behind them works that are entitled to mention as being distinctively of those days. The writers were persons of education and culture, and possessed of intellectual attainments fitting them to adorn any of the highest stations in life.

It is impossible to notice the literary productions which appeared only in fugitive forms. Many of them were contributed by local writers to the magazines and newspapers of that day, either anonymously or under assumed names, which effectually buries in oblivion the identity of the authors. Those only which appeared in book form can be referred to in these pages.

In the columns of the Gem of the Prairie, a literary paper published here as early as 1844, are to be found many poems which bear abundant testimony that their authors were gifted with true poetic instincts. But the first writer, so far as known, who published a book of poems in this city was William Asbury Kenyon. 'There is to-day in the library of the Chicago Historical Society a copy of this book, a small duodecimo volume, bound in cloth, looking not unlike a pocket edition of Cushing's Manual. Turning to the title page we read : " Miscellaneous Poems, to which are added writings in

501

MUSIC.

prose on various subjects, by William Asbury Kenyon ; Chicago, printed by James Campbell & Co., 1845." In his preface and speaking of the poems found in the work, the author says :

"I should indeed be culpable in augmenting the poetical flood (which, if the universal wish is universally attained, is likely to soon deluge the literary world) if I did not believe there was some- thing of merit in the productions thus put forth. But while I am thus convinced, I am also assured there are some to which no im- portant value will attach. * * * As a whole, the collection has been designed for this community. The specimens here presented have spontaneously sprung and blossomed upon the prairie, and, it is hoped, if they possess either beauty or fragrance, will not, like the flowers which spring to greet us, become extinct by the hoofs pí rudeness."

The preface bears date Chicago, January, 1845, although no evidence has been obtained that the author ever lived in this city ; yet it must be inferred that he resided so near to it that, for all practical purposes, he could and did claim it as his home. To one of his poems, written in 1842, is a note appended concerning the gaiety of the society in the town of Warrenville, one of the oldest villages in DuPage County. And again in his preface the author has returned his sincere thanks to Captain Joseph Naper, Mr. Ellsworth and Mr. Skinner, all citizens of Naperville, for material assistance rendered in bringing out his book. To show the poet in his lighter and doubtless his happiest moods, as well as to express the character of his work, a few stanzas from a " Prairie Song " are given :

" Oh, some may choose the forest glade, And some may love the sea, Others may seek the city's din : But none of these for me.

" No hermit's cave, no crowded hive, No storm-tossed prison lone ; But life at ease, in joy's own breeze, A prairie cot my own.

" A prairie cot ? What joys do not Come clustering around the charm : Scarce ripening fruits to autumn cling As pleasures hither swarm.

" Dream, hunters, dream of seas of game, Unused to following hound ; The generous Lord, his bounteous board, And plenty laughing round.

" Dream of the home where hearts have room, Where nice restraint is not : Dream, dream of joy free from alloy, Found in the prairie cot.

" Here, Clara, here love's mutual care Shall smile around our hearth ; While hand in hand, we prove the land The paradise of earth."

The poet has also put into some rhythmic lines his impressions concerning the Black Hawk War, his views of which are here reproduced for the edification of those who have read the history of that bloody strife. Mr. Kenyon has entitled his lines, "Our Late Indian Hunt," a title strongly suggestive of the poet's grave doubts of the justice of the white men's cause " against the famished remnants of a murdered race."

" Say : Did you hear of Hack Hawk's War, When nature's own was struggled for ? Terror struck all the country through, Raised by aggression's bugaboo.

" A few poor Indians, cornered up. Saw, day by day, the whites usurp Their lost game-grounds, their childhood's homes, And even profane their father's tombs.

" They saw, they wept with deep. still grief : Hope held no prospect of relief ; ' Farther, yet farther, we must go : Swim to new wilds, like buffalo ! '

" They bore in silence till their wives,

' Whipped like the dogs, we loath our lives,' Till from their mouths was snatched their bread Till the last star of peace had sped.

" Then roused they pride's expiring ray, Their thickening deaths to hold at bay ; They roused for home, they stood for life : Peace heaped their wrongs,-wrongs called for strife.

" Blow came for blow ! The cry was raised, " Behold, by savage fury blazed,

The frontier wide in ruins lies,' 'Death to the race,' the aggressor cries.

" Death to the race ? Yes, when no more They turned the cheek, as heretofore, ' Tis 'savage fury ' prompts the stand On the last hold of childhood's land.

" Take back the term ! The wild man's heart Abhors the deeds of savage art ; Expiring, starved, they fled like deer ; Still, still the gorgeless hounds pressed near.

" Wiskonsan, and the Broad-Axe, tell Tales which your final dirge may knell A war ! Alas ! A ruthless chase For famished remnants of a murdered race."

Turning over the leaves of this quaintly written, yet really interesting, little volume, there are to be found many selections, the perusal of which would doubtless interest the reader. Indeed the author's mer- its as a poet must not be judged wholly from the char- acter of his stanzas given; for the shorter poems are not his best efforts. Among the more pretentious ones are many really fine evidences of superior thought and grace of diction. Here is one, for instance, which in the very opening lines, seems to have caught the fresh breezy air of winter, the merry jingle of the bells, and the light, joyous mirth inseparably connected with the delights of a winter's night "Sleigh Ride."

"Come ! The moonbeams are glancing, the horses are prancing, The land-shallop waits at the door, Hearts akin to the lark, let us gaily embark; Heed Winter's keen pinching no more:

" In Winter 'tis time to be gay; Love glows with its quickening ray;

For the fresher the air. the more bright is the glare; All ready ;- now swiftly away

" At the whips' sounding thwack, now we speed o'er the track, 'Mid joyous confusion of bells And the shrill creaking of snow as we rapidly go, The mingling wild harmony swells.

" The music of mirth is as light As rays from the army of night, When they play on the snow with a luminous glow, And radiate witching delight."

The poet drew his inspirations from the genial surroundings and amid the primal beauties of "our own Prairie State." He has left behind him evidences that he was a man of thoughtful and observant mind, that he possessed an apt appreciation of the beautiful in art and of the grand and sublime in nature. That he has studied man with his faults and his follies, his virtues and his vices; and, running through all his poetry, there is much of a plain philosophy, which although in homely phrase, is pure in its teachings, and leaves no doubt that he wrote to better, to elevate and to refine, and to grave "the living virtues on the heart."

JUDGE HENRY BROWN .- Passing from the field of Poetry to the more practical one of History, it is a source of pleasure to note the fact that, in this most im- portant domain of literary work, Chicago was cariy rep- resented. In 1844 Henry Brown, a Chicago lawyer. and a Judge, wrote a work, which was at that time, doubtless, not only the most complete history of lili-

502

HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

nois but also of the Northwest Territory. Although put forth as being only a history of the State "from its first discovery and settlement " to the time at which the book was written, yet it contains almost necessarily a full and comprehensive account of the earliest explor- ations in the Northwest, together with brief histories of those sanguinary contests for the control of this terri- tory, which for years raged between the French and English nations. The history of this region from its formation as a Territory to 1845 is fully and exhaust- ively given. The story is well told, being written in easy, narrative style, and so embellished with incident that the usually dry historic details are invested with almost romantic charm and interest. In fact the book is as pleasant and entertaining as the facts treated of are useful and instructive. The book was written at a time when the author was busily engaged in the prac- tice of his profession (see Bench and Bar', but it was well done, with a careful detail attending the selection and arrangement of matter, and with a patience and closeness of inquiry, which illustrates the author's con- scientious regard for the truth. Not that the history does not. in the light of subsequent research, contain many errors, both as to dates and in the correctness of its subject matter. yet no one would be warranted in the assertion that Judge Brown did not make the best use of all available means to secure accuracy. Moreover, he did the work at a time when it was needed; and, with whatever imperfections it may have possessed, it met the popular want, was appreciated by those who read it, and it still lives a modest but enduring memento to the memory of its author, who was an able lawyer, a just Judge, and an impartial historian.

RICHARD L. WILSON .- In 1842 a little book of tracts, from the pen of Richard L. Wilson, the well- known journalist, made its appearance, and met with public favor. The book was entitled, " A Trip to Santa Fé," and was a graphic description of a country about which at that time comparatively little was known. A few years later Mr. Wilson published another small volume, "Short Ravellings from a Long Yarn," which met with quite as hearty a reception as did his first pro- duction. Like its predecessor, this was also a book of travel, and contained a well-written account of a trip made by its author by the overland route, then a long and perilous journey, to the newly discovered land of gold.

MRS. JULIETTE A. KINZIE .- An interesting book is " Waubun, or the Early Day in the Northwest," by the lady whose name appears at the head of this article. Herself one of the early pioneers of the West, a woman who had the historical distinction of living in the first house built in Chicago, of remaining here until she saw the fort and its few straggling houses grow to a thrifty little town, and, later, of witnessing its rapid and truly marvelous strides as a city, she was eminently well quali- fied in her later years to put into narrative form her personal reminiscences of early life in this region. But what enhances more than anything else the value of the book, is its importance as a faithful history of persons and things as they were in Chicago a half century ago. True, to the citizen of to-day, it reads like a romance, and to those who have never experienced " life on the frontier," it seem- hard to realize that the story of Wau- bun is not a tale of fiction, rather than an authentic account of life, and in those times. But the well-known character of the author, and her connection with the oldest family in Chicago, aside from her own carly resi- dence here, leaves no more room for doubting the truthfulness of the narrative than for disputing the

authenticity of the book itself. Indeed, neither has ever been questioned; but after reading its interesting pages, one lays the book down with the thought almost involuntarily expressed, " it is true; and verily truth is stranger than fiction." The thrilling and pathetic ac- count of the massacre of 1812, as told by Mrs. Kinzie, who obtained her facts concerning it from a relative who was an eye-witness and in a degree a sufferer from its horrors, has been read by thousands. Waubun was first published in 1855, but the edition was soon ex- hausted, and about ten years later, in accordance with "a popular demand for the work, a second edition was printed, which was speedily sold. To-day the book is out of print, and copies of it are difficult to obtain The author has years since gone to her reward; but in Waubun her name and character, as well as those of many of her associates in the early days in the North- west, will long be preserved in this tribute to the mem- ory of those brave pioneers who paved the way, and laid the foundations of what has since become the great metropolis of the West. See history of the Kinzie family on page 98.

T. HERBERT WHIPPLE .- As a writer of short stories, sketches, reviews and biographies T. Herbert Whipple, still a resident of Chicago, early won for him- self a reputation, which at that time augured well for a brilliant literary career. And while he wrote much which served to convince the public of his decided talent in a literary way, it is to be regretted that he so soon abandoned his purely literary labors to engage in the routine duties of editorial work on a daily paper. Mr. Whipple's father, Thomas P. Whipple, came to this State in 1836 from Buffalo, N. Y., and settled on a farm about thirty-five miles west of Chicago. Here the subject of this sketch, who was six years of age at the time of his arrival in Illinois, grew up and remained until 1852. He then began the publication of a tem- perance paper in St. Charles, which was subsequently removed to this city, and became a prominent temper- ance organ under the name of the Temperance Mes- senger. In 1854 Mr. Whipple was made the editor of a literary weekly, published in this city by W. W. Danenhower and called the Literary Budget. He remained here until 1856, when he resigned his posi- tion, on account of the paper being changed from a literary journal to a political organ, espousing the doc- trine of Know-nothingism ; a political faith to which Mr. Whipple did not heartily subscribe. January 10, 1854, Mr. Whipple married Miss Mira B. Fuller, a lady of St. Charles, and with her returned to his father's farm, that year, following the quiet pursuits of a farmer until 1857, when he took a position as night editor and local reporter on the Democratic Press of this city. From then until 1861 he was engaged on several of the city papers, but on the commencement of active hostil- ities in the South, he was sent to the front as the war correspondent of the Chicago Tribune. In that position Mr. Whipple discharged his duties so well, and lis enterprise and ability as a writer and gatherer of news attracted so much attention that, at the close of the war. he was offered a position on the New York Herald. . und shortly afterward became its city editor. In two years a change in the force of that paper was effected, new influences controlling. Mr. Whipple resigned his posi- tion and returned to Chicago. Mr. Storey offered him a place on the Times, which he accepted. His next move was the establishment of a private detective agency ; and from that time up to 1878, he edited news- papers at Galesburg. IN .. Vidalia, La., and Denver. Col. In the last named year, his health failing in the West, he

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 140

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas Number of Pages: 1340

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340