Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, August 22, 1915, Page 13

PART TWO EDITORIAL PAGES ONE TO TEN THE O XLV—NO. ) VOL. ING FOR A DAY" was never in it with “Mr. Sampson of Omaha.” You re- member the tremendous hit which donna. Photo i was made by Archibald Clavering Gunther's novel, called “Mr, Barnes of New York,” which had such a best-seller run as to lead to a follow-up called ““Mr. Potter of Texas?" There were so many “Mr. Somebody's of Some- where” in.those days that it became abgolutely necessary to put a man on the literary highway to fame carrying an Omaha tag on his suitcase, That “Somebody of Somewhere” was ohristened “Mr. Sampson of Omaha,” and instead of a hero ot a novel, he made his debut in the principal role of a cumic opera, a made-in-Omaha, produced-in-Omaha by Omaha talent comic opera at that. The story cf ““Mr. Sampson of Omaha’ is recalled by the death ten days ago of Nat M. Brigham, who created the character and sang the part when this famous musical show was put on in Omaha for a run of four performances in June, 1888, But first let us get the plot underlying the words and music of the play. It was a thriller of the tbrilling kind, combining love and business, music and adventure, fun and frolis, Just trans- port yourself in imagination to a comfortable seat in Boyd’s old opera houge, that stood at the north- east corner of Fifteenth and Farnam, until it was burned down, and foous your eyes on the stage. The scene is lald in Bulgaria. The king by prodigality has been brought to the vprge of ruin. He {s harassed constantly by creditors, among them Teresa, a bad debt collector with whom he falls in love, and who tenderly loves him, but who re- fuses him, because as his flancee, she would be inclined to treat his indebtedness with a leniency that would amount to 4n injustice with her employ- ers. The prime minister {s himself ambitious to wear the crown. A possible solution of the kingdom's citficultities is suggested by the entrance of Margaret, the beautiful daughter of the prime min- ister, who has been reading Sir Walter Bcott's “Ivanhoe,” and cherishes the wish to have a tourna- ment. This wish she imparts to the king, who at first discourages her, but finally conceives the scheme of offering her at a public tournament to the one who can show him the road to wealth. Of course, the prime minister objects strenuously, hav- ing already promised Margaret to a wealthy Bul- garian, but threatened with the public executio=w:, he relents, The tournament is duly arranged, and after several indifferent get-rich-quick schemes have been From Omaha or Omahay Prime Minister: This gentleman from Omaha From Omaha or Omahay Proposes, as you all have heard To bear the tourney's prize away. The king is pleased to think him quite The knight that he was looking for, Although for me I here may say All foreigners I do abhor. Kind friends, I'm loyal to our king, But if at any time the carown From that great head you choose to take, I know an able man in town Who loves his country as himself, And who, if he were acting king, Would ne'er a tourney’s prise confer Upon a loathsome foreign thing! 4 'Tis not for me to mention names, "Tis not for me this reign to gqueer, But were I called to show the man, I'd plainly answer, “I am here.” Farewell, oh jousters, you may go Unto your happy homes away— The prize has gone to Omaha Or Omaha or Omahay, _ [ et ey Mrs.2artin Cahn, the prima 2 the bime by Heyn. recalled by the ’creajtecl Hle title Fare well,oh jousters You may go ‘:\\ unto your happy omes away. The prize has /;)" PR gone fo Omaha ‘ or Omaha 3 or Dmafia/.' OAST OF CHARACTERS Mr. Sampson ... .Mr, Nat M. Brigham King of Bulgaria .........Mr. B. B. Young Prime Minister...,.Mr. Henry D. Estabrook Public Executioner. .Mr. Charles L. Deuel Court Crier . «+.Mr. W. B, Downing Margaret (daughter of prime minister).... . Mrs. Martin Cahn Teresa (a collector of debts) .............. .Mrs. H. D. Hstabrook Helena. ..Miss Bertha Bayliss Messenger Boy.......... Miss Eva Goodall Stage manager, Mr. W. R. Goodall Conductor, Mr. Martin Cahn. CHORUS. Sopranos and Altos— Misses: Misses: Kate M. Ball May Dundy Anna L. Bishop Rose H. Brady Mellona Butterfield Helen Copeland Nellle M. Corby Edith H. Crandall Minnie D. Rheinhardt Pauline L. Dewitt Julia Knight Mrs. Wm. A. Redick Nettlie B. Totman Mrs. G. M. Hitchcock Mrs. D, H. Wheeler, jr. Tenors and Bassos— Luna Dundy Ruth Kimball Florence Kimball Claire Rustin Mfiry Lake Messrs: Messrs: BEdwin D. Arnold Orville C. Holmes Joseph F. Barton James H. Merriam Harry V. Berkeley Revel France Richard J. Wherry Charles A, Harvey D. H. Wheeler, jr. George W. Holbrook A. J. VanKuren THE BOENES, Act I—King's Palace. Act IT—Tent arranged with tournament. Act ITI—Garden in rear of Royal Palace. William Peacock spectators for advanced by the native knights, *Mr. Sampson of Omaha"” suddenly blows in. Mr. Sampson 18 a speculator on the Omaha Board of Trade who has been unfortunate in his ventures. Even while traveling in Bulgaria he is followed by telegrams from his Omaha house announcing that the grain market on which he has been buying for & rise, is constantly going down. Previous to the tourna- ment he has met Margaret by chance while wan- dering in the palace, and when he sees her at the Jjoust, the feeling of tenderness which he had con- celved for her becomes intensified. After learning the terms and conditions of the contest, and re- celving an exceedingly pressing notice from his brokers demanding margins on his grain purchases, it oceurs to him in a sudden Inspiration that by inducing the king of Bulgaria to declare war he can make the price of grain soar in the markets of the world (including Omaha, U, 8. A.,) and by renewed buying while a general Buropean compli- cation is threatened, realize a sufficient profit to satisfy the king and make Mr. S8ampson a million- aire, to say nothing of securing at the same time the hand of the beautiful girl who had enraptured him, The king readily falls in with the plan, war MAHA OMAHA, .\'|"\I\l\\‘ MORNING, AUGUST he furor created by Words by Faeo Nve Slow Walts movement. SUNDAY BEE 1915, SAMPSON SF OMAHA” this famous opera is recent death of Nat Dri “LOVE RULES THE WORLD." }lam W}lO Music by Euisa Mazzuearo Youna. beian to high de - [ et = But love miay rest With-in their breast. But lou_mqy s ot comzeaes @iy 18 declared, and the financlal result is everything that Mr. Sampson had expected. When the sem- blance of battle had been maintained a sufficient length of time, Mr. Bampson directs the king to proclaim peace, at the same moment telegraphing his Omaha brokers to sell short for a decline, with the result of giving him as great a profit as a bear os he had secured as a bull. The fortunes of the king and Teresa naturally hang on the fate of Mr Sampson. Terrified by the danger which she im- agines will surround the king, Teresa beseeches him not to go to war, and when he afterwards pre- rares to take the field in person, she attempty to dostroy the bill which she had been trying to col- lect from him, and which represents the barrier between them and the consummation of their love. From this rashness, however, she is saved by Mr, Sampson, who receives a timely telegram from Omaha announcing the brilliant financial success cf his Bulgarian war. The portrayal ends with the liquidation of the debt, the engagement of the royal personage and Teresa, the engagement of the royal of Mr. Sampson and his bride, Margaret, whose hand he had won by his shrewdness and enter- prise, Preparation for the production had absorbed the interest of local society, whose most brilllant raembers were in the cast or choruses, for weeks and months. The mainstay of the organization was the old Apollo club, of which B. B, Young was ot that time the conductor, and he took charge of the staging of “Mr., Sampson,” in addition to kimself playing the role of king. His wife, known as Madame Mazzucato Young, had written the nusie the words belng supplied by Fred Nye, one of the editors of the old Omaha Republican, the two catch melodies being ‘“This Morning I Found a Bulgarian Pin" and a slow waltz, “Love Rules the ‘World.” It was a large and brilliant assemblage at- tracted to the first night's rendition, looking for- ward to a rare musical treat, and without disap- pointment, and the contemporaneous report by The Nee’s musical eritic was lavish In commendation, ““Mrs. Martin Cahn as ‘Margaret’ had a splendid opportunity to display her wonderful musical and dramatic talent, and the manner in which she ae- quitted herself was simply superb, Mrs. Cahn s gifted with a splendid volce, cultivated in the highest degree, and her efforts were satisfactory in the extreme. While she sang in her wonderfully sweet voice, ‘Oh Let Me Sing the Days of Old,’ the audience sat in their seats spellbound, and as the Wherg love be - tides There joy a - bides. Copyright. » last notes died away a momentary hush fell over the vast assemblage, which a few moments later turned into a perfect storm of applause, continu- fng until she again responded. Mrs. Henry D. Fstabrook as ‘Teresa,’ desperately in love with the king, richly merited the frequent approval bestowed o her. Her efforts were warmly appreciated, es- pecially the dramatic ability which she displayed. While the construction of the plece did not admit of Miss Bertha Bayligs figuring as extensively as de- wired, she, too, was a great favorite and rendered her part with perfect facility. Nat Brigham, im- rersonating ‘Mr. Sampson’ Is stupendous, and. rep- resents the average Omahan abroad to a dot, with possibly one slight exception, that he is possibly slow as & lover, but no doubt he will improve in this respect. Nat is a singer, and his rendition of the selections assigned to him were more than pleasing. Mr. Young as the king made an Ideal monarch, especially so when the position {n which he is placed (over head and ears in debt) is con- sidered. Mr. Estabrook is an excellent prime min- ister, while Charles L. Deuel as the ‘Public Execu- tioner’ keeps the audience in a roar of laughter by his oddities. The chorus is especially good, and ¢id excellent work. The entire performance passed off without a single hitch, tending to show with what palnstaking care those participating had been trained.” 8o high did local enthusiasm run that there was talk immediately of sending a company with the cperetta out on the road to let the people in other cities enjoy it, to say nothing of the advertisement Omaha would derive, More sober judgment, how- ever, concluded that the setting was too much localized, and would have to be considerably changed before it would appeal to amusement goers eclsewhere. Another performance, however, was glven the following spring while the “Bostonians” were here, in order that the heads of that great musical organization could see and hear it with a view to adding it to the repertoire. Btill later “Mr. Sampson” was repeated out at Balt Lake City with Nat Brigham and Charlie Deuel in their original characters, but with the other roles and choruses locally supplied. Brigham afterwards located in Bult Lake City, where he was prominent |n business and politics, and by appointment of President (leveland became United States marshal for the District of Utah, 8till later he gave song and lee- ture recitals at chautauquas and entertainment courses, and was engaged in this voeation at the time of his death. He was & big, magnificently PART TWO SOCIETY PAGES ONE TO TEN SINGLI COPY The original Mr.Sampsen” from a recent photograph. uilt, handsome man, an athlete as well as a singer. All those who knew him insisted that the character of *Mr. Sampson of Omaha’ fitted him almost as well as he fitted into that character. “I belleve my acquaintance with Nat Brigham dates back further than that of anyone else in Omaha,'” says Hal McCord. ‘‘He and 1 were class- mates at Wxeter academy in' M@4 nmd: 1876, He was & Massachusetts boy, born near Natie, I came home after my course there, while he went on to Harvard ahd graduated about 1880, turning up In Qmahara few years later, where we got together agaln. He was a jolly good happy-go-lucky fellow. 1 remembgr him in the role of ‘Mr. Bampson of Omaha' very well. He was the star of the per- formance, and it was a star performance.” It 18 remarkable that of the principals in the “Mr. Sampson of Omaha' cast Mr, Charles L. Deuel alone s still here, and active in business circles, although he has 'renounced the lure of the musical arena in whi¢h he used to figure. Mrs. Martin Cahn is residing in Chicago, to which city she re- moved with her family in the '80’s. At last ac- counts Mr. B. B. Young was striking high notes as a Christlan Sclence lecturer. One of Mr, Young's given names was “‘Brigham,” and he was supposed to be in some way connected with the famous head of the Mormon hierachy, Brigham Young, and' some of the fanciful admirers of both Mr. Young) and Mr. Brigham used to lnsist there was a rela- tlonship between the two, which, however, was| never established beyoud the similarity of thel names. The Estabrooks are heard from period- feally from New York, where Mr. Estabrook 1s| practicing law between after-dinner orations l.lld‘ occasional visits with his estimable wife to rela- tives and old-time friends here. Mr. Fred Nye,, the word-artist of the operetta, became later thel news editor of the New York World, and was acel- dentally killed a few years ago in a Brooklyn street’ car mishap. Beware the Crafty Man Teresa: Bewore the crafty man From distant Omaha Who bids you, noble king, Unleash the dogs of war! His motives are not pure, With guile his heart is filled, He wants to lead you forth To battle to be killed. Margaret: Oh, list, your majesty, The voice of wisdom true! If you his council scorn The deed you'll surely rue! He comes from out the west Like lovely Lochinvar— He knoweth what is best— This man from Omaha. Bampson: Your Majesty, I pray Perndit me to observe That you'll declare this war If you've a kingly nerve. Your death you need not fear— Nor e'en a loss of health— 'Twill be amusement fine, And bring a pile of wealth. Teresa: 1 plead you by my love that eries, Do net my tender prayers despise! Margaret: And by my love I do adjure That you this fortune do secure. Your fate and mine bhang oo (he wost— Ob, let the volce of waw-de heandl | -