Arthur Sullivan

“ Speaking generally, many splendid compositions seem to have missed fire through sheer bad luck. To go no further than Sir Arthur Sullivan, some of his finest and most important works have had an ill-starred existence, and even several of his best songs, though introduced to the public under the most favourable auspices, have not "taken on." ”

“ As it was, it is Sir Arthur Sullivan’s special distinction not only to have been prolific in music which went straight to the hearts of the people, but to have enriched the English repertoire with acknowledged masterpieces, which are no less remarkable for their technical accomplishment. ”

“ The England of the last half of the nineteenth century has left us little that we can treasure in song music. Easily the most popular composer of the time was Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900) , who wrote the music of the inimitable Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, which are quite as perfect in their way as Mozart’s operas. If we were to include in this list the songs from these pieces we should have a song literature altogether remarkable and charming. But outside of his stage works Sullivan was surprisingly cheap in his vocal music. ”

“ The brilliant composer and musician, Arthur Sullivan, was our much-loved friend for thirty years. We first knew him about the time he and W. S. Gilbert were made known to each other by Frederic Clay. His great career began, like many others, very simply, for he was one of the "Children of the Chapel Royal," as they are still called, before his more serious {95} studies began at the Royal Academy of Music and at Leipzig. He returned with his music to The Tempest, to be followed by The Light of the World.
His wonderful partnership with Gilbert has given joy to every land. ”

“ But it is the personality of the artist rather than the quality of his work that now chiefly concerns us. Of the latter, indeed, the present writer has no title to speak save in terms of grateful admiration, and although it is true of every man of genius that the finest attributes of his nature lie surely enshrined in the fruit of his life’s labour, yet those who enjoyed the privilege of Arthur Sullivan’s friendship may be pardoned for thinking that the art with which he charmed the world still left unrevealed a deeper fascination in the man himself. ”

“ Sullivan's my only clew. How can I force a statement from this fellow? What has he done? What hold can I get on him?"
The girl looked at him half frightened yet full of admiration.
"Don't try it, Mr. Ralston," she whispered. "Give it up. You can't do it. It's too late. Besides, Sullivan's a dangerous man—a man who stands in with all the politicians—a bad fellow to threaten. He's done things enough, God knows, to send him to jail a dozen times—but leave him alone! You've done enough for Steadman. If you try to monkey with Sullivan anything might happen to you. ”

“ The reception accorded to "The Golden Legend" on its presentation, like that of "The Martyr of Antioch," was enthusiastic in the extreme. It has retained its popularity, and is usually conceded to be his masterpiece. It is sung wherever the English language is spoken.
Of the many great singers who were associated with the composer in these productions, I might mention the names of Titiens, Trebelli, Albani, [Pg 241] (Madame) Patey, Sims Reeves, Edward Lloyd and Charles Santley.
In character, Sir Arthur Sullivan was broad-minded, tolerant, sympathetic and generous. ”

“ Sullivan opened his eyes a little; the girl removed the sponge and put her head close to his face.
"He's breathing—he'll come round all right," she said. "He stays 'out' an awful long time."
She gave him the ammonia again and the patient [Pg 190] gasped audibly. Ralston heaved a great sigh of relief. Although he had known himself to be absolutely in the right he was aware that this body-snatching was, to say the least, irregular. Had the fellow died it would have made a nasty story for the papers. He sank back on a horsehair rocking chair and the room grew black with little pricking stars. ”

“ Peyton had cried to the head waiter. "We must give this man air," and in a moment more they had staggered with Sullivan's limp form to the ever-ready hansom, which had wheeled quickly to their assistance, and shoved him in.
In another moment there had appeared around the corner of the building a throng of men and women in evening dress, among whom were mingled waiters, pedestrians, and cabmen.
"To the hospital!" cried Ralston, and pushing in the girl, sprang after her himself. ”

“ Sullivan," continued Ralston from his seat in the horsehair rocker, "I don't mean you any harm. In fact, I can do you a good turn now and then if you'll help me out. All I want is my coin for turning up this chap Steadman. I know he's no good. He's anybody's money. He's nothing to me. But it's all in my day's work. Now, don't think me disagreeable. I want Steadman, you want—well, you don't want certain little incidents of your career to get to the ears of the district attorney—the Shackleton bonds, for example. ”

“ Suppose I showed you Steadman, that would satisfy you, wouldn't it?"
"It certainly would," said Ralston.
Sullivan looked up and down the street and then clambered out in a disjointed and rheumatic fashion.
"I'm sorry, Miss Davenport, I can't let you have the cab," said Ralston. "I shall need it—I hope."
Sullivan was on the sidewalk, looking at the house.
The girl suddenly seized Ralston's hand.
"Mr. Ralston," she said, "be careful while you are in that house. Don't mention a word of what I've told you about Sullivan. They're a reckless lot. Watch yourself and them. ”

“ Ralston smiled in spite of himself. He wished he could tell Sullivan the purport of this telegram which gave him so much anxiety. Simultaneously it occurred to him that it was undesirable to leave the cab even for a moment Sullivan might take it into his head to disappear.
"Oh, well," he retorted, "it doesn't entirely suit my book to allow you a chance to side-step me either, so we'll settle it by letting Miss Davenport send the wire for me. In that way we can each continue in the other's company. Much more agreeable, of course. Miss Davenport, may I ask you to get me a blank from inside?" ”

“ I guess I've still got the price," said Ralston. He pulled a roll of bills from his pocket.
"Well," said the other, "gamblers' rules. This is an open game. I'm afraid he's entitled to come in. Goin', Sullivan? Well, so-long. Close the door after you."
"So-long, Sackett," said Sullivan.
"Good-by!" said Ralston, with emphasis. "We're quits, aren't we?"
"Sure," replied Sullivan.
"Let me present you to the company," said the tall man. "My name's Farrer. I guess you've heard of me. These are my friends, Messrs. Brown, Jones, and Robinson, and Mr. X. Your own name is Mr. ——?" ”

“ He could not give it up now. He must find Steadman, even while a fugitive from justice himself. He would find him.
[Pg 201] He opened his eyes. They were still following Sixth Avenue beneath the elevated tracks. It had grown brighter. Sullivan had lighted a cigar. Ralston found himself trembling with excitement. A sweat had broken out all over him. Across the way, on the opposite corner, he saw the lights of a telegraph office, and he raised the manhole and told the cabby to stop.
"What's up?" inquired Sullivan, removing his cigar.
"I've got to send a telegram," said Ralston unsteadily. ”

“ He may not know where Steadman is, after all. But I heard him say that the gang had almost finished trimming Steadman and were going to finish him up to-night—at cards I think. They've gotten almost every cent he has already——"
Sullivan gave a harsh cough and arose to a sitting position.
"Shackleton—Mercantile bonds—Masterson deal," murmured Ralston to himself.
"Huh! That you, Floss?" grunted Sullivan. "What are we doin' here? Where's the old woman?"
"Sh-h! It's all right, Jim," said the girl. "We made a clean get-away. You came near running in the lot of us." ”

“ In 1769 he emigrated to Wyoming, and became one of the leading men in that settlement. Before he left Connecticut he was strongly imbued with feelings of hostility to the mother country, which the agitations of the Stamp Act had engendered, and when the Revolution broke out he was found an active patriot. He was appointed colonel in 1778. He accompanied Sullivan in his memorable Indian expedition in 1779, and served with distinction throughout the war. In 1787 he was made lieutenant of the new county of Luzerne, which office he held until its abrogation by the new Constitution in 1790. ”

“ Nay, more, I hope the day will come when every State House in the land shall hold a tablet such as this, when every schoolboy shall read lessons from his life, when every human being who seeks partnership and title in the freedom of his kind shall, in his memory, cherish the name of Major General John Sullivan as one who deserves a niche unshadowed and a fame unscarred among the scanty array of those great souls whom the genius of Liberty proudly calls her own. ”

“ His son, William Francis Sullivan (1756–1830) , born in Dublin in 1756, was educated for the church at Trinity College, but entered the navy upon his father's death, and served through the American war. In 1783 he settled in England. He produced a farce called ‘The Rights of Man’ (printed in the ‘Thespian Magazine,’ 1792) ”

“ Down the white and sinuous road through the jungle that fringed Malajacar Bay hiked a score of men at the route-step, in charge of Corporal Connors. Dr. Aylward, in "fatigue," trudged with them. Flap-flop, the canteens wigwagged on their hips; the pendulous bayonets kept rhythm. Atomic dust enhaloed them, drifted on ahead in the mid-morning breeze.
"Another half-hour, docthor, dear," Connors confided. "an' faix, King Sullivan's princess-pipe will be nothin' but cold ashes, an' our little arrmy of anti-mesallyance invasion will be playin' wid the royal excheckers! ”

“ To those who knew and loved Sullivan, and I think he was loved by all who knew him, the extraordinary charm of his personality will be unreservedly acknowledged.
There have been few men in our time in any walk of life who have possessed an equal measure of social fascination. His manner, always sympathetic and sincere, suffered no change in whatever company he found himself, and there was added to this finer quality of sympathy a quick and delicate sense of humour that made closer comradeship with him inspiring and delightful. ”

“ Sullivan was a very powerful man, and though weakened by his long fast and fatiguing march, despair gave him courage and nerved his arm with strength, and with great presence of mind he seized the animal as it struck him on the side with its horn, drawing out his knife with his left hand, in the faint hope of being able to strike it into his adversary's throat. ”

“ Subsequently Sullivan engraved a fine plate of the ‘Temptation of St. Antony’ (after D. Teniers) , which he dedicated to the Duke of Beaufort. In 1759 he published a set of six views of noblemen's seats, viz. Oatlands, Wilton, Ditchley, Cliefden, Esher, and Woburn—all drawn and engraved by himself. Sullivan practised miniature-painting with considerable ability, and from 1764 to 1770 exhibited portraits with the Incorporated Society, of which he was a director. He led a disreputable life, and died at the White Bear tavern in Piccadilly early in 1771. ”

“ General Sullivan when he was taken prisoner and fell under the influence of the British military power, and contrasting them with the meagerness that he had been accustomed to, for once his heart failed him and his soul sank within him, and it is no sorrow to his name to say that for the moment he thought the liberty of mankind in the Western continent was doomed. ”

“ Something that bites 'em, drags 'em down and out! That man Sullivan, E Company, for example—you know?"
The colonel nodded a grave head.
"A pity!" he passed judgment.
"Lord knows where he is. If he'd only hung on another week, this whole business would have slipped off him like a dyspeptic dream. And now—! Nothing but some psychological twist could ditch a man that way. A twist, I tell you—"
"Or a woman," murmured the colonel.
"Same thing! It is a woman this time, by the way. Connors told me. You really ought to hear about it, from Connors. He's inimitable!" ”

“ Sullivan was talented, agreeable, good looking, and rich; one who, in his youthful days, need not fear the frown of any damsel, and who now, in the prime of manhood, might still have won the fairest. But the heart of the handsome bachelor seemed invulnerable, for nearly forty years resisting all the charms of beauty. ”

“ A warm-hearted Irishman, he was always ready to do a good turn for anyone, and it was wonderful how the geniality of his nature was never clouded by almost life-long physical suffering. Sullivan lived and died a bachelor, and I believe there was never a more affectionate tie than that which existed between him and his mother, a very witty old lady, and one who took an exceptional pride in her son's accomplishments. ”

“ Could the character of Sullivan be fairly said to be that of a great man? Does he measure up to "bigness?" Remember a little man seldom does big things. Briefly, what did he do in this Indian campaign? At the beginning of the Revolution there was a democracy of six confederate states within the present boundaries of our own municipality. So strong had this democracy grown that it dominated the inhabitants of a territory of more than a million square miles. Their battle-cry was heard from the Kennebec to Lake Superior, and under the very fortifications of Quebec they annihilated the Huron. ”