SANTA CRUZ IN THE SIXTIES. WHY I BECAME A DRESSMAKER. OPERA. MUSIC IN
SAN FRANCISCO IN THE SEVENTIES
We had become attached to Santa Cruz and concluded to live there and
begin some kind of business. When our time had expired at the mill,
Mr. Blake had found a convenient store. He was well known and had been
chief salesman for J.C. Johnson & Bros., saddle and harness dealers on
Market street, San Francisco, and later he was employed by Main &
Winchester in the same business. He was able to get his stock and
start under fine auspices. It was not long before everything looked
prosperous for us. Since we were both musical, Mr. Blake having a fine
lyric tenor voice and also playing the piano, we were soon the center
of musical attraction. We found other voices also that were of the
right sort, and it was not many months before the music of Santa Cruz
was recognized and appreciated. Mrs. Eliza Boston, a fine dramatic
soprano, was the wife of Joseph Boston, a wealthy business man, and
sang only for her friends and church, which was her pleasure, but she
was also kind when any necessity presented itself. She cheerfully did
her part, especially for the Calvary Episcopal Church of which she was
a devout member. The rector, Rev. Giles A. Easton, one of the pioneer
ministers of the church, appreciated her talent in the assistance she
gave to the music in those early days of California when music was so
hard to obtain.
What happy days were these to us who loved music and sang for the love
of it and for the little church that stands today covered with ivy,
planted when Mrs. Boston and I sang together in the choir. On high
days we were able to procure the assistance of some fine voices of the
men singers, Samuel Sharp, basso; Rollins Case, tenor; Charles Metti,
tenor soloist. There was no salary in those days for our services. We
did it all as God's work and it mattered not what creed. Wherever we
were needed our services were liberally given. Rev. P.Y. Cool was
pastor of the First Methodist Church and I aided his church for many
months and had fine support from Mr. Ossian Auld, one of God's voices
sent on earth to give us a taste of what was in store for us in the
Choir Invisible. How we sang together can only be appreciated by those
who worshiped and heard the voices, who by nature were created with
the musical temperament that sings. I never heard but one more tenor
of that nature during my singing life in California and of him I will
speak later, for it was after I returned to San Francisco that I had
the pleasure to be in the choir and sing with the dearly beloved Joe
Maguire. While I remained in Santa Cruz I sang for Dr. Frear's church,
also the Unitarian Church of which the pastor, Dr. Ames, and his good
wife were fine musicians. In the Presbyterian Church we found Mr. Fred
Anthony, a tenor, who was one of the useful tenors, and reliable young
men workers in the church. He came to California in 1854, a son of the
Wm. Anthony family, composed of musicians. Miss Louisa Anthony was the
organist of the church. The civil war was not yet at an end and money
was needed for the wounded and the suffering in hospitals and the
Christian commission was in need of funds to carry on the good work of
relief. All who were able and had voices or dramatic talent were
called upon to assist in the good work; consequently many
entertainments were given in aid of this cause. Young and old who had
talent were enlisted and there was no lack of enthusiasm, for the
cause appealed to all who were patriotic and in sympathy with the boys
in blue who were still marching, fighting and dying for our beloved
land. Those who were foremost in the good work during these trying
times are worthy of having their names enrolled in this history of
California's early days as actors for good in the development of the
state, upholding the government and assisting in the building of
churches and other institutions that have made our State the Queen of
the Pacific Coast. I feel proud that I can place on the roll of honor
such names as the following men and women singers, dramatic performers
and excellent musicians: