Mr. Cable’s singing of Louisiana folk-songs was a charming, quaint, and
fascinating feature of his entertainment, and was so commented on by the
newspapers everywhere. It never failed to awaken applause from his
audiences, who would have had him sing the songs over and over again had
he been willing to humor his appreciative listeners. Yet he rarely sang
more than one in an evening and almost never more than two. For a long
time he omitted them entirely from his programmes, because, as he said,
“he felt jealous for the readings when reporters spent their praises on
the songs.” One season he thought of preparing a lecture on these Creole
songs, to be illustrated by singing a number of them interspersed
through the lecture; but when Mr. Gilder told him “it seemed hardly to
comport with his dignity as an author,” he took the same view, and never
prepared the lecture.
Of late Mr. Cable has gotten back to his original usage, giving to the
public what they ask--the Creole songs and stories as he originally sang
and told them. Two years ago he gave them, in Great Britain with all the
attractive naturalness of his maiden efforts.
As a reader of his own stories, George W. Cable is among the greatest of
lyceum favorites. These creations are unique, and he alone gives them
full value. But he is also highly esteemed as a lecturer. In that field
he makes his own road also, just as he has done in realistic and
character-making literature.
The essentials for a platform entertainment were so aptly and ably
suggested in one of Mr. Cable’s letters that, for the benefit of
committees, associations, and managers they are submitted:
* * * * *
“NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 1886.
“MY DEAR MAJOR POND:
“To make an end of all misconceptions, let us write a list of things we
have to have and of things we would be happy without. For instance,
among the essentials it is probably not unreasonable to demand a
platform, brightly lighted and furnished with a table, which is all the
better if it is decidedly heavy, so that one can freely lean against it
without its starting away on its castors. Also, one chair, light enough
to be freely lifted about by the speaker with one hand. A comfortable
retiring room one need hardly mention; it is nearly always supplied.
Foot-lights, if practicable. These are really about all that one need
say are important to have.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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