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"Charles Martin, Vocalist." Daily Telegraph, no. 11,620, Dec. 8, 1892, p. 5
TO THE EDITOR OF “THE DAILY TELEGRAPH.”
SIR—I am much obliged to you for your kindly comments on my letter written in behalf of this poor old man. You will be gratified to learn that it has been liberally responded to by Mrs. Bancroft, Miss Ellen Terry, Miss Jessie Bond, Mr. R. Lehmann, and others.
It is pleasant to learn that the old gentleman proves to be a worthy recipient of public bounty. I have received an unsolicited letter from the daughter of the proprietor of the Snow Shoes, Chelsea, from which the following is an extract:
“I wish to state I know the old man well; he is a cordwainer by trade: but his great age and failing sight prevent him from following his employment, and only by singing can he obtain the few coppers necessary for his lodging and food. Our house is situated in a poor part of Chelsea. My father allows the old man to sit by the fireside and sing, and customers give him pence. The fire and a little drop of beer are, I think, his only comforts. I am sure he is a worthy subject of charity. When I read the letter in the paper to him the tears stood in his eyes. Like most aged people he has a dread of the workhouse.”
I have the good fortune to know many prosperous singers and musicians. Is it too much to hope that they will give the odd shillings out of their many guineas to their unlucky brother-artist? – I am, Sir your obedient servant,
W.S. GILBERT
London, Dec. 7
"Charles Martin, Vocalist." Daily Telegraph, no, 11,723, Dec. 12, 1892, p. 3.
TO THE EDITOR OF "THE DAILY TELEGRAPH."
SIR, - My appeal on behalf of this poor old ballad-singer has produced a sum of nearly £100; moreover, some amateurs at Watford have generously offered to give a performance of "Pygmalion and Galatea" for his benefit. I have supplied him with a complete outfit of new warm clothing, and I have promised to allow him a weekly sum of at least one guinea for life, but as the old gentleman requires epical and constant attention (for he is almost blind and extremely feeble) it is very likely that this allowance will have to be increased. In any case, I will supply whatever further amount is required to keep him in respectability and comfort for the rest of his days, and if there should, unfortunately, be a surplus I propose to send it to the Mansion House poor-box. I trust that this arrangement will satisfy the 201 contributors who have so generously responded to my appeal.
It would be unreasonable to ask you to acknowledge so many donations in detail; I have, however, written to thank all who have favoured me with their names and addresses. Charles Martin desires me to express his heartfelt gratitude to those who have assisted him in this emergency, and begs me to assure them that he feels like the Duke of Westminster. – I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
W.S. GILBERT.
Grim’s Dyke, Harrow Weald, Dec. 10.
Page modified 7 August 2018