41"0"11,./
ELLIOTT ELLIOTT
ELLIOTT ELLIOTT OPTICIANS coDILLYANk Ur
OPTICIANS
John 'Molt mgr.
Piccadilly Arcade
PI
PERTH
Ex-MarisE
Bros:
Perth
Sluded
Tel. 67988
Tel. B798B NO. 3,124.
SEVENTY-FIRST YEAR.
PRICE THREEPENCE.
PERTH, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1944.
'Cod is Only One Worth Working World atinous Tenor
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then asked the young priest-to-be. (I-1,0 didn't set a price upon himself, this lad who twanted to give himself away to God.)
Giving Himself Away. Every head turned, every glass was laid quietly on the counter. The publican closed the doors, after letting in two policemen who were outside. And MacEwan sang "Silent 0 Moyle," "Lewis Bridal Song," "She Moved Thro4gh the Fair." (I heard them all yesterday through the kindness of Noa friend who has his records.) body knew who he *as. Some of the men asked for songs and he obliged where he could. For an hour and a half he sang to an eager grateful audience in that little country pub. In his book, "Hebridean Journey," . Halliday Sutherland has something the same story to tell. On his travels he once shared a sitting-room with a singand now when he sees Austin O'Malley By DOROTHY BERNARD. er and his accompanist. this is his first question: "Next morning after breakfast we When "How's the young fellow? 1;1 stayed indoors on account of the rain, will he be a man of God?" but the entertainment they provided That is his way of referring to Syd"I have now been everywhere. I MR. SYDNEY MacEWAN. more than compensated for the rain. have seen most things. I have known ney MacEwan and the priesthood. is The singer had a magnificent tenor fine, and June is Sydney MacEwan poverty and I have lived in high socivoice, and he sang arias, Highland, "Above the Blue Mountains." ety. I have come to the conclusion to be his ordination month-the month "Right -o!" said he, then whispered and Irish songs. Last year he sent me that God is the only One worth work- that will make him forever "a man of a Christmas card from Rome. He was to their father: ing for. I go to Rome to see if they God." "Be sure they listen in, and watch not singing there in the Opera House, At O'Malley's, echoing the words of will have me." but was studying at Scots College for their faces." one of Sydney's songs, they say: the priesthood." The wireless certainly provided a surSo wrote Sydney MacEwan, world- "I love you still for this last grace Adds Halliday Sutherland: prise that evening: famous tenor, to dear friends made on Of sitting here, remembering you." "I was not astonished." "The pale moon was rising above his Australian tour-the Austin O'MalCorner. Kitchen His The Hebridean singer had been Sydthe Blue Mountains," began the well. ley's, of N.S.W., at whose home he stayThey remember. to so much is There ney MacEwan. he two years known voice. ed on and off for the say they have never met a more gifted "Oh, Daddy!" wailed the children, the Gramophone Company in London spent amongst us. played he and He sing It should be and said: "isn't he dreadful? In his early days, when he was still human being. "I want to make a wee record in honthe violin. As a dancer and actor, green mountains." a Glasgow school -teacher, Compton in the well was he comic, and serious but he our of Our Lady. She has always his ik At knew MacEwan sing. Well. him heard Mackenzie had tennis, At games such as Particularly been very good to me." couldn't resist a joke. urging, Sydney from that time forward first rank. was an did he enjoy a joke against himself The record was made. and a Passionconcentrated on his God-given gift of golf, football, he excelled. Hebut begUniversity, of Glasgow M.A. but his ist Father has since said of it: Highlander, Greene. was a His father song, training under Plunket anybody, for mother came from Donegal. "MacEwan will go to Heaven for his Count John McCormack gave him an ged his host not to tell a penny in Glasaudition and promised an American "M.A.'s are thirteen Italian And perhaps that latter fact explains singing of 'Mother of Mercy'!" Gaelic and spoke It was amongst the records to which He gow." tour. Lady Londonderry helped him this little story: MacEwan's fluently, and was right up to date on in London. Step by step he sang himSydney MacEwan and his Australian I listened yeSterday. self up the ladder of fame. And his world affairs. host were coming home from golf one soul on wings of song. "Thy gifts heard. was His prayer many records have captured the very His voice is moving for its utter sim- Saturday and called at a country pub Standing at the are strewn upon my way." As he sang soul and spirit of that rich, glorious, plicity, and simplicity was the signa- for a glass of beer. wrapunforgettable voice. ture tune of the man MacEwan. He crowded bar, they talked of songs and in "Men from the Fields"-"Mary of blue." had a favourite corner in the kitchen the stories behind them. Sydney mean- ped round Him her mantle the priestfor accepted son was The Listening Singer. Mary's where, sitting on a low chair, he would time humming a little Gaelic thing he From the heart came every word he sing Celtic songs to the accompani- loved. Suddenly an old man came up hood. sang, and in that heart God was King. ment of cooking. Australia in Rome. Between broadcast- to him and said: Yes, the Catholic singer was planning ing and concert engagements, he gave In Rome he studied at Scots College. "Son, you couldn't sing me a wee to make to the Giver of his song the his spare time to singing for the nuns Irish song, could you?" And news reached here, through a Sacgift of his *hole self. The man who and priests and brothers. At one St. "I could and all," came the quick re- red Father, that the young cleric had made records was himself listener to a Patrick's Day concert in Sydney, he sponse. asked this Father, who was visiting Voice other than his own. Yet what offered his services, and was the star Rome, to collect all the Australians he He took the old man by the lapels he heard was actually an echo of his of the evening. could, clerical and lay people. So said tired his looking into coat, and his of own songs: "Turn ye to Me." so done, and Sydney gave them a conin the eyes, he sang in full voice: daughters three were There that grew insistent Clearer, more cert-in gratitude for the many kind"Ireland, Mother Ireland!" O'Malle,y house-Margaret, Angela, and Voice. MacEwan listened, hardly darvoice, there was sil- nesses he had received in Australia. To one for that as But up," "dressing loved They Helen. Australia, too, has come a photo of ing to believe it could be really true. a glass children do, and MacEwan joined in all ence in the crowded bar-not Worldly fame and success and an inFootballers, country folk, Sydney MacEwan in a football groupto blacking his face and clinked. even fun, their when his were year a £5,000 come of Scots College playing the HoUse With the family he went and "casuals," slowly they came closer Yodelling. h.: wrote that letter, with its humble Unable to speak, the Guards of the King of Italy, with Sydto the singer. to the Blue Mountains. holiday a for little "if." ney centre forward for the Scots! of their return he was old man shook Sydney's hand, stirred When war was declared, he was chas"I go to Rome to see if they will On the night and the children "re- by deep emotion, and sat down on a broadcasting, have me." ed out of Rome and arrived in Scot seat. nearby with begin should he that quested" There is an Irish Australian named (Continued on Back Cover.) "Would you fellows like a song?" Larry who met him when he was here, "The Rose of Tralee."
*Sydney MacEwan to be Ordained in June The Golden Voice that Sang the World Away .
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For Value and Service
Guilfoyle's Hotel Australia a newspaper. Registered at the G.P.O., Perth, for transmission by post as
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Est 45 years