Ring the Bell Watchman (1869)
The first of the new series of popular readings in Chewton took place last evening, at the Odd fellows' Hall. The room was crowded by an attentive and appreciative audience; The chair was occupied by J. W. Coy, Esq., who opened the proceedings by an inaugural address. Several of the songs, were most exquisitely rendered, and good use was made of the right to call for encores. The various, " readings,". were also well given, and the whole reflected much credit on the committee and the performers. We understand that it is the intention of the committee to hold the
readings fortnightly during the season ; and as there is no scarcity of talent in the neighbourhood the interest and pleasure will be sustained throughout. Last night several well-known and favourite names were, included in the programme, which was as follows : --Introduction (localsong) Mr. T. L. Brown; reading, from Rory O'More, Mr J. B. Patterson ; song ; Lo, the Gladsome Day is Breaking, Miss.C. Williams ; recitation, Brutus' Address to Romans, Mr J. Lamb ; duet, (flutes), Messrs King and Blyth ; reading, from Noctes Ambrosiana, Mr R. Mitchell ; song,
Gentle Annie, Mrs Salmon ; reading, The Bloomsbury Christening, Mr Sparks; glee, See Our Oars, Miss Williams, Mr Salmon, and P. S. Hunter; reading, Death of Montroso; Mr Dolphin ; duet (flutes), Messrs King and Blyth ; reading, from Orpheus Kerr's Papers, Mr Patterson; song, Ring the Bell, Watchman, Miss C.
Williams; reading. King O'Toole, Mr Fleming, song, Little-Nell, Mrs Salmon.
Of special interest here is the information about the singing of "Ring the Bell Watchman" by Mr J. B. Patterson. Searches of Australian Newspaper via TROVE show the American civil war song composed by the prolific Henry Clay Work became very popular in Australia with over 700 separate mentions. The tune was to become the setting for a number of new Australian songs including the most famous shearers' song "Click Go the Shears." "Ring the Bell Watchman" was a tune well known by many of the bush singers whose repertory was collected by folklorists of the folk song revival.
Notes
From the Victorian newspaper The Mount Alexander Mail 4 May 1869 p. 2.