'THE LONELY ROAD'
SWEET SINGER GOES TO REST
Many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people would need only to hear the haunting refrain of the song entitled ‘The Lonely Road’ in order to be vividly reminded of the stall in the Australian Court at the Big Exhibition, from which that song was sung and sold. A great many of them, too, will remember one of the singers in particular — a dark complexioned, comely young lady, obviously possessing personality, whose strong, but sweet, voice imparted such appealing emphasis to the sentiment of the refrain:
The road seems long and lonely, When your luck’s all upside down.
You don’t meet smiling faces, Only just a gloomy frown.
But when your star is rising, Friends are not so hard to find;
But you always leave the best ones, On the lonely road behind.
The many friends and acquaintances whom this young singer made knew her as Nellie Dempster, a frank, goodhearted Englishwoman, who had come to New Zealand with the party of demonstrators sent by the firm concerned in the sale of the songs, and who, looking the picture of health, enjoyed life as honest, healthy young people do enjoy it.
Alas, just before the Exhibition closed, she was taken with a strange illness, an illness which was not at first considered at all serious, but which unfortunately developed in seriousness until, after a ten weeks’ plucky and exhausting fight in the Stafford Hospital, death claimed her. Only thirty years of age, and with so much of life before her, the stricken songster quietly took the lonely road just as the sun was breaking through the clouds early on Saturday afternoon last.
In the words of the song which she had so often sung, her "luck was all upside down” when it decreed that she should die in a far country, away from her own folk, and in the prime of life; and there were doubtless times when the road seemed long and lonely. But in the period of her illness she was to find that the “gloomy frown” was not to be her portion — that it was not only when “your star is rising” that friends are made and kept. A few kind hearts gathered around her in her need, and willing hands did all they possibly could to alleviate her pain and distress. And these folk, while glad to have made her last days as happy as was possible in the circumstances, are sad to have to realise that, willing and anxious ns they were, neither heart nor hand could keep back the inevitable. To-day some of those friends followed the remains of the dead singer to its last resting place in the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery, and, as they visualised the grief-stricken parents away in the Old Country just in receipt of the sad news, the words of another refrain which this girl had helped to make popular in those carefree Exhibition days came to mind:
True heart, don’t sigh, though I am far away;
After the night must come the happy day.
Dream on your dreams, and wait a little while;
Your tearful eyes will learn again to smile. -Evening Star, 12/7/1926.
IN MEMORIAM.
DEMPSTER. — In memory of Nellie Dempster, the Exhibition singer, who passed away July 10, 1926.
Neath hallowed ground, where sighs the deep,
And mourning footsteps fall, Her dear form lies in dreamless sleep, Unmindful of it all.
But yet her soul, to loved ones drawn, Comes down the mystic trail,
Till God bids their souls view the dawn, Of life beyond the veil. -Evening Star, 11/7/1927.
Voices From “Other World" Cause Amazement at Seance.
“ BLUE ROOM ” INVESTIGATORS DEMONSTRATE TO AUDIENCE IN TRADES HALL. (abridged)
(Written for the “Star.”) Some Christchurch folk are aware of the controversy which raged a few months ago concerning the claims of Mr Clive Chapman and Miss Pearl Judd, his medium, that communication by direct voice could be held with the "other world.” Mr Chapman and a few friends, who have achieved some fame in the south as “The Blue Room Party," recently commenced a tour of the Dominion, giving public demonstrations. That last evening was the first in Christchurch. There were few people in the brightly lit dance hall, across which the voices sounded clearly. Miss Judd, a girl, niece of Mr Chapman, sat on the platform in full view of all, and took no active part in the demonstration, to which, however, her presence is essential. The only means employed were a piano, played by Mr Chapman and Miss Betty Read, and the singing of Miss Read.
A Contralto Joined In.
A wonderful change began when Miss Read started to sing “Somewhere a Voice is Calling,” the tenor harmonising loudly in a voice the tones of which were not quite human, but sounded rather like the reeds of a very mellow organ. On the final notes a clear contralto joined in, which was heard right through Mr Chapman's playing “Sister, My Little Sister.” At one time the tenor voice and others came through, making faint, rich harmony as of a small choir.
“Sing.”
Miss Read again played (“Thrush at Eve”), the contralto following the notes of the piano. Suddenly a deep voice called “Sing,” and as soon as Miss Read did so it commenced to harmonise loudly. “All set, Charlie?” inquired Mr Chapman. The voice replied immediately, and, long after Miss Read had ceased singing, it was clearly heard holding on to the final note till. the end of the accompaniment.
“Charlie ” is Mr C. Brown, once a friend of Mr Chapman “on this side.”
A Violin.
Perhaps the most unexpected manifestation of the night then followed. As Miss Read played “Dream Thoughts” a violin accompaniment began, strengthening towards the end, when a voice said “Thank you.”
A Child’s Voice.
When Mr Chapman had played a few bars of “Just a Cottage Small,” a childish voice, thin but clear, took up the air. giving place later to a reedy whistling. This was “Betty,” a little girl who has “passed over” — the merriest spirit with whom contact was made. As the evening drew on the voices became stronger and more distinct, while at times two at least were heard harmonising with surpassing sweetness, their tones having a mellow quality and timbre far superior to the average human.
Nellie Dempster’s Voice.
Mr Chapman afterwards explained that the contralto voice was that of Nellie Dempster, who died suddenly a short time ago, after making herself famous as a performer at the Dunedin Exhibition. Her favourite song is still “ Dear Little Eyes.” The demonstrations, it is said, are entirely under the control of the spirits, though they will speak only in the presence or Miss Judd, through whom they also write messages. They are very cautious of how they communicate with those on “ this side.* Mr Chapman’s party will be in Christchurch for some time. -Star, 18/11/1927.
IN MEMORIAM.
DEMPSTER. — In loving memory of dear Nell, the Exhibition singer, who died at Dunedin on 10th July, 1926. “To memory ever dear."
— Inserted by L.L. and M.W.
DEMPSTER. — In remembrance of Nellie Dempster, the sweet Exhibition singer, who passed to her eternal rest in Dunedin July 10th, 1926.
Though a rose be dead, yet its petals shed,
a haunting perfume still,
And a soul now fled from the form it wed
Hearts with memories fill.
While the days of song to each bygone throng
Fond thoughts of Nellie bring:
Now the soul so strong, when earth's plans went wrong,
Does to the angels sing.
— J.E. -Evening Star, 10/7/1928.
IN MEMORIAM
DEMPSTER. — In memory of Nellie Dempster, the sweet Exhibition singer, who died at Dunedin on 10th July, 1926; aged 30 years.
THE LONELY ROAD.
The road seems long and lonely, When your luck’s all upside down.
You don’t meet smiling faces. Only just a gloomy frown;
But when your star is rising, Friends are not so hard to find;
But you always leave the best ones, On the lonely road behind.
DEMPSTER. — In loving memory of Nellie Dempster (of London), the sweet Exhibition singer, who died at Dunedin on 10th July. 1926.
Could the loved ones only harken, To the songs the angels hear,
Could they only feel the presence, When her spirit form is near.
Ne’er would shadows round them darken Now the days seem long and drear,
'Midst the soft prevailing essence, Of her gentle spirit’s cheer. -Otago Witness, 17/7/1928.
Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.
