Fort Worth Daily Gazette

Patti's Favorite Song.
Queer History of "Maggie Judah."
Boston Herald.

The following narrative, with reference to 'Maggie Judah,' is said to be quite true. There lived in the year 1860 in Spanish Town, Jamaica, West Indies, a colored woman named 'Maggie Judah.' She was what is called a Jew bastard—that is, a cross between a Jew and a brown woman. She was then about thirty-five years old, rather stout, with good Jewish features. She sold ginger beer and cakes; she was evidently not a 'Cæsar's wife.' A song, of which the edition in the Pall Mall Budget of March 7, 1889, is a refined parody, was made in her honor, the music being the same. About that time lived a clever black boy, Alexander Archpole by name (a gentleman's groom), who, among other accomplishments, had a very good voice. One evening Mr. Alexander Archpole went to Maggie Judah's cake stall and, in the presence of an admiring audience in a loud voice serenaded the said lady by singing "Maggie Judah."

Miss Judah, not at all complimented, took legal proceedings against Mr. Archpole, and the case was tried in the police court before Hon. Richard Hill, since dead (the well known naturalist and friend of the late Mr. P. Gosse). Archpole's defense was that the song was a popular one, which was commonly sung about the streets. Miss Judah's lawyer, however, was not to be humbugged. He contended that the song was not a decent one, and that it referred to Maggie Judah in a way derogatory to her character. The magistrate thereupon requested Mr. Archpole to sing the song for his guidance. Mr. Archpole then went up to the witness box, and in a clear, musical voice sang "Maggie Judah."

Of course the whole court-house was convulsed, and it was some time before order was restored. This, however, did not help Mr. Archpole, who was fined 10s and costs, or twenty days in the district prison. The fine was paid, and Mr. Alexander Archpole lived for several years after, and although he did not again serenade Maggie Judah, he, nevertheless, used to sing the song to his horses while rubbing them down. Maggie Judah has since passed away, but there are many people who still recollect her and the song which caused so much amusement in the Spanish town police court.