144 SUCCESS OP THE SONG. 



by tlie "human yoice diyine/' was drawing vast 

 audiences at Druiy Lane Theatre. On play-hills, in 

 largest type, forming the most attractive morceaux 

 of the bill of fare, this song, varied by others of 

 Dibdin's composing, would be seen ; and when he 

 was first announced to sing it, a few fox-hunting 

 friends of the Squire went to London to hear it. 

 Taking up their positions in the pit, they were all 

 attention as the inimitable singer rolled out, with 

 that full volume of voice which at once delighted and 

 astounded his audience, the verse commencing : — 



"You all knew Tom Moody the whipper-in well." 



But the great singer did not succeed to the satisfac- 

 tion of the small knot of Shropshire fox-hunters in 

 the " tally-ho chorus.'^ Detecting the technical 

 defect which practical experience in the field alone 

 could suppl}^, they jumped upon the stage, and gave 

 the audience a specimen of what Shropshire lungs 

 could do. 



The song soon became popular. It seized at once 

 upon the sporting mind, and upon the mind of the 

 country generally. The London publishers took it 

 up, and gave it with the music, together with wood- 

 cuts and lithograj)hic illustrations, and it soon found 



