David Scull Bispham.
David Scull Bispham is another of those wise ones who recognized the call of his career and followed it. Originally intended for a business life, he found that his vocation was on the operatic stage, and in spite of the apparently insurmountable obstacles that intervened, he at length reached the goal of his desires. Mr. Bispham was born in Philadelphia January 5, 1857, and graduated in 1876 from Haverford college, a Quaker institution near Philadelphia. When not very much more than a baby he gave evidence of his musical taste, and when at college his connection with the glee club developed and fostered his gifts. Finally, after some years of experience as an amateur, he became a soloist in Philadelphia churches and in 1884 went to Italy to study and then appeared in concert in London. In 1892 he was intrusted with the rôle of “Tristan” at the Covent Garden Opera House, London, taking the audience of the British metropolis by storm. Since that time he has sung in all the great cities of the continent and of the United States, adding to his laurels meantime both as singer and actor. He is almost unexcelled as an oratorio vocalist, and is an exponent of classical ballads. Mr. Bispham was married in 1895 to Caroline, daughter of the late General Charles S. Russell. He is now the principal baritone of the Covent Garden Opera, London.