Final answer:
The birthday mentioned in the first few pages of the chapter is Washington's Birthday, commemorating George Washington, not a singer. The character McTeague sings a sad song during his morning routine on this day, and the song reflects his feelings of loneliness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage you've referred to comes from the beginning of Chapter 5 in the novel where it is mentioned that it is Washington's Birthday. The birthday being referred to is not that of a singer, but rather a commemoration of the birth of George Washington, the first President of the United States. The character McTeague is described as rising early on this day and performing his morning routine, which includes singing a sorrowful song while shaving.
McTeague is a character often placed in stark, isolating circumstances, as indicated by the lyrics of his song, which reveal themes of loneliness and yearning. The song, "No one to love, none to caress, Left all alone in this world's wilderness," deeply reflects McTeague's emotional state and sets a tone for his experiences within the narrative.
The reference to Washington's Birthday serves to place the events of the novel within a historical context, perhaps offering a juxtaposition between McTeague's personal, solitary struggle and the wider celebration of a national figure associated with unity and leadership.