Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-04-28

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VINO WRITRs OUR BONcs.--Some one has said
''Show me the songs ofa people and will tell you
what kind Of people they are" II is trae that
the songs Of a country may serve as pretty faith.
fnl barometer Of that nations characteristics The
Turk sings of dreamy love and Incidence, the
Spaniard Of fierce passion and Intrigue, the French
man ofwar, the Englishman Of home scenes, the
Icelander Of solemn grandeur aud mystery aud 50
on ad iafnitum The songs OF England we know
are written by that beautiful and hearty poet Chas
Aackay and although some OF our people take Of
fence at his structures on American men and man
ners, We can ali acknowledge the power Of his gen
te words in song. But Of the musical composer
who really furnishes the majority Of our songs and
whose productions have the greatest popularity
among the mass Of the people, very little is known
even by reputation. Almost all the new melodies
that appear and are, each in turn, sang, wheeled
and hummed-that are thumped on pianotortos
thummed on baujos, lwanged on guitars, soTty
blown through ilates aud madu 10 issue fro n every
body's mouth aud from every musical instrument
are the productions OF one man. and that man is
Mr.. Stephen G. Foster. This gentleman who thus
plays upon the great organ OF the American peO-
pie, was born at Pittsburgh, July 4th, 1926 and is
consequently thrly.threo years old at this time
His father, Mr. VIM. b Foster has been a Pitts
burgh merchant, member of the State Legisla
ture, Mayor of Allegheny City, and subsequently
occupied official post under the federal govern
ment. His oldest sister is tue wife Of Rev, II, Y
Buchanan, only brother Of the President. Stephen
O. Is the youngest member OF the family. His iirst
published song was "Unce Ned, - which has | c
come so familiar to every boy in the land This
was written when he was nineteen, for a quartettC
club Of which he was member, and being shortly
after sung at Cincinnati at a popular concert. Mr.
VIM c. Peters requested the privilege of publish
ing which was granted, and so began the issue Of
the most popular negro songs in tho country
Susanna" soon followed and for this Mr., Foster
received one hundred dollars in cash from tho pub
Usher, which money had the efioct OF starting hin
in thevOcation Of song writer.
After these came large number Of songs most
| y or all of them adapted 10 negro minstrelsy
among which are "Massas la the cold, cold
ground" "Old Kentucky Home, ,""Hi boys, car
ry me Long "Neuy was Lady" and "Old
Folks at Home, 'all songs with real pathosand pow
or in them which may be looked for In vain in some
more studied and elegantly worded etfuslons. The
melodies of some of these, and especially of "su
sana" has been seized by many pianlsts (Thai-
berg among the number) aud furnished with end
less variations. One of the finest of Hernandez
guitar pieces is "susanna, with variations" Thi
popularity is not confined TO one section or to onl
country. The slaves on the Southern plantations
sing these songs, aud from across the ocean, upon
| the hills OF Ettrick and along the "brats OF va
row." the simple'relrain of these American melo
dies, which are first sung in the dark, sooty tow
Of Pittsburgh, on the Monongahela, rise above tb
smoke and steam Of city life, float away over tn
Atlantic, aud are heard there in the Highlands
dispacing the songs Of Burns and Ramsay
Through newspaper correspondence VIC hear 0
them too among the Ceestials of China, the ne
grOes Of Africa, the dark "younkeis" of the Sand
wieh Islands aud the gold washed hills Of Austria
liza. The Yankee In spreading his trade over al
the civilized world, sends his songs with IL, an
tue Japanese may yet greet United States vessel
with the CHEEKY notes of f"susannah" as they com
to anchor under tho forts whloh protect ther impC
rial Jeddo I.tf .lH.H ...
But Mr. Fosters melodies arc not confined to ne
gro minstresy, for from his pen came the swe,
and pleasant songs "Gentle ANNIE" "willie, v
have missed you" Maggie by my side, "Old Do
Tray "Jennie with the light brown hair" an
many others well known TO song aud story. Ii
these songs, which in their easy flowing melod.
and the avoidance of intricate strains, have grow
to be exceedingly popular, the pnblc owe to NJ
Foster debt of lasting gratitude, and we hopey
to SEQ the issue Of many more Of his pleasant me
odies,