Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-02-23
Tho sOng-writer Of America.


popular American authors, with the add
tional arguments, in their favor, furnished
by figures representing the currency Of their
works and the remuneration received Dy
them have reserved for special paper
few facts and figures about one writer
whose gcniality and genius are only equalled
by the immense popularity he enjoys
throughout the world, as the American song
writer. OF course, ! refer to Gen. George
i. Morris, of the Home Journal.
As our national song-bird, Morris has dis
tanced all competition No other American
fingers the public's pulse 50 daintiiy u
catches the countrymcn's ear so quickly
His name is among the first learned by the
children lulled to sleep with his songs, and
remains through our lives as familiar to Us
all as are our own names. The secret oil
MOrris's success lies in the fact that song
writing is his spcciay-he has subordnated
all other aspirations to the single and ae"Si-
bic ambition to excel in this particular and
potent department Of literature. 10 write
better songs than any other living man Is,
no doubt, his one idea: and has not contem-
porary history recorded his success: Take
4 few facts into the account. There are
more popular songs by Morris now eztant
than Of any other song-writer living lie
has received large sums tJr these produc-
tons; and their growing popularity i cyl
denced ~ liz supposed receipt 81 one hun
dred dollars from Bonner for each " hi,
contributions to the Ledger For ms song
Origin Of Yankee Doodle he originally
received twenty-five dollars but such had
been It's success iii reaching the national
heart that when its author wished ~ moor
poraJc ii into his book u collected poems,
the publisher of the song demanded fifteen
hundred dollars for the permission. AtWIlI,
who was d shrewd publisher, also offered
one thousand dollars TOR MY Mother B-
bic" after It had been two years before the
public under the imprint "a rlya! house
General Morris has parted with his songs az
prices which seem almost fabulous to those
who have no music in their souls. and are
unmoYed hy concOrds Ol sweet sounds
Fifty. one hundred, and even i've hundred
dollars have been paid t. him for single
compositions, and IUr years almost amy oI
his song, have heen considered cheap i; any
price. They circulate largely uor only il
this country, but many u them have been
translated into other languages, and may he
heard caroled from the heart II Wen II Iips
ot the pretty peasant anu TIE h.gh-bofn
lady Of continental Europe. Of ~ Goldman
Spare that Tree, millions u copies have
been sold, and the song has been prominent
upon the programmes, ~ hidden Is \ ut-oit
II the repertoire u every vocalist II h'IG.
Mallbran. braham' russell S'HeI"'r' MI
bps, Horn Hearman brinpStrr, anu yum"
Bishop, have made MOTIFS song, features
n their musical entertainments h'Il, mere
and u Europe NY Mother bihir,
We were boys ioSc,her. h,'ttla,'
Haste, Near the Lake, "Notlagcr SUI
come, Songs u Home, amt !. catalogue
u Two hundred others ail POPULAR 'Ee UNI
YerSai. baIic haS recently ~ some I"'"l
hye u tncSe sohSN ~ appropriate. N51Ipl'".
mes. or John o'ePheh5oh' ~ henry
bishop' ana many o'ieTS, nave aISo "'Ia'L7
~ sweet melodies winch WIN .'g "o'G''
have become almost ~ universal ~ w.
language of love. Ana, ,oP"P'% "a IhiS IaS'
thought, how many fond but baShiuI lovers
have by the ald " Morris songs, gwen
bold and biissiul utterance 60 their nehrts
MAR or love. what heart so hard lis not ~
capitulatc?
III is also worthy vi remark that Morris
Was the first suug-~rItrr WHO transferred
negro melodies from tie plantation - the
parlor and thus pOpularlzed this now fam