The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-05-17
{" Popular =" Music.

New York Correspondence Chicago Tiibune
have been taking with some of the
music publishers here. with a view TO
getting OF sils i.s5-sstisass facts
about the popular" publications of the
day. No compositions in the whole
range of music meet with such financial
success as those which ordinary people are
accustomed to look upon as trash" And,
while writer of high toned melodies
looks with contempt upon the composer
of "D0n't be angry with me, darling"
the latter Is consoied with the reflection
that, even if his work is not esthetic, it
pays. For instance, Will ;. Hays, of
Louisville, well. known as an author of
popular songs, has made a modest for.
tune out of single ballad called ''Mol-
lie darling" And he considers this one
Of the poorest he has ever written. But
it bears the merit of simplicity, and by
far the greatest demand is for songs of
that quality.
The histories of some os these are full
of interest. AT this moment think of
rather an odd incident, where ballad
inspired purely by contempt for the
meaningless stuff in fashion was
accepted in earnest by the
public, and had an enormous sale. The
cong l refer to is Put me in my little
bed" and it isn't long since It was sung
throughout the country by everybody,
from squalling infant to fat and placid
matTon. The author, Dexter Smith, mad
written R number of clever verses which
he carried to his publisher. That gen.
tleman, after glancing them over, handed
them back, with the following doubtful
criticism:
These are very good, Mr.. Smith, too
good, in fact. Yes, they are too good tor
me. Use them in the Atlantic, or some
such place. WHAT / want just now is
something after this pattern"
And he read to the astonished writer
some selections from several popular bal
lads. smith was disgusted.
at surely can't be possible" said he,
that the public wants such miserable
stuff az this"
1t is not only possible, but true
d" Then don't wonder that mine is too
good for your use. Good day."
And The young composer half-angrily
strobe out OF the Office, rejecting upon
the degeneraey of the public mind. De
was going along one of the narrow Bo+
ton streets, bs)rbed in his thoughts,
when he heard 8 dirty little urc!-in yell
to his mother, "Sa-sy, mann Put m'
iu nv little bed" There was MS sub
ject, And, going home, filed with
determination to write the most unut
terable mess OF dreariness he could think
of, he composed the song which has since
made him famous. His little joke was
well received, and It's reputation sPresd
until the sales reached an enormous
figure.
In this connection, let me give you the
number of copies sold OF few of the best
known publications OF this kind: Put
Me in Ny Little P=d," by Dextef Smith
25O, 600, s'CJme, Birdie, Cone," same
author. 100000; "Mollie D4,ling," BY
Will 5. Hays, 10000; "Silver Threads
Among the Gold," by DAnks (~ho
is very popular), 10 900; Come
Home. Father" $4,000; "Evangeline'
25, 900; Tramp, Tramp, Tramp" :" lVV''
600; Norah O'Neil," 100000; "Swee'
Genevieve," 10000 Many of these
still sell steadily, and will doubtless con
tiuue to do so for number OF years
Songs written tosuit the times frequently
reach immense sales, and, as 10 boo1
publications, those which sppear tn'
weakest are not inlrequently the mos
succ sslul. :.
The prevailing style Of musical periodi
Gals in various parts of the country i