Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-10

COll plSNCu.
Pop AISr" Music.
New York Cor. Chicago Tribuns.l
l have been talking with some of
the music publishers here, with a
view to getting out some of the in
teresting facts about the popular"
publications of the day. No COM
positions in the whole range of
music meet with such financial sue
cess as those which ordinary people
are accustomed to look upon as
"trash." And, while a writer of
high-toned melodies looks with con-
tempt upon the composer of "Don't
be angry with me, darling" the lat
ter is consoled with the reflection
that, even if his work is not es-
thetic, it pays. For instance, Will
S. Hays, of Louisville, well known
as an author of popular songs, has
made modest. fortune out of
single ballad called "Molly Oar.
ling" 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 of these
are full of interest. At this mo-
ment l think of rather an odd in
cident, where a ballad inspired
purely by contempt for the mean
ingless stuff in fashion was accepted
in earnest by the public, and had
an enormous sale. The song | re-
fer to is "Put me in my little bed"
and it isn't long since it was sung
throughout the country by every
body, from squalling infant to fat
and placid matron. The author,
Dexter Smith, had written a num-
Der of clever verses which he car
ried to his publisher. That gentle
man, after glancing them over,
handed them back, with the follow
ing doubtful criticism;
"These are very good, Mr..
Smith-too good, in fact. Yes,
they are too good for me. Use
them in the Atlantic, or some such
place. What l want just now is
something after this pattern .:
And be read to the astonished
writer some selections from several
of the popular ballads. Smith was
disgusted.
at surely can't be possible, ,
said he, "that the public wants
such miserable stuff as this"
1t is not only possible, but true
"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, re-
flecting upon the degeneracy of the
public mind. He was going along
one Of the narrow Boston streets
absorbed in his thoughts, when he
heard a dirty little urchin yell tC
his mother, "Sa-ay, mani Put me
in my little bed p There was
his subject! And, going home
filled with a determination to write
the most unutterable mess of drea
riness he could think of, he com.
posed the song which has since
made him famous. His little JOKE
was well received, and its reputa
ton spread 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 publication
: of this kind: "Put me in Ny Lit
tie Bed," by Dexter Smith, $50,
, 900; "Come, Birdie, Come" samo
author, 100000; "Molhe Darling,
by Will S. Hays, 10000; "Silve
| Threads Among the Gold," b,
Danks (who is very popular)
$4,000: "Come Home, Father,
$4,000; "Eyangeline," $4,000
! TRAMP, Tramp, Tramp" 100000
"Norah O'Neill," 100000; "Swee
( Genenieye," 100000 Many of thes
still sell steadily and will doubtles
continue to do so for number 0
! years. Songs written TO sgit th
! times frequently reach immens
0 sales, and, as in book publications
those which appear the weakest
are not infrequcntly the most sue
cessful.
} The prevailing style of musica
; periodicals in various parts of tn
S country is a good indication Of thi
taste OF the masses. Aside from
D very little gossip and light-waisteC
) literature, their contents aye Eolel,
! made up of reproductions Of "pop
/ ulaF songs of the day." At infre
/ qaent interyals these periodicals g
, 80 far as to print an Operatic Selec