The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-05-29
popular Music.''

New YORK, April 25.-I have been
talking with some of the music pub
fishers here, with a view to getting
out some of the interesting facts
about the popular" publications Of
the day. No compositions in the
whole range Of music meet with such
financial success as those which ordl-
nary people are accustomed to look
upon as "trash." And, while writ
er of high-toned melodies looks with
contempt upon the composer of
"Don't be angry with me, darling"
the latter is consoled with the rehec-
tion that, even if his work is not as.
thetic, it pays For instance, Will 5.
Hays, of Louisville, we'll known as
an author of popular songs, has made
modest fortune out of q single bal
lad called "Mollie Darling" And
be 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 moment |
think OF rather an odd incident, where
ballad inspired purely by contempt
fo- the meaningless stuff in fashion
was accepted in earnest by the public
and had an enormous sale. The song
l refer 10 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 number Of clev-
er verses, which be carried to bis
publisher. The gentleman, after
g!ancing 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 fo. me. Use them in the
Atlantic, or some other place What
| want i Ist now is something after
this pa ern."
And be read to the astonished writ
er some selections from several OF
the popular ballads. Smith was
disguised.
1T surely can't be possible" said
he, "that the public wants such mis-
erable stuff as this"
at is not only possible, but true. !"
Then | don't wonder that mine is
too good for use. Good day"
And the young composer strobe
half-angrily out of the Office, reflect
ing upon the degeneracy of the pub
lie mind. He was going along one
of the narrow Boston streets, absorb
ed in his thoughts, when be heard q
dirty little urchin yell to his mother,
"Sa-ay, nam! ! Put me in my little
bed I" There was bis subject. And,
going home, filed with determine
tion to write the most uuuttersble
mess of dresriness be could think of,
be composed the song which has
since made him famous His little
joke was we'll received, and its repu-
tation 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 publications of this
kind: "Put me in my little bed, "
by Dexter Smith, 100000; Come,
birdie, come" by the same author,
100. 900; "Mollie Darling" by Will
s. Hays, 10000; "Silver threads
among the gold" by Danks. (who is
very popular) $4,000; Come home,
father" $4,000; "Evangeline," 25,-
600; Tramp, tramp. tramp" lOO,-
900; ."Norah O'Neil," 100000 ;
Sweet Genevieve," 10000. Many
of these still sell readily, and will
doubtless continue to do so for a
number of years. Songs written to
suit the times frequently reach an im-
mense sale, and, as in book publica-
tions, those which appear the weak
est are not infrequehtly the most suc-