The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1879-04-11


strel troupe passed through his nativ
town, Pittsburg, Pa, and he chAnced to b
present at one of their performances, b
sought, through them, to have one of hi
own songs brought before the public. sOh
Susanna J" was submitted by him, accepte'
and sung. and shortly afterwards was pub
lished by Peters of Cincinnati, meeting
with decided success, his remuneration
being twenty five copies, or thereabouts, o
the song. This was in the year 1842. whel
Stephen, who was born on Independents,
Day, 1926, was a mere boy Of sixteen. II
the same year, "Opeu the Lattice, Love, .
serenade, was published by Ges. Willil
OF Baltimore, and ssUncle Ned" by the
publisher of his first song, both becoming
rapidly popular.
He saw and felt that he was appreciated
and needed no other Indictment to exer.
:ion. Song after song be taught the peo.
pie, each new one to be loved by them only
better than the first, for he had acquired
the secret Of translating the thoughts, feel
ings and sympathies Of every day life into
melody.
Whenever an opportunity offered itself
he would visit Methodist camp-meetings,
both white and black, listening to their
weird chants as he loved to do. would
gather many an idea for his folk-songs
and in thi; fact, perhaps, lies the secret of
his wordelfal success in writing negro
melodies. One song of Fosters in particu-
lar sprang from this sourne-'s Hard times
come again no more" And might men,
ton here that on more than one occasion in
that old grocery have heard him sing that
old "song Of the weary" in pathos.
II was sad to think that one who was for
ever singing Of home and loved ones should
should have no dearer place than this that
he might call home, and no fond friend to
comfort him yet here be was, in the great,
cold city, in that sense alone, and writing
ever Of "love, love, and only love-"
Ii is unnecessary 70 give list Of all of
Fosters songs, they are so numerous and
wellknown; but the table of sales of but
half dozen Of them, taken from an old
catalogue OF the publication Of Firth, Pond
s. Co., issued over 90 years ago. will give
some faint idea of their wonderful popu-
larity:
sold Folks at Home," 200 600; "My
Old Kentucky Home," 10000 "Massa's
iu de Cold, Cold Ground" 75, 5000; sold
Dog Tray" (six months) $4,000; "Willie,
We Have Missed You." 125.000 Ellen
Bayne." 125,Coo.
10 "Old Felks at Home" Foster hoped
and even expected to rival "Home, Sweet
Home," which he always considered was
written contrary to the rules Of pure melo-
dy. He could never account for its popu-
larity and the enthusiasm and emotion with
which it was received on every occasion.
Perhaps, had he not ma le the words of this
song local, by the mention of the Suwanee
river, there might have been a chance of its
equaliug, or at least approaching, the song
Il was intended to eclipse, for il is a simple,
touching and beautiful composition. But
few have dared to follow where Foster
faiied, and " Home, Sweet Home" sill
stands secure, the home song Of the world.
To lock ng over the titles of his pieces, it
is curious aud pleasant to notice how often
the name Of "Je my" octu.s As many
as ten are woven about that loved name
of his wife. She was the daughter of the
late DR.. Mcdowell O. Pittsburg, "Little
Jennie Dow" as she was called in one of
his songs. He not only sang bis wife's
praises, but always spoke of her in the
fondest terms. He used to say that she it
was who, then bright-eyed, merry little
girl, first inspired his sonl with song, and
made him long to attune it to the music of
her voice. ''Jenny's Coming DER the
Green," recalling the time when be waited
for her coming, was always great favorite
with him, and when a.k:d to sing, if he
yielded at all, which was rarely, that was
most likely to be his choice. His voice was
then of small compass and little power, yet
he Gang so tenderly and earnestly that the
effort was always pleasing. a
"Old Folks at Home" the best selling
song he ever composed, in fact the most
profitable piece Of music published in this
country prior to the rebellion, was in the
tenth edition accredited to e. P. Christy,
of minstrel notoriety. For this privilegs
he is said to have paid Foster considera-
BILE sum.
Foster was poet % his songs attest,
the words of nearly every one of his songs
being Of hls own composition, and many of
them are beautiful, though simple. "My
Old Kentucky Home. Good Night" was
thought worthy Of place in Bryant's "Li-
brary Of Poetry and Song" bat Foster re-
csives DO credit, thought it was undoubted-
ly written by hun.
The accident, s,vere fall. which termi-
mated Fosters life, occurred at the Ameri-
can House, in the Bowery, on the morning
of the 10th Of January, 1884. He was inn
mediately carried to Bellevue Aospital,
where be fingered but three days. In his
waking houfs he was scarcely ever uncon-
scioue of what was passing about him, but
often conversed easily and his customary
topics. He laid out his plans for the future,
for he seemed to have no idea tina, death
was q, the door. Cn the morning Of the
18Th AN attendant came to d. .ss his wounds,
and in answer to some objections, said he
would be careful not to hurt him. "Oh,
wait till to-moritw whispered Foster.
These were bis last words. A gasp follow
ed, his head fell eek, and be sank dead in
his attendants arms. At Pittsburg, his
native city, interesting and imposing cere-
monies wele held il his honor. A large
concourse of people. eager to do homage to
tha usenoorv of their c;ftad townsman. at