The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-02-12
OHIO.

Hacks Correspondence.
There are really only two environs partic-
ular in this life. The first position is to be at
peace with the Greater and all mankind and
the second and equal position is to be an
Ohio man. He is indeed a most fortunate
and blest individual who occupies both posi-
tions. 1t is great to be born in Ohio and to
have been born any where else amounts SIM
ply to circumstance and no more. In art,
in science, in ecclesiastics, in law, in politics,
in the Senate and Cabinet, the Ohio man, is
the central figure. the keystone to the struct
ure and is found looming up head and
shoulders above his fellows. 1t is absolute
ly impossible for anything to be complete
and perfect unless an Ohio man has some
thing to do with it. Ohio is hard prolific
with genius and talent The first step to
greatness is to be an Ohio man, and then all
the remaining steps are easily accomplished.
The rough road to wealth traverses the
State of Ohio and terminates at its borders.
The great secret of success Is conhdentially,
to be an Ohio man. P 5. this secret is
given gratis to the subscribers of the Leader
all others please subscribe at once.) An
Ohio man is born to rule and 60 where he
NAV he is bound to rule. There is no need
for us to mention the names of those Ohio
men whose names are enrolled on the scroll
of fame and honor No we haven't the
space. But all the world knows them by
heart and to repeat them would be mon
strous. There is no distinction on account
of color in this, and an Ohio
man may be great, colored or
white. Oh what extacy. what self
graduation, and what self pride there is in
being able to say: 81 am an Ohio manP
The greatest Roman of them all would turn
green from the envy of an Ohio man. 80
much for Ohio and her men.
eUssIE L. s-cINcINNATI's coLoRED
COMPOSER OF MUSIC.
A few weeks ago in speaking of the Can
tata of Danial. which was rendered so ad-
nirably by the Y. L., and G. S. Society, We
had occasion to speak in general sense of
music among the colored people of Cincin-
natl, and we are again forcibly reminded of
it by the subject of our sketch, Mr.. Gussie
l.. Davis. Several causes make music an
interesting subject to colored people here.
The first is natural and inherent taste for
music, secondly, that music is taught in the
schools in all the grades and lastly, it is a
study IN which persons are examined to OBJ
tain certificate emitting them to teach in
the public schools. MANY of the teachers
have become enthusiasts to degree in mu-
sic. but have satisfied themselves merely
with being able to sing and have a general
knowledge of it and very few have given it
thorough study and mastered it com.
pletely And yet they can not be blamed,
for this reason, that the musical field is rare
to open for a colored musician even tho he
be an Orpheus. And yet Cincinnati is
greatly to be congratulated for the prog
ress in music on the part of the cOlored citi-
zens.
We had the pleasure of making the
acquaintance of Mr.. Gussie l.. Davis, 9
Young colored man, who is achieving 8
great reputation for his musical compost
tions. In appearance and age his is but Q
boy. having been born in this city on NORTH
street. in 1868. His parents were in mod
crate circumstances and were able to place
| Gussie in Court Street School, At the agt
of twelve, Gussie had the misfortune to los,
his mother, and, since then, has been sup
porting himself as best he could. AS an ex
ample of his purpose and desire to acquir
an education, he at one time worked for a
cents week and went to school. In Cour
Street School ne studied and progresse,
quite rapidly, and when he stopped was il
the Sixth Reader, under that we'll known
able and favorite teacher. Mr.. Samuel w
Clark. Mr. Davis speaks glowingly of MI
Clark. and styles him the best teacher h
ever had. In 1876 he went East with
banker of Cincinnattl, and worked with tn
man at Flushing, l.. l. Here, too, he pushe
his studies, working at the Bank during tn
day, and attending night school. Durin
these years taste for music developed i
him, and, without the aid of a teacher, b
devoted himself energeticaly to its mastery
and met with good results. Together wit
his taste for music came the desire to be
comedian, and for furthering and beneftin
himself in this branch, he worked his wa
through the South, taking notes and obsery
ing the colored man rs he actually appear
on the plantation. Having returned
Cincinnati in 1879, he travelled with th
Sprague Party as end man, tambourinist an
comedian. Severing his connectio
, with the Sprague Party, he travelled awhi
with a variety troupe and finally came
Cincinnati to devote his time to the publisl
ing of his songs. Mr.. Davis bears recon
mendations from the prominent stars I
Haverly's troupe and also from Helmick IL
publisher of his songs. As an example
! the high opinion Mr.. Helmick has of M
f Davis, he recently presented Mr.. Dav
with silver tamtorine with his name el
graved on a gold plate. ITO Gussie
Davis, author and comedian" When M
, Davis took his first song The Maple on Il
Hill" to Mr.. Helmick, he paid for its pub
, cation, but now Mr.. Helmck and other pu
fishers are envious to purchase his produ
tions.
"The Naples on the Hill" is partic
larly sweet and Interesting ballad. M
Davis composes both words and music. al
his songs can favorably be compared with
T; p. Danks or Will s. Hays production
= When we consider that this was his fr
n song, we give Mr.. Davis great credit for
9 success. 1t is a sentimental ballad, yet C
a safely be marked superior to many OF
lnsipid and trashy songs that food mu