The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-04-26
THE OLD BALLAD SINGER.
The Songs That gofsen the Meart-.-
Babies. Lovers and Touching SEN
timenfA

[Cincinnsti Times Star.
The other day met an old ballad
singer who was still devoted to his pro-
fession, though he had followed it for
years without achieving much more
wealth than was required for the days
sustenance. I observed that music OF
the simpler kind Was not smuch APP
preciated now as In years gone by when
the custom Of the people was plainer,
and their knowledge e music less cul-
tiyated. The man is NOW scene shifter
ct one of our theatres.
"Music ie the only thing you can
ketch mob with, said the old singer,
as be planted his patent feathers on a
box, and shifted the position Of his
Henry CLAY cigar. So 80
what kind of music? ?" asked by
stander.
4Why, ballads, Of course" replied
the man of song. You don't suppose
you're a-goin' to soften anybody's heart
with opperer, do you? I'd have been
fred through drug store winder wunst
il it wasn't that I was able to sing"
What did you sing 2"
"The most beautiful of all songs:
Don't Tread on Man When Hes
Down Here's verse OF it:
Don't tread on man when he's down..
For the world looks black enough then,
Just give him smile-not a frown-
And let him begin life again.
@Now, there's sentiment in that, and
il stopped the fight right off.
aWhat songs are most popular?'
"Well, that's hard to say. Some
likes one thing and some likes another.
Mothers always like this:
al wish was baby.
a darling little flower,
I'd smile at winter snowdakes
And laugh at summer shower
"The words is simple, and it amt
hard to wrestle with the tune; but it's
very touchin', very touchin'. It's so
true to life, you know, and that's what
tn people wants. But that sort of
thing is all right enough for flyer.
It wont do to give it to 'em all the time.
you know. Some people don't know
nothin' about babies, and you've got to
give them plenty of love. I never saw
the man yet you couldn't get the upper
hand of with q good love song, AMI as
for the girls, you can't give 'em enough.
It's human nature, you know, for
they've all been there, and them as
hasn't is willin' to be. Here's da1dy.
always got to sing it twice"
The old ballad singer threw out his
chest, and, in voice that had evil
IDENTIFY seen better days, piped the fol-
lowing:
@You call me sweet and tender names,
| And softly smooth my tresses,
| And all the while my haprv heart
Beats time to your caresses
You love men in your tender way,
answer as you let me,
| But ahl there comes another day,
| The day when youn forget me-
| "pve seen tn handkerchiefs come
out every time ever sung that song" !"
said the old balladist, as he wiped a
silent tear from the corner of his eye.
| 3Its saddenin', very saddenin', to
think of them old songs. Here's an
| other:
"Iittle sweetheart, come and kiss me
| just opce mere before go;
Toll me truly that You miss me
| As wander to and fro'
"That there, you see, is sort of a
descriptive song. First he wants his
| girl to kiss him, and then, when he
| wanders to and fro, he wants her to
| miss him."
"But why does he wander to and
| fro?" asked the scene shifter.
why, that's a poetic license, of
course, growled the old balladist.
aYou want the man to stand there q
kissin' and slobberin' all the time, do
| you? Hes got to go away som'ers and
wander. Folks like the idea of lovers
separatin' and comm together again.
Il works on the feelin's sorter. I tell
you parli, If man can sing good
song he1l get through the world and
land on his feet on the other side.
Bein' president of the United States
sin't nethin' to it."