The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-29
u SONGS.
Interesting Story of the Writers by One
who KNOWS Their History

A writer in the Oakland (Cal.) Times
says: 1t is a singular fact. nevertheless
true, that nearly all of our national songs
were written, adapted or put before the
public by actors. [ will endeavor to
give a correct history of our national
songs, according to the best authorities.
Our oldest national melody is "Yankee
Doodle" When Near the close of the
wal of 1875, when LORD CORVALLIS was
at Yorktown, Va, an officer wrote some
verses upon Washington. The miserable
doggercl lines were set to music by the
master of the regimental band of the
Scotch Greys, and the song was given in
derision of the Americans and their
cause.
The first verse ran thus: "Yankee
Doodle came to town upon a little
pony" etc. 1t caused a great deal of
merriment among the British troops. Corn.
wallis laughed at the young buckskin,"
as he called Washington, and was certain
of a very easy victory at that time. But
De Grasse and Rochambeau arrived with
the French army and Washingto i gained
his country's triumph. Among other
spoils of the battlefield the words and
music were gained, and the Americans
now played "YaEkee Doodle" back at
the British. 1t was afterward played in
the theatres in Philadelphia, and so it
has been acknowledged as our own music
ever since.
Next in order is "Hail Columbia"
The song was adapted in measure to the
presidents March," and was written
by Joseph Hopkins, of Philadelphia, in
1898. At that time wal was expected
with France, and a patriotic feeling per-
vaded the community. Mr., Fox,a young
actor and singer, called upon Mr.. Hop
kins n morning and said: "To-mor-
row is appointed for my >beneft at the
theatre, and I fear there will be a slim
house. If you will write me some patri-
otic verse to the tune of the Presidents
March, I feel sure of a full audience"
Mr.. Hopkins retired to his study, wrote
the first verse and chorus, and submitted
it to Mr.. Fox, who sang it to a harpsi-
chord accompaniment. The song was
o finished, and hat night the young
actor received it. The next morning the
placards announced that Mr.. Fox would
sing a new patriotic song. The theatre
was crowded that night. The song was
sung; the auditors yer delighted; eight
times it was called for and repeated.
When the song was sung for the ninthtime,
the audience stood up and joined In the
chorus. Night after night it was re-
ceived with great applause in the
theatre, and in a few days the song was
to be heard in the streets among men
and boys. Such was the origin of Hail
Columbia"
"The Star Spangled Banner" was
written by Francis Key, after the bonn
bardment of Fort McHenry during the
var of 1919. The verses were printed in
~balladsform and were scattered around
the camp On Federal Hill, Baltimore.
One evening one of the mess picked up
a copy and read it aloud to the soldiers.
Once, twice and three times he read it,
until the entire division seemed electrified
by its pathetic eloquence. An idea struck
Ferd Durang, an actor, who hunted UP
an old volume of flute music, which was
in a tent. He impatiently whistled tune
after tune, juSS as they caught his quick
eye. One called "Anacreon in Heaven"
struck his fancy and rivetsdtis attention.
Note after note fell from his lips. With
a leap and a shout he exclaimed: ''Boys,
I'ye hit itw Getting a short furlough,
Ferd and Charles Durang sang it on the
stage of the Holiday Street theatre; soon
after it was caught up on the streets and
by the camp, and when peace was de-
clared the song that had been sung by
the soldiers at their bivouac fire was car
ried home to thousands of tiresides as
the most precious relic of the war.
Then came a song that will never die.
| mean "Home, Sweet Home" The
words of this song were written by John
Howard Payne. He was a New Yorker
by birth, born in 1892. He was d clerk
in a counting-house, but at a very early
age the boys taste and talent for litera-
ture was noticed. In 1909 he appeared
at the Old Park theatre in New York as
Young Norval, in his sixteenth year. He
was very successful, but like many other
%precocious children, when he ceased to
be little he ceased to be great. George
Frederick Cooke advised Payne to go to
England, which he did, where, tor over
twenty years, he remained with varying
fortune, as actor and manager and play
writer. He wrote ''Brutusn for Edmund
Kean. who played it with great success.
of Covent Garden, Payne applied to
Ketnble for aid. He offered several
manuscripts to Kemble for $50. The $50
were for s.Clari; or, the Maid Of Milan.n
Kemble bought them all. Miss Mary
Tree, sister of Ellen, who married Charles
Kean, first sang "Home, Sweet Home"
The drama and song made a great sue
cess. Everybody made money except
Payne, who not only lost the e25 he was
to get for the copyright on he twentieth
night, but was not even complimented
by a copy Of his song. Payne wrote
s'Clari, /" in which the song wa intro
duced, as a drama, but Kemble got
Henry Bishop to alter it into an opera
and put the words to a Sicilian air as it
now stands.
Who is not familiar with "Old Dog
Tray ''The Swaanee River" sMassa's
in de Cold. Cold Groundgo But how
many know anything of the extraordi
nary man who wrote them? He must
have passed unnoticed through the streets
when from every lighted concert-room,
and from every familiar circle, from every
hand organ or roaming ballad singers
lips, were poured forth his irresistible
melodies. He wrote between two and
three hundred songs, and, although they
are not of equal popularity and merit,
yet I have to hear one which is devoid
of meaning in words or beauty in air.
Stephen G. Foster was the composer of
the songs | mention. He was born in