The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1888-07-08
STORIES OF SONG.
"reminiscences of Old and FaYorite Mel
odies.

odleS.
'sThe Suwsnee River' Under Peculiar Cir.
cumstances-''Old Black J0e''-Aransas
Veterans.
"The song that made the greatest and
most lasting impression on me-" said a
delegate from the south to the Demo-
cratic convention, "was one that 1 had
heard often, and had become familiar
with. 1t was not so much the song that
impressed me, but the combination of
circumstances, the time, place and man
ner of its singing. 1t happened this way:
We were down on little semi-tropical
river known as the st. Marks in Florida.
The waters are dark and heavy, and the
stream winds along through an impene-
trable Jungle of palmettoes, live oaks
underbrush that nothing but snakes can
get through. 1t was good while after
shutdown, and we were still far up the
river about two miles from the little
steam launch which we had come up the
coast in. Those on the boat felt little
uneasy at our late return, and decided to
send out some men to call us home. A
heavy sponge-boat was manned with six
stalwart negroes who were instructed to
row up couple of miles and shout for
us. We were pulling leasurely down
stream when we heard the negroes far
away singing as they rowed along.
'Suwanee River was the air, but the way
those negroes sang it l will never forget.
One with shrill, waiting voice carried
the air, while the other five, with voices
ranging down to the deepest bass, would
join in every few seconds with snatches
of the song. We just dropped our oars
and listened until they canght sight of
US, when the singing came to an abrupt
end, and nothing could induce them to
repeat the song"
"oLp BLACK JOE"
When Central Turner Hall was ringing
with German volks lieder and the strains
of Wagnerian marches, when the hochl
hoch! of enthusiasm mingled with the
gush of the frothy beer, band marched
into the hall at the head Of column of
singers playing with all its energy the
ancient negro melody, "Old Black Joe."
"Pse comm" shrilled the oornet, Use
comm crashed the tuba, and then all
is bending low" Back came memories
of the days when Billy Emerson and
"Happy as Big Sunfower" were young;
when there was girl who wore "A Dark
Dress Trimmed With Green; when
Captain Jinks commanded the Horse
Marines, and every one was "Sweet Six
teen."
"What is that song?" asked German
singer of German-American youth in
the hall. For answer the wild youth sang
it, and he had not gotten beyond the
second bar before half the men in the
hall were singing "Old Black Joe."
''ARANsAs BAY"
"a song that is now nearly forgotten,
but which in its day was extremely popu-
lar" said A. G. Whitney, Sis the one
called Arkansas Bay, This song was
written at the outbreak of the Mexican
war and had great run in the army
As one of our vessels, carrying a battai-
ion of infantry, was drawing near the
Texas coast and entering Aransas Bav,
the officers asked the captain wha.r he
would make land. IF this wind holds,
he said, we will be there tonight On
hearing this news the officers prepared
for landing, and great bowl of pinch
was brewed and placed on the cabin
table. Lieutenant Allen of the regular
army was walking the deck, and SAD
denly thought that.the festivities of the
evening would be Increased by an orig
inal song. Taking out his pencil, he
jotted down few verses on the backs of
some envelopes he had in his pocket, went
down to the cabin and, in fine tenor
voice, sang the song. 1t was received
with great applause, spread like wildfire
campfire from the Gulf to the City of
Mexico. can only remember the first
verse, which runs as follows:
Cnn,a ornu,J rnunI hou,I -,
shines bright,
The wild campaigns begun, my boys
4 the wind holds fair we'll be there tonight
And tomorrow well fight if we can, my
boys.
There were some six or eight verses,
all of which were known throughout the
army, and to this day the Mexican vet
Grams love it above all Others"
"IL TRovAToRE."
I'll never forget little thing that oc-
CURED few years ago in Ottawa, Cam
da, where was living ut the time" said
DIR. III. f. James, the veterinary surgeon,
the other day. SIN those days l was
somewhat of singer and had thrilling
barytone voice. One evening l was Mt a
social gathering and by request sang n
little selection from 'Trovatore.' There
was nothing particularly brilliant about
the music, beyond the usual sweetness of
Verdi, and Pm sure my voice was not
more than usually melting on that even
ing, but just as the last words died away
lady who was present fell into Mysteries
and we could not revive her for some
time. l was not over er-complimented, l
can assure you, at the effect of the per-
formance, which, were it not for the
gravity of the cause, might have been
construed into something akin to the
ridiculous. l afterwards learned, how
ever, that the effect was not at all oc-
casioned by any harshness in the song or
the rendition, but that it was due to the
fact that the young lady's husband had,
two years previously, dropped dead of
heart disease in theater just at the
moment the barytone had finished the
air l had sung. She was devotedly in
love with the young man and could never
after hear the music of 'Trovatore' with
out pain. We all felt sorry for her, but
the mischief had been done. l vowed
then never to sing again and I've kept
my oath"
Thomas E. Garrett, who was for years
dramatic editor of the Missouri Repub-
lican, wrote one of the prettiest and
most popular negro melodies ever sung
1t was called "Belle Brandon" and had a
run for years, every negro minstrel in the
country singing it. This was before tho
war, but even to-day the old-timers can
sometimes be heard whistling the air as
they stroll along the street.
"coAL-BLACK ROSE"
"Among the first popular songs l re-