The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-02-01
SOME OLD-T1ME SONGS.
TUNES THAT WERE POPULAR DUR
ING THE WAR AND SINCE.
Sentimental Songs OF the Minstrels
,=-Fayorite war Tunes on Both


How many of the popular songs Of
twenty years ago can the old boys OF
to-day recalll How many of the old
melodies that thrilled them in the days
of their hot youth have found an abiding
place in their memory2 The evolution
of the popular song presents striking
illustration of the survival OF the un-
fittest. The great sentimental success OF
the anti war period was undoubtedly
''Ben Bolt" The untimely death of
something lovable and beautiful was the
unusual theme Of the sentimental song
of that period, though it varied occasion
allHin order 10 picture the heart havoc
caused by the separation of slave-lovers.
'Ben Bolt" was a splendid illustration
of the prevailing theme. 1t was hummed,
whistled, sung and played on musical in
struments for more than decade. 1t
was immensely popular with the young
ladies, many-of whom are now grand
mothers. "Sweet Alice" was shrined in
every sentimental females heart, and
the question of the day was.
Don't you remember sweet Alice Ben Bolt,
Sweet Alice with hair so brownl
She wept with delight when you gave her
smile
And trembled with fear at your frown.
Sharing "Ben Bolts" popularity dur.
ing the same period were two songs
widely sung by Dan Emmett, Dan
Byrant and other minstres. These were
"Nellie Gray" and 80, susannah" both
depicting the sufferings of slave-lovers.
"Nellie Gray swept the country like
cyclone:
Ny charming Nellie Gray,
They have taken you away,
And III never see my darling any more.
was heard on every side and voiced by
every tongue. 30, dear Susannahl'
was built more in the comic way, and
the request, Don't you cry for me, was
based on the consoling fact that ''Im
going to Alabama with the banjo on my
knee" The pessimistic strain in which
the fate of certain 'old Niger" popu-
larly known as "Uncle Ned" was be-
moaned was we'll known before 'Nellie
Gray" or "Susannah" appeared. Dan
Emmett's "Dixie" and Fosters "Swanee
River" have proven the most prominent
of the ante-war melodies A sentimental
ballad called 'Lorena" was great favor
ite in the '60s, and for 30 years previous
the appearance and philosophy of "Old
Rosin the Bow" was known to every one.
A state of warfare has always proved
conductive to song. The fourishing
condition of minstrelsy in ages past was
due largely to the warlike and adventur-
GUS spirit of the times. During
the civil war both sides were prolific in
song making. The South made the first
great hit with Randalls Maryland, My
Maryland" The Bonnie Blue lag
was the Southern national air and was 10
the boys in gray what yankee Doodle"
was TO the boys in blue. The Southern
women ardently took it up, and through
every city rang the chorus:
Hurrah! Hurrah for Southern rights OF war,
| Hurrahl for the Bonnie Blue Flag that
bears the single star
OF the sentimental songs of the war
period the most popular were "Fairy
Bell, "Annie of the Dell, y 'Just Before
the Battle, Mother,n ''Toll the Bell for
Lovely Nell" and "When This Cruel
War is Over In the North. "Wait for
the Wagon" and Tramp, Tramp,
Tramp, the Boys are Marching" had a
/ great success during the same period,
and Others that ran riot through camp
and freside were "Mary Blame ''Old
Cabin Home, - "Fair, Fair with Golden
Hair, and ''Daisy Dean" Who has
forgotten "Daisy Dean and its wistful
| chorus2
None knew thee but TO love thee,
Thou dear one Of my heart,
Thy memory is ever fresh and green
The wild flowers may wither
And fond hearts be broken,
Still love thee, my.daIlilg Daisy Dean
A beautiful song, truly pathetic, o.
tanned great popularity in both North
and South during tine war. THIS was
Florence Percy's 'Rock Me to Sleep,
Mother.n The South produced two war
songs that evince genuine poetic talent,
and have been accorded unstinted prai.e
by the critics. They are the Conquered
Banner" and "All Quiet Along the PO-
tomac Tonight" tie first named by
Father Ryan aud the last by amar Foun.
taine. One of the most pathetic poems
that appeared during the war was
Somebody's Darling. The circus clown
was the great promulgator of popular
music during and Just after the war. lie
was then in the full blaze of his glory,
Since then the blaze has degcneratcd ,o a
spark, and that is threatening TO 20 ont.
But twenty years ago he was the b ggc.t
attraction in the ring, and his songs sold
/ like shares in a wildcat mining scheme.
The war songs were succeeded by whit
might be termed the Bllyemerso ian
epoch. These were the days when the
"Big sunnower" and ". owe Among the
Roses were epidemic. The agile Billy
was-the pioneer Of the gcnteel song and
dance business, and when he sang
feel Just as happy as biz sunfower
That nols and bends 20 the breezes,
And my heart Is as light as the wind that
blows
The leaves from of the trces-es.
ne was pronounced unappFoachable. Of
the same date is that ridiculous compost
tion: captain Jinks of the pore
Marines" w. II. Iingard brought Il
over from London and first sank il ia rs
act Of lightning changes, and while he
maintained intimate relations with
Captain Jinks' he prospered, When
he attempted something higher he = {
into trouble ''Pat Malloy," The
Charming Young Man on the FLYING
Trapeze,n "The Dark Girl Dressed IN
Blue, "The Fellow That Looks Like
Me, " I'm the Bowery," were widely su z
at the time. In the early eos the zig
successes were Little Fraud, - 81 Feed
So Awful jolly When the Band Begins
to Play Champagne Charley" ''l he