The Republican journal., 1888-09-13
Half-F Forgotten Songs.
MELODIES THAT WE'RE POPULAR TWENT'
Il

YEARS Ago.
| How many of the popular songs of twenty
| years ago can the old boys of to-day recall:
| How many Of the old melodies that thrilled
them III the days of their hot youth have found
an abiding place in their memory: The eyolu-
| ton OF the popular song presents striking
| Illustration OF the survival of the untittest
| The great sentimental success of the ante
| war period was undoubtedly Ben Bolt" The
/ untimely death of something lovabe and beau
tifnl was the usual theme of the sentimental
| song of that period. though it varied OCCASION
| ally IN order TO picture the heart havoc caused
| by the separation of slave lovers. ben Bolt
! was splendid illustration of the prevailing
| theme. 1t was hummed, whistled. sung and
| played on musical instruments for more than a
| decade. 1t was immensely popular with the
| young ladies. many Of whom are now grand
| mothers. ''eweet Alice was shrined in every
sentimental females heart. and the question OF
F! the day was:
| Don you rene ember sweet Alice Ben Bolt,
sweet Alice with her hair 50 brown.
she Wept with delight when you gave her a smile,
And trembleo with fear at your frown.
Sharing Ben Bolts" popularity during the
same period were two songs widely sung by
Dan Emmett. Dan Bryant and other ministries.
he>e We're "Nelle Gray" and 80. susannah -
both depicting the sulferings of slave-lovcrs.
Nellie Gray swept the country like acyclone.
Ny charming Nellie Gray,
AI never sffs 'ss sS1 my "haE da'linz any more
Was heard on every side and voiced by e, cry
tongue.
20. dear Susannah." was built more in the
comic way. and the request. Don't you cry
for me-" was based on the consoiing fact that
Il am going to Alabama with the banjo Oh my
knee
The pes>imistic strain in which the fate of a
certain ..oll niggcr." popularity known as
q 4 W. n,lx wall lnn ~
before Nellie Gray or ''Su>annah" appeared.
Dan Emmett's "DiXie" and Fosters "Swanee
River" have proven tie most permanent
Of the aute-ynr melodies A sentimental bal
lad .alIad ornna'. was . nra.t favor;to IN tho
co. ana for tLirtv yenrs ,ious tha .nna.r-
ancc and philosophy Of .GId Ros in the Bow
were known TO every one.
\ state Of warfare has ALWAYS proved con-
,iucive to song. The tlourishin. condition of
lnn>trel,y in a-es past was due largely TO the
warljk, and alven,urou. spirjt of The fines.
Daring the civil war both sides We're prolific in
>ona- making The South made the first ,treat
hit with Ran,IaiI's MARYLAND. Nv MARYLAND. >
Th. Bonnie Blue Fla" was the Southern
National air, and was to the hov, in rray what
.Tankre ;;nn.I,. wa. To the ho,s in lille The
southern women ar,lently took if m. and
through every city ram. the chorus:
| rIurr.f, hrr,ar, far Snuthern ,i,,h,s of v-ar
IIurrah! for Tx. Bonnie Eiue FIan that hears the
single star,
OF the sentimental songs of the war period,
the most popular We're Fairy Bell" annie
of the Den. "Jl'>t Before the Battle, Mother,
r., Oh the iieIl Tor Lovely Nell. ana Nv hen
Els rAel Var Is over: In the North. -" ait
ior the a@on. and Tramp. Tramp. Tramp.
the Boys Are Marching, had great success
during the same period; and me others that ran
Iiot thr"ngh camp and fre>lde We're MARY
iiiahe, "oli CABIN Home. "falr. FAIR, With
,tVi'itn ftalf. anu DAISY Dean. no mas
for oh
None knew thee but to lovo tEee,
Thou dear one OF nly heart,
ily memory Is ever ifeeii ana green
'l M thni hearts nn 'l'h i"Lnm mi.ner
Still love thee my darling naisy Dean
..,
y "'"u'i'H! SUM uIH pa'hetit, obii!nt"
great )3Hti&lltN Ill bulh Norlh ana south our
W. w. ~ tl,' .} "'. nth i,tS wa. 'o'eh'e e'es N''A
~ rt ~ r,,i ,'.n',ioo., .,, , ,,,,,., .;.,.
oo".,; ,,on,,;, , ", . IN,
oornr,,.7j ~ l.r H." ' nri,;"s rho,
~, n ,,ae ns .he =, >i n;
,I,,ta ,rt ,siti,,t ~ ,;i. :, i ' ~ ~
~ I+i, .''r tII ~ ,''i ~ :, I,.,
+.ina = nn,, nf ~. ,nns. ,atha,in ,tna,,. thn,
i,.r y. ''iJ me- P".ne''.
1iinlnl;n,," ~ II ~, ,Ins ""'
''"'.'',7' = al ,''us.
cL ieIc t't ~, 1caa a,ont. nl't. u,t Ky,
,,,Sni,.s .,lin was horna ''aa r, ,is,
som"bodv's ,larlinr, 50 vounr and Iravt
Wearing vet on his sweet, Dale face
| The ling ring light of his boyhood's grace.
The circus clown was the great nromulpator
| Of popular m;,sic during and inst after The war
| He was then in the full blaze of his glory
Since then the blaze has deeenerated TO a shark
and ,hat i, threatrnin@ to 20 ont Rnt twenty
wears ago he was the biggest attraction in the
ring. and bis song sold ike shares in wildcat
mining scheme.
The war songs were succeeded by what migbt
| / +a,,>,. .l.