The Press., 1889-01-24
OLD TIME SONGS.

day recall How many of the old melo- dies that thrilled them in the days of their hot youth have found an abiding place in their memory? The evolution of the pop ular song presents striking illustration of the survival of the unfttest.
 The great sentimental success of the ante-war period was undoubtedly Ben Bolt" The untimely death of something lovable and beautiful was the usual theme of the sentimental song of that period, though it varied occasionally in order to picture the heart. havoc caused by the sep aration, of slave-lovers. "Ben Bolt" was a splendid illustration of the prevailing theme. It was hummed, whistled, sung and played ou musical instruments for more than decade. It was immensely popular with. the young ladies, many of whom are now grandmothers. Sweet lsAlice" was shrined in every sentimental fe- males heart, and the question of the day was:
 Don't you remember sweet Alice, Ben Bolt,
 Sweet Alice, with hair 80 brown? She wept with delight when you gave her a
 smile,
 And trembled 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 minstrels. These were Nellie Gray" and 70, Susannah p both depicting the sufferings of slave-lovers. "Nellie Gray" swept the country like a cyclone : My charming Nellie Gray, They have taken you away,
 And I'll never see my darling any more, was heard on every side and voiced by every tongue.
 70, Susannah ]" was built more in the comic way, and the request "Don't you cry for me" was based on the consol- ing fact that "I'm going to Alabama with the banjo on my knee."
 UNCLE NED's ORIGIN
 The pessimistic strain in which the fate ofa certain ''old nigger, popularly known known before "Nellie Gray" or "Susan- nah" appeared. Dan Emmitt's "Dixie" and Fosters ''Swanee River" have proven the most prominent of the ante-war melo- dies A sentimental ballad called ''Lorena' was a great favorite in the eos, and for thirty years previous the appearance and philosophy of "Oid Resin the Beau was known to every one.
 A state of warfare has always proved conducive to song. The fourishing con- dition of minstrelsy in ages past was due largely to the warlike and adventurous spirit of the times. During the civil war both sides were prolific in song making. The south made the first great hit with Randall's Maryland. My Maryland " ''The Bonnie Blue Flag" was the south ern national air, and was to the boys in gray what "Yankee Doodle was to the boys in blue. The southern women ar- dently took it up, and through every city rang the chorus
 Hurrah! Hurrah! for southern rights of war, Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a
 single star.
 Of the sentim antal songs of the war pc. riod the most popular were "Fairy Bell, ' 'sAnnie of the Dell," ''Just Before the Battle, Mother" /" 'Toll the Bell for Love ly Nell" and ''When This Cruel War if Over" In the north, "Wait for the Wag on'' and ''Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching" had great success during the same period, and the others that ran riot through camp and fireside were s'Mary Blanc, ""Old Cabin Home, "Fair, Fair, with Golden Hair," and "Daisy Dean." Who has forgootter ''Daisy Dean" and its wistful chorus?
 None knew thee but to love thee,
 Thou dear one of my heart, ?
 Thy memory is ever fresh and green i; ? The wild flowers may wither
 And fond hearts be broken, : Stil Hove thee, my darling Daisy Dean.
 BROCK ME TO SLEEP, MOTHER.
 A beautiful song, truly pathetic, obtain ed great popularity in both north anG south during the war. This was Florenc Percy's "Rock Me to Sleep, Mother"
 The south produced two war songs tha evince genuine poetic talent, and hay been accorded instituted praise by tn, critics. They are the "Conquered Ban ner' and "All Quiet Along the Potoma' Tonight" the first named by Father Ryal d and the latter by Lamar Fontaine. On d of the most pathetic poems that appeare during the war was Somebody s Darling It ran like this:
 Into the ward of the whitewashed halls, Where the dead and the dying lay, Wounded by bayonets, shells and balls, Somebody's darling was borne one day, Somebody's darling so young and brave, Wearing yet on his sweet pale face, Soon to hide in the cold dark grave, The lingering light of his boyhood's grace Matted and damp are the curls of gold, Kissing the snow from that fair young brow Pale are the lips of delicate mould l. OOnl0DOuyS 5 uaEluS IS QylnS now. Back from his beautiful blue-veined brow
 Brush his wandering waves of gold,
 Cross his hands on his bosom now
 Somebody's darling is still and cold.
 Kiss him once for somebody's sake,
 Murmur a prayer soft and low,
 One bright curl from it's fair mates take,
 They were somebody's pride, you know.
 Somebody's hand has rested there;
 Was it mothers soft and white,
 Or have the lips of sister fair
 Been baptized in their waves of light:
 The circus clown was the great promu gator of popular music during and just a
 ter the war. He was then in the flu
 blaze of his glory. Since then the bla,
 has degenerated to spark, and that threatening to go out But twenty year ago he was the biggest attraction in tt
 ring, and his songs sold like shares in
 wild cat miniug scheme. =. THE BIG sUNFLowER.'
 The war songs were succeeded by wh ynioht ha faFTnad tho Rilivanars on;o