The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-10
1.-THE cows ARE IN THE CORN
Fortunate Accident by which Annie
Pixiey Found Song.

Annie oTxtey IN New York World.
Some ten years ago | had made an
engagement to sing in a Sunday-eve-
ming concert at the old Gayety theater,
IN Boston, and | called in at Burton &
Whites music store few days previ-
ously in the hope OF securing new
and attractive song Tor the occasion
Several songs We're played over and
was about leaving when a young man
in the store was introduced to- me who
said that he had just written n song
and he would be very glad indeed If |
would give il trial on the stage. The
young man. / learned afterward, was
brother of the comedian. William II
Crane. and he is certainly a very
clever composer. The song was in
manuscript, but for some reason or
other he did not seem 10 care to have
il played over in the store. and asked
me TO take it 10 my hotel and go over
il alone. did so, aud | was SO much
pleased with the song that | deter
mined To sing 1t ~ the concert have
referred to.
The title OF the song was Polly.
the Cows are in the Corn As say
] was very much taken with the com.
position. bat | am always afraid of
new songs, and when Sunday night
came I determined that l wouldn't
risk anything aud kept the new eitty
for the last. | received three or four
encores for my Old songs. but on my
fifth appearance ] launched into my
latest acquisition. II vas a success
from the start II took the house by
storm. The last verse was redemanded
seven times, ! have sung il eontinu-
ousiy ever since, and 80 far from
growing weary OF il nay audiences
seem disappointed ii | drop it for a
time from my repertoire.
OF course the success which the
song achieved az this concert was in
simultaneously recognized by every
body in Boston who was interested in
song matters, and among others the
employer of the young man who had
composed il. As il happened, the
young man was not present at the
concert, and in consequence when his
employer came in the next morning
he was stlll ignorant of the songs sue
cess. This being the case, the employer
Immediately opened negotiations for
the purchase OF the composition, and
bought il from its owner for very
small sum OF money, transaction
which the Young man of course had
reason 10 regret before the day
was very much Older. The result,
So far as | was concerned, was ex'
ceesiingsy unpleasant. The song, of
course was published Immediately. so
that other singers On the stage could
buy il and sing il and profit by the
success that ! subsequently made with
IT, After thinking the matter over
saw only one way out OF the difficulty,
and that was 20 have the young COM
poser write another song haseu on a
similar idea. bat with different words
and 4 different melody. This he was
fortunately aais 20 do lie wro7e the
song called X ats Come In and Shut
the Gate. which | Immediately sub
st.tuted and which met with 9ai,e as
much success as lis predecessor. This
song was not published and was copy
Fishted In Hty name.
oue evening at the Boston Theater
very amusing incident happened
while was singing the song. The
chorus Of il. | may mention, runs as
follows:
Katy Katy come in and shut that gate.
hats Katy en1ae lns come ia aad shut
Il al gate
The evening refer 10 some ore had
succeeded in smuggling & 2-year-old
infant past the doorkeeper. Ia spite of
the rule which. as is vel known, pre-
vaiis in every theater. Perhaps il
would never have been known had it
not been that as 6welt Oh the name
OF Katy in nv singing. sweet. child
ish voice came 81 me over the f0otlights
answering What" The audience
simply screamed with delight, and
eonla see the nShers rushing hither
and thither trying 10 find the owner
Of the veste. Again called out Katy
ana again the same answer came
trembling hack through the air This
time. hosever, the owner OF the voice
Was maize knowf. Al a man rose in
sse audience with child in his arms
and saasewaa. coafusesily made a bee
lilse Tor th,s dear III | hal had nv
way the child Sta..s-z 7s.zss5s sz.srs 5,osse
cut enloyess .he Si;nseson ina
ugenselv. and - lisl she orchestra
lsaGer, who ieamef over the feotiightS
aad wanted IA know How suslCh 10
yen paS that child =
0ae ~ the most s1seesSfil SangS
have S8gsS j ssse iTiaking song from
@tssrofie Sirossa. beginning sec how
Is sp1rsGes~" { asess = Siss-g1ass gar-
in@ the soBss 81 g5Te character 10 H.
sgc AZ the sgisi - tie verse. ard when
tae verbs bright. parking wine
came ~. raised tas glass ~ nay lips
ana ey a trick ~ the s.sEce inn ssess The
sesan1 ~ habhllae liquor The iyuiE&
sioas believe, more slaa ANYTHING
else saale ksae singing Of the sSsEs a hsl.