The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1889-03-08
No 13
ORIGIN OF A POPULAR SONG.

ORlUlN Ut A PUPULAh SUNU.
The popular ballad, "Listen to the
Mocking Bird" was first written and
first published in 1855, by Septimus
Winner, of Philadelphia, under the
nome de plume of "Alice Hawthorne,
his mothers maiden name. lt was
suggested incldentlv by listening to
colored man, Dick Milburn, known rs
"Whistling Dick who wandered about
the city whistling in imitation of a
mocking bird. at the same time strum-
ming an accompaniment upon the gul-
tar. Struck by his remarkable per
formance rs a warbler Mr.. Winter said
to him one day, half in jest, "Dick,
I'll writ you a song for your mocklng
bird The compass of the colored
mans voice was hardly an octave, and,
as will be observed, the melody was
made very simple, SO as not to be be-
yond his reach. The words ''Listen to
the Mocking Bird which ran higher,
to be spoken by HIM, not sung, except
where they came within his compass.
followed by the whlstler's marvellous
imitation of the bird.
The man was a very good-natured
fellow, but of so little intellectual ca
pacity that though he came to Mr..
Winters music store night after night
to learn the words of the song, he was
never able to master more than one
verse of it. Such. however, was his
sense of the comic and such his facili-
~ in improvislng lines to the music,
suggesting ridiculous fancies to attract
the crowd, that his "Mocking Bird
soon added greatly to Dicks local rep
utation. The song was published in
ballad form, and at once became very
popular, and such is its hold upon the
public fancy that although it has been
sung and whistled and played the
country over for an average lifetime,
it still retains its place as song of
national reputation.-Phila. Record.
We read and hear a great deal about
the Importance of making homes pleas
and and attractive for the sons, SO that
they may spend their evenings at home
rather than elsewhere. But We do not
hear so much said about the influence
of a pleasant home upon the daughters.
1t may be for the reasons that girls are
naturally more domestic than boys.
and so it is taken fo- granted that no
great exertion is necessary by father
and mother to make the home pleas
ant one for them think the influ
ence of home has just rs much and
perhaps more to do in shaping the fu-
ture of the daughters, rs of the sons,
for it is she who has the more import
ant part to perform in making home for
herself after she has left the parental
roof.
Now there is great difference in the
ideas of what constitutes a pleasant
home. Here, for instance, is young
girl surrounded by all the luxuries and
privileges which money can procure.
She has servants to come and 60 at her
bidding. She has no care put upon
her young shoulders; she is taught to
play, sing, paint and embroider. To
be sure, she does nothing for the
pleasure and happiness of those around
her, but what of that She is accom-
plished, and is that not enough? When
she is of suitable age she makes her
debut in society. Then, of course, her
time is occupied with all the pleasures
which society gives. Thus she grows
into womanhood Is this true woman
hood Is she now prepared to fight
the battles of life and win the victor's
crown? If adversity comes to her, as
it is liable to come to us all, will she
be prepared to meet 1t as she should:
All no. 1t would have been far better
if she had been taught more of self-re-
lance and self-culture.
Put some care upon your daughter.
| 1t will do her no harm. 1t will make
her feel that there is some responsible
ty resting upon her. Teach her that
character is higher than intellect, and
that by practieing little self-denial
once in a while she will not only make
others happy, but will increase her own
happiness, and will become less selfish.
Teach her to work Let me not be un-
derstood as being opposed to the
teaching of the so-called higher accom-
plishments. am not opposed to them,
but do not think they should be taught
to the detriment of the more useful
ones.
Make companion of your daughter.
Teach her to entertain as well as to be
entertained. In this way she will be
made tothink that she is,resAs qf sops'
importance in the the hsuseholsk .svf
! --~-->----- Il So n
/ There are too many stnAeAtss 1Aa
I comply with the E,llA ofsscheofeiHpa
! in. form, but not IN heart: dghet das
!, like the little girl when her ,prothet
struck her. Her mother told her Y
kiss her little brothsr, and heap eosaQ
Of .ire upon his head. The little girl