Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-12-14
SONGS OF THE HOUR.
The Latest and Freshest Ballads
 Now Being Sung.
History of "where Did You Get That Hat?" and How 1t Came to Be Written Estimated Sales of
 Recent Famous Ditties.
COPYRIGHT 1889.

Written Estimated Sales of Recent Famous Ditties. COPYRIGHT 1889.
 The man who perpe trated that musical atrocity, Where Did You Get That Hat?" has been discovered. His name l is Joe Sullivan. He is an actor. This 1 is the only thing ho ever wrote. At the present time he is playing with tray 1 cling theatrical company in a distant 1 part of the country, and is recognized as a 1 comedian of no mean ability. Frank l Harding, the New York music publisher, l tells the story of how and where the ] author obtained his inspiration. Tom O'Driscoll, the harum -scarum 1 grandson of old Murtagh O'Driscoll, of l Cobbynau!. in the County of Roscom- l mon, Ireland, was famous for his per 1 sonal peculiarities. One of these was an aversion to wearing 'caubeen.' It 1 was Toms delight to wander through l the country barehcaded and barefooted. | The fact that he wore no shoes excited 1 no comment, but his refusal to wear a hat was matter of distress to his | family. The fact is that Tom did not l really need hat, for he had been pro- 1 vided by nature with shock of luxuri l ant red hair. Ne was known for miles l around as the redheaded man, and his adornment brought down upon Tom the anger of his grandfather, Murtagh. Just before his death old Muruagh conceived an idea which he was almost certain would bring his erring grand son to his 'sivin shmall sinses, and few days afterwards he died. 1 Tom refused to wear hat, even at the funeral On tho return of the family from the churchyard, the will was opened and read by Father O'Hoolahan, that Tom inherited everything, includ- ing the big stocking of ''goold" thatcould be found "bechune the tick and the boulster in the ould ur-posther,' on condition that for the remainder of his natural life, he should wear his grand fathers hat on all occasions, in the open air.
 This was regarded as a very hard condition by Tom, but, possessing his share of good common sense, he ac cepted the inevitable, and presented himself on tho following Sunday at church, wearing old Murtagh's hat. His appearance was ludicrouS in the eX
 treme. Having neglected to get his hair cut, the hat was perched on the top of his remarkable crop of bushy and fiery hair, and tho roars of laughter 1 with which he was saluted made Tom almost wish he had not accepted tho onerous condition of his grandfather's will. From all sides came 1ibes and cries of derision, the principal saluta | tion being: 'Mother O Moses Where Did You Get That Hat? ?'
 During recent trip in Ireland, MT. Sullivan heard the story as related above, and, after 8 good deal of hard thinking, he produced the song, the title of which has since become a household word throughout the country. An eX- ccllent. yet simple piano arrangement
 was made for it by William Lorraine, amere lad of l6, which materially aided it's impetus to popularity. By the way, Lorraine is recognized among musicians IEcnerally, as one of the most efficient arrangers of comic and sentimental music in this country. This song is an illustration of what q single phrase
 will do ln popularizing ditty. There is of course nothing of a decided liter ary merit to commend it. It does not even possess the distinction of good rhyme. But it has an original jingle of melody and an easy arrangement that goes far in making it ''go' with the public. Tho following is a sample
 verse;
 Now, how I came to get this hat 'tis very strange and funny; Grandfather died and left to me his property and money,
 And when the will it was read out, they told | straight and flat,
 If would have his money, must always wear
 his hat.
 CHORUS.
 Who're did you get that hat? Where did you get that tile?
 Isn't it a hobby one, and just the proper style
 should like to have one just the same that,
 Where e'er go, they shout hello! where did
 you get that hat?
 This song sprung immediately into popularity. Two hundred thousand ! copies ot it have already been sold, and 7 tho demand is still unabated. The
 credit of popularizing it has been claimed by many variety singers, but tad pr's fa1, Ia , senator has undoubtedly done more to bring it to public attention that any F one professional vocalist. Mills's makeup
 in singing tho ditty is very funny. He : appears attired as dusky maiden,
 wearing a Gainsborough hat of enor- nous proportions, decked with Jack a roses two feet i'll circum ference.
 As is usually the case with all popular E. songs, "Where Did You Get That Hat?" t has been Paraphrased by numerous bur ] llesques and parodies. The latest of Q these is Willie Wildwave's "Where Did
 You Get That Face?" the chorus of T which is as follows:
 Where did you get that face7 where did you get that mug?
 . Isn't it a handsome one, woll put it in the jug. d would like to have one for a six-day raee r When go out they're sure to shout Where
 did you get that face?
 g Within the past six months a number
 
 8 celebrity which had, prior to that time.
 grown dusty in the obscurity of the , publishers shelves. The chief reason n for this desuetude is that there are
 very few travelling theatrical companies
 on the road during the summer season, |, and, as these companies are the chief l. factors ill the introduction of new songs, d many now favorite ditties had not been n brought to public notice.
 n Among these might be mentioned
 Mullaly's pretty song, ''Mottoes on the 't Wall;" Klenk's, Only a Pictures"
 Mitchells, Where Can the Wanderer e Be ?" and c. A. Whites tender remanza, r. "Marguerite." White seems to be the t most prolific of American composers in y the sentimental vein. With the eXcep- y ton, perhaps, of Will s. Hays, he is d also the oldest native song writer. MT. o White is resident of Boston, and they y say he has amassed nearly half mil e lion of dollars through the sale of his 4r songs. He writes both words and 70 music of all his compositions. and in l. this respect he differs from many other