Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-12-18
SRVEs OF THs MOST NOTED AND HOW
THBY OAMs TO BE WRITTEN
Trivial Things By Which Their Authors We're In
spirsd-alhs Old Oaksn Bucket" "Old Folks
At Homs" and Oihsr Old Songs

ne was n uccI ScAiuos WIN eAC6t0ls
opportunities for self-advancement he
failed TO improve any Of them, and 10
the end OF his days. 10 spite Of his vari-
Gus attempts to found newspapers aud
magazines, he remained tramp prin-
ter" One hot day in the summer Of
1917 he left the Office in New York for
the purpose OF taking some refreshment,
and went across the street into sa-
loon freQuented by his fellow-workmen
and ordered brandy. IL was set out
on the bar and be poured liberal
bumper, slipped it and called to an &C
QuaIntance: There is DO better drink
than this in the world" Yes, there
is" rcjoined the ether. "What is up"
asked Woodwork, "a draught from
the old Oaken bucket tht hung In the
we'll at home" was the reply. Wood
worth made no answer, but swallowed
his brandy and, setting down the glass,
went back to the printing Office and
sat down at a desk reserved for the
use OF the printers. For an hour or
two be was closely employed, and then
calling 70 him the man who had made
the remark. be read to him the now
famous lines.
''OLD FOLKS AT HOME.
A similar trivial incident inspired the
equally famous song, "Old Folks at
Home" Stephen Foster, the author,
was once passing through Kentucky,
and while the stage coach was stopped
st a wayside inn 10 permit the horses 70
be changed Foster stood near, watching
-. = na NJ n
est. The darkies vera slow and lazy
and made no great degree OF haste 10
performing their duty, chattering mean
while in the manner and dialect pecu-
liar to themselves. Finally one,
deploriDg his hard lot, said:
''I wish was back with
the old folks at home" Where was
that?" asked another, and the first re,
Joined: WAY down upon the Suwanee
river" The novelty Of the expressions
caught the quick ear Of the poet He
recognized in them and the theme they
suggested an appropriate subject for 3
song. and that evening when he reached
his destination wrote both words and
music.
A somewhat more unusual incident
originated the famous song, Minute
Gun at Sea-" r. 5. Sharpe, the noted
song writer OF England, who once, dur
ing an exceedingly tempestuous winter,
VisItei some friends a. Brighton. A
severe storm came on one evening dur
ing his stay. and while the entire party
were solacing themselves in the tap
room of the Old Ship, an inn on the
beach at this celebrated watering place,
the dull boom of cannon was heard.
All rushed TO the windows, and by the
flashes Of lightning they could see a
large ship stranded In the OGfinE. Busy
were at once made TO res
Cue the unfortunate sailors, and whils
beats were being launched the regular
boom OF the cannon came across the
waters telling Of their deadly peril.
Sharpe saw 10 the incident an excellent
Subject, and being, for some cause, un-
able to 60 with the rescuinR parties, he
Bat down in the deserted tap room and
wrote the song.
SALLY IN OUR ALLEY"
"Sally In Our Alley,"a song which
has been recelvs d with marked success,
was the work OF the equally brilliant
Ind unfortunate Henry Carey. While
wandering one day In the outskirts Of
london his attention was attracted by
b young workingman and his sweet
heart. The young fellow was evidently
determined 10 make the best Of his
holiday. he took his girl to the
Various sights In the vicinity, treated
her TO a boat ride, then 70 q
kew minutes Of the merry-go-round,
Aiter which he escorted her TO cheap
lunch house and gave her a treat OF
bacon and onions, cake and ale. Dur
ing the whole course Of their outing
they were followed by Carey, who was
pleased with the simplicity Of the court
ship Returning home, when the &C
tiVlty Of the young people proved too
much for his endurance, he wrote the
song, which he shortly aiterWard pub
lished himself, as no publisher could be
induced TO touch 1t.
THE Low-Back Car" was the fruit Of
a little romance OF the author, Samuel
Lover. When young fellow of twenty
four or twenty-five years he casually
met In the house Of an acquaintance
very charming little girl She was the
most perfect little lady he had ever
seen. Quiet, self-posSessed, dignifed,
she was apparently mature beyond her
years. His sympathy was warmly
aroused by her apparent melancholy,
and he imbibed the idea, without ioun-
dation 10 fact, as IL siterward proved.
that she was 3 motherless child. Their
friendly intercourse lasted but = short
time, but quite long enough for the
little girls image 20 be stamped upon
his heart There IL remained, though
for many years be neither saw nor
heard OF his childish acquaintance.
Years later chance drew him 20 the
neigh borhood where be had met her,
and, In passing along a country road,
he deserted in the distance car APP
in which, TO his delight, sat
his friend Of former years. unchanged,
save by the development into woman
hood
BOLD SOCCER BOY"
The "BOld Soger Boy" one Of Lovers
best character songs was the result Of
seeing q young friend, Dennis Blanni-
gan by name, for the first time rugged
out in bis uniform. Dennis had enlist
I'd. and after being received bad donned
his uniform aad spent the last day Of
his liberty in strutting up aud down the
streets OF Dublin, the admired Of all be-
holders. Lover saw him, and amused
at his innocent seli-coneeit, went home
and wrote the song. Dennis was always
known as the BOLD SOger Boy"
or reminiscent military songs the