San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-11-08
SUCCESS WON BY SONGS.

The success of a song can never
be foretold with any degree Of GER
tainty, and the non-success of a
song writer, both in his art and
finances, is the rule, with few eX-
ceptions. Out Of the great mass OF
songs written but few ever reach
popularity, and the authors OF
these seldom received an adequate
compensation. The exceptions on
ly emphasize the rule. Publishers
and singers more often make money
than do the writers.
Few song writer's are entirely
original, but depend much upon
others, both for suggestions, words
and music. The successful ones
are persons who are quick to see and
appreciate any scene or event
that holds the idea of song. This
fact gives rise to much interesting
history in connection with song
writing. After the idea, the words
and the melody, comes the great
trouble of getting the popular ap-
proval that gains success for the
composition. Here lies the rock,
on which many ambitious authors
are wrecked, and which some pass
only to find empty honors.
Poor "McGinty" came near going
down without notice from the
world, for it's author, Joseph Flynn,
carried 1t about for six months
on an unsuccessful search for a
pu blisher. Even after he started
to sing it the publishers thought
there was nothing in it. Finally
Flynn went to a small Brooklyn
publisher and prevailed on him to
take the composition. The result
was to establish the publisher in a
good business and "McGinty" be-
came the rage.
Mr.. Flynn is now singing on the
New York stage and makes the
hearts of composers ache by paro-
dying their finest productions. He
is careful business man and has
succeeded in saving quite sum
from the results of his labor.
OF the many songs written by
Charles Graham, none ever reached
the widespread popularity Of 1.-TWO
Little Girls in Blue" The catchy
melody became contagious, and
the pathos Of the lines soon found
a firm lodgment in the mind Of the
public.
The writer sold it for a paltry $40,
though afterward the publishers
deposited $500 to the credit of Mr.
Graham as mark Of appreciation
Of what the composers work had
done for them and from a desire to
help the poor author, who was sad
~ in need Of money.
Mr.. Graham's first successful
song was "If the Waters Could
Speak as They Flow" This was
written when he was with the old
California quartette, and, as has
been his fortune, brought him little
more than fame. This was fol-
lowed by "The Picture Turned
Against the Wall" For this he
received 5000 and felt well paid,
though the song was worth a for
tune, for it's success has established
and been the making Of two firms
OF publishers. Mr.. Graham is about
thirty-six years old, lives in Brook
lin and is still doing song work.
One OF the best all round song
writer's in the business is Gussie l..
Davis, and yet ne has nothing to
show for the good work he has
done. Many Of his songs that have
reached great popularity have been
bought for few dollars, and while
publishers and singers have made
money ont of them, he has been
nearly forgotten.
Mr.. Davis is a colored man and
is now with minstrel troupe. He
is ready and versatile com poser
His songs range from touching
pathos to ridiculous humor. He
wrote "The Fatal Wedding" "The
Lighthouse by the Sea-" and Gath,
er of the Little Black Coon" One
of his latest, which is now heard or
hundreds of stages, is the extreme
ly pathetic song Of "Picture S4,'
the music of which he wrote fol
Mr.. Charles B. Ward. He alsC
wrote acct on Your Sneak Shoes
Children," a catchy Ethiopian mel
ody.
Mr.. Davis has the peculiar facul
ty of being able at moment
notice to turn good words and mu
sic from a title that is suggested Z