The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-27
Sings IN DIMES CHORUS.
Daniel ID. Emmett Talks About His
Career and His Famous Song.

Career and His Famous Song.
Mr. Daniel Decatur Emmett, the veter-
an minstrel and the author of the famous
"Dixie's Land" was greeted with rounds
Of applause when he appeared on the
stage last night with AL. Fields min
strels to join in the chorus Of the song
which has made him famous.
This is Mr.. Emmetts first trip south
since he composed Dixie, in 1859 He was
seen at the Screven house by a repre-
sentative of the Morning News in the
afternoon, and talked interestingly of the
song and of his career as a minstrel ana
otherwise. He was born a Mount Yer
non, o. Oct. %, 1915, and will be 50 years
old next month. Mr. Emmett is consider
ably older in years than he is in appear
ance. He seems younger than so both
In personal appearance and In his ability
20 get around, and he says he has HAD
iun enough for 100, The reason for his
healthful and youthful appearance is the
good care he has always taken of him
4 studied music in my youth" MIR.
Emmett said, when asked about himself
and with the consent of my parents
l didn't run away, thank God-I joined
a circus company and travelled for twen-
ty-two years, during which time | came
south frequently. In 1889 1 found myself
in New York, a member of Bryant's
Ministries, my part being to compose new
negro songs and walk-around when
called upon.
"One Saturday night after performance
jerry Bryant overlook me on my way
home and requested me to make a new
walk around for the boys, one that they
could get hold of easy, and in which they
could Whoop and holler in the chorus
ana bring II to a rehearsal on Monday
morning. The next day being Sunday l
stayed in the house and wrote him Dixie
as i is now sung. l sang it myself every
night, Sundays excepted, from July. 1870
to July, 1865, and was the only man al
lowed to sing 1t north of Mason's and
DNon's line. Dixie was not sung in the
south until about eighteen months after
IL was composed. i sold il to BUCKEYES
Newcombe's, Sam Sharply's MINISTRIES and
other travelling companies, who brought
II down here"
After concluding his engagement in New
FORK Mr.; Emmett went to Chicago, where
ne Joined band and remained until eight
years ago, when he moved to Mount Ver-
non, o., where he has a small farm and
has since lived there. He is now travelling
win AL g. Fields minstrels and will he
WIN MN until the END of the season. He
Is not engaged as performer but merely
accompanies Mr.. Field on his trip rides
IN Inc carriage in the procession and sin &c
m the chorus of Dixie with the troupe
MS costume being plain dress suit.
ec vi EhIiIhelt mas been very much graft
ned py ms reception throughout the south
II mas been all any man could wish ne
salu, everywhere he has been He saws
tne pest class Of minstrel shows are con
slderably dlnerent now from what they
were at the time he wrote Dixie Then
they insisted altogether of negro scenes
songs ana dances, while now all sorts of
muslcal ana acrobatic acts are intrOduca0
Inc Minstrel shows of those DAYS how
ever, Mr. Emmett says. were just as re-
hned as they are to-day, and in one re-
spect that of the true delineation of the
negro character, they were much better
ne says IMAM they are now.