The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-14
THE ,LAN WHO WROTE DIXIE.
Dan Emmett, the Old Minstrel, Tells
Some Interesting stories.

From the New York Journal.
Mount Vernon, Qhio.-It is probably not
known to many that Dan Emmett. who
was the undoubted originator Of the pres
ent form of minstrelsy, is still living and a
resident of this place. A Journal cores
pondent visited him al his home here to-
day. His recollections of his early life
are very interesting.
He is over 80, but he looks twenty years
younger He is very intelligent, and dur
ing the few hours the Journal cores
pendent spent with him he related the cir
cumstances which led to the establishment
Of negro minstrelsy; also the history of
the song Dixie" of which he is the author
and to which he owes his fame.
Before the appearance of the Virginia
Ministries there were few men who BACKED
their faces and appeared on the stage and
sang and danced to the, old plantation
melody Of Jim Crow" and consequently
they were called Jim Crows" A man
named Rice was the originator of this
style of minstrelsy. a1S5
When Dan Emmett and his three part
ners went into the little hall on the Bow
ery-they had not been known as Ministries
before-they were at loss to know what
to call their entertainments for advertise
ment purposes. Emmett searched the die
tionary and found the word, minstrel"
the definition Of the word being "A vocal
list who accompanies himself on an instru-
ment."
1t fitted their case, and the troupe was
called the Virginia Minstrels- 1t was thus
the first company that ever bore the
name of the Ministries OF its appear
ance, Emmett spoke as follows.
I'm the year 1843 Dick Pelham, Frank
nd
boarding al a little hotel on the Bowery.
All were printers. I played the violin and
banjo, and had Travelled with several cir
cuses as a musician. as had Frank Brow
er, who played the bones. Dick Pelham
had taken part In several amateur per-
formances and played the. tamborine.
Whitelock had never appeared in public
before. aasse
For our own amusement we four play
ed and rehearsed together singing songs.
All had good voices. In those days the
Branch hotel on the Bowery. was the
headquarters for show folks. The circus
element outnumbered the people of all
other branches of amusement. One even
ing, for a lark, our az artette went to the
Branch hotel Nathan Howes, the leading
circus manager of the day. was seated In
the sitting room, surrounded by a number
of others.
When your Uncle Dan began to tune up
the crowd began to guy as such a COM
bination of instruments had never been
seen together. After the FIRST song, an
opening chorus, the guyers had become
quiet. Brewers funny song had made
them howl with delight. Whitelock's voice
had the same effect, until it came my turn
to sing, after which the little room was
in an uproar Of applause. Nathan Howes
told us to get a hall and put our concert
before the people.
"Tyron's circus was then playing on the
Bowery. and the mana cement engaged
our little band of embryonic pinstrels on
trial. We appeared in the middle OF the
bill, and at the first performance created
such a furore, thai, having exhausted our
meager repertory of songs II became nee
essary TO add something to our perform
ance to Iengthen It.
Pelham had greeted the audience with
'Howda Do, White Folks2' at our first APP
pearance. The audience laughed heartily
at this unusual salutation I then put IN
few words for both Brewer and Pelham
to speak, and conceived the idea OF seat
iag bones on one end and tambo on the