Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-09-25
THE POWER OF SONG.
HOW IT PUT A STRANDED MINSTREL
ON HIS FEET.
4 Georgia Negro Found Little Apprecia-
zion OF His Melodies In London Till He
Had tho Good Fortune to Meet Party
Of Southern Gentlemen.

N SOutncFn echtishchs
"As an illustration Of the sentiment
awakened by the old songs that belong
20 the southland" said Virginian in
the corridor of the Grand hotel the 9TH
Ell day, II want to relate the story Of
al incident that came under my obser-
walton while | was in London eight or
nine years ago.
II was stranger, and the prospect
was not II pleasant one, but | happened
to see the name of man from my own
state on the hotel register and al
though | did not know him determined
30 send my card to his room. Then a
happy thought struck me, and l hunted
up all the southerners who were stop
ping at the house and running sprig
Of mint through number OF cards
sent the hallboy TO deliver them. A
half hour later eight men-two from
Virginia, four from Kentucky, one
from Georgia and two from Louisiana
lined up before the bar, and, we'll, the
friendship thus formed lasted through
the week, and few evenings before my
steamer was to sail the party was aug
mented by five more from the new
world, who were gathered around ia
bic In a comfortable cafe partaking of
farewell supper.
"In the midst of the noise and laugh
ter no one noticed an aged negro who
entered and stole quietly TO one corner
Of the room. Placing his hat on the
door, he swung his guitar into position
and attracted our attention by striking
q few prelimiracy chords. Then in a
sweet, melodious baritone, he began to
sing ELLA Rea. Glasses were placed
quietly on the table, the noise and
laughter ceased, and we all were think
ing alike-of home
II know | was, for thcre was IA lump
in my throat as big as yam.
1.-THE musician followed with 'Belin-
da May
"Lovely Belinda. Belinda, Belinda
My sweet i Belinda May
could work in the fields
And be happy all tho day
II you would only smile on me.
My sweet Belinda May.
"And then the guitar spoke softly for
a moment and fancied the old fellows
voice quavered with emotion as the
sweet strains Of My Old Kentucky
Home flooded the room with mist of
tender memories.
1.-THE hat was filled in moment
paper money, silver and gold pieces
were fairly showered il it, the recipient
looking on in amazemcnt. AT last he
broke out with:
Dress Gaud, gen'l'ncn! You all
must come frum home Yes, sch, gen.
linen, / knows You do, cause dey don
do no sech things as dis yeah in dis
country.
Where do You come from, uncle?"
asked some one, and how do you hap
pen to be away out here?
"'Lemme tell you, gen'l'men. !
come from Geo'gia, an | was bon in
Atlanta. You see, | kin sing tol able
well, an one day Yankee gen man
came down our way, an he say as how
he want to get some culled folks to
trabble in Europe in a sort o. minstrel
company. Wull, sehs, he done tell We
all how much money we gwine get, sc
me an some Of de young folks 60 long
wild him. He takes us to England fust,
but de business ain no good nohow, so
he try Paris, an at las we go to Ger
many. Things kepter gittin wuss, an
SO one mo'nin we wake up an fin we all
ain got no manager an no money nuth-
err.
"'Mos' oh de young bucks dcy gifts a
chance to do waitin IN scCh, but dc ole
man JUS been worllin his way roun dc
kentry singin songs dat nobody seems
to wanter heah noLow
g Soon rs | see you gcn'lmcn IN
roun an lis'cn dis cvcnin know right
erway you all must come frum home
an wanter thank you gen men, deed
an i does Grechious! ain see SC
much money in my life befo'. Gen'I.
men, do you low dcr's huff money deere
to git de ole man back homc|
"Well, there's not much more to tell
only the following Saturday saw the
old fellow on one Of the big steamers
with his passage paid to America and
enough money TO carry him safely back
to his old home i'll Georgia. "-Cinc.n-
natl Enquirer.
Governor Altgeid.