Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-09-21
THE POWER OF SONG.
HOW IT PUT A STRANDED MINSTREL
ON HIS FEET.

A Georgia Negro Pound Little Apprecis-
ton Of mis- Melodies In London TIL us
had tho Good Fortune 10 Meet Party
Of Southern Gentlemen.
"As an illustration Of the sentiment
awakened by tho old songs that belong
10 the southland" said Virginian In
tho corridor Of the Grand hotel the 9th.
or day. ~ want to relate tho story II
an incident that came under my obscr.
walton while was In London eight or
nine years ago.
II was q stranger. and the prospect
was not pleasant ono. bat happened
60 see the name II man from my own
state on the hotel register and al.
though did not know him determined
20 send my card to his room. Thon
happy thought struck me. and hunted
up all the southorncrs who wcru stop.
ping No tho house and running uprig
Of mint through a number OF cards
sont tho hallboy to deliver them. A
half hour later eight mcn-two from
Virginia, four FROM Kentucky. ono
from Georgia aud two from Louisiann--
lined mp before tho bar. and, well. tho
friendship thus formed lasted through
tho week, and fow evenings before my
steamer was 10 sail the party was aug.
montcd by FIVE moro from the new
world. who were gathered around a Ia.
bio In n comfortable cafe partaking Of
farewell supper
"ln the midst Of tho Noise and laugh.
ter NO ono noticed an aged negro who
entered aud siolo quietly 10 ono corner
uf tho room Placing his hat ON tho
floor. ho SWING his guitar into position
and attracted our attention by striking
few preliminary chords Thon In a
sweet. mclodious baritone. he began 10
sinR Ella RcA Glasses worc placed
quietly on tho table, tho noise and
laughter ceased, and We all were think.
lug Alikc-of homo
81 know was. for there was lump
In my throat ~ big "a a yam.
The musician followed with 'Bolin-
da May
"Loyaly belinda. belinda. Belinda
Ny sweet Belinda May.
] could work In tho fields
And 10 happy all tho day
hyou would only smile on mo.
Ny sweet Belinda May.
"And then the guitar spoke softly for
a moment, and fanciod the old follows
voice quaycrcd with emotion NJ tho
sweet strains Of My Old Kentucky
Home flooded tho room with mist Of
tender memories
"Tho hat was filled In moment,
paper money. silver and gold pieces
were fairly showcrcd In IL, tho recipient
looking ON In amazemont AT last ho
broke out with:
Dress Gaud, Eon'l'meni You all
must como frum home Yes, sch. gen.
linen. knows you do. cause doy don
do no scch things ~ dis yeah In dis
country.
"'Wherc do you come from, uncloy"
asked some one, and how do you hap.
pen to be away ont hcros
"'Lomme tell you, gcn'i'mon. /
come from Gco'gia, nm 1 was BON IA
Atlanta You seS. kin sing tol'Able
well. an one day Yankee gon'l'man
came down our why. an he say ns how
no want 70 got some called folks 20
trRbblo IN Europe in sort o. minstrel
company. Wall, schs. he done tell We
all how much money We gwine got, 10
me an some Of do young folks go long
wild him. Ho takes US TO England fust,
but de business ain no good nohow. 10
ho try Paris, an Nc las We go to Ger. |
many. Things kcptcr gittin wuss. nn
40 one mo'nin We wake up an fin we all
min got no manager an no money nuth.
err
"'Mos' oh do young bucks dey gifts n !
chance 10 do waitin an soch, but dc ole |
man jus been workin his way roun do
kontry singin songs dat nobody seems
TO wanter hcah nohow
Soon rs l SEQ you Rcn'l'mon tu'n |
roun an lis'on dis ovonin know right |
orway you all must como frum homo.
an 1 wan,er thank you gcnl'mcn. decd |
an does Grpchiuusl l ain SEQ 90
much money in my lifo bofo'. Conf.
mon, do you low dor's 'nuff money dere
20 git do ole man back homer
"Woll, there's not much moro 10 tell. |
only the following Saturday saw tho
old fellow ON one Of tho big steamers
with his passage paid to America and |
enough money TO carry him safely back |
TO his old homo in Georgia. "--Cino.n.
natl Enquirer.