The age-herald., 1898-06-08
THE MAN WHO
 WROTE "DIXIE'1

Perhaps very few people know that Dan Emmett, who wrote "Dixie." is still living. His home is in Mount Vernon, Ohio where he was born and where he hopes to end his days. The old man is a picturesque figure on the streets of the town. In his prime he was one of the mid-century dandes of New York City, but now with calm indiffer- ence to the conventional he usually car- ries a long staff and wears his coat fasten- ed in at the waist by bit of rope.
 His home is a little cottage on the edge of town, where he lives entirely alone. On almost any warm afternoon he can be found seated before his door reading, but he is ready enough to talk with the chance visitor, whose curiosity to meet the com poser of one of the national songs of Amerl- ca has brought him out from town.
 It was this curiosity that took me to the cottage. The old composer was seated in the shade by his house with a book open before him. As I went up the path, I said, for I had some doubt in my own mind:
 Are you Dan Emmett who wrote Dixie?
 well, have heard of the fellow; sit down." and he motioned to the steps.
 Wont you tell me how the song was written?''
 Hike most everything else I ever did, because fl had to be done. One Saturday night in 1S59 as I was leaving Bryant's theater where I was playing, Bryant call- ed after me, I want a walk round for Monday, Dan' The next day it rained and I stayed indoors. At first when I went at the song I couldn't get anything. But a line, T wish I was in Dixie kept repeat ing itself in my mind, and I finally took it for my start The rest was not long in coming. And that's the story of how Dix ie' was written. It made hit at once, and before the end of the week everybody in New York was whistlng it. Then the south took it up and claimed it as it's own, I sold the copyright for $500. which was all ever made from it. I'll show you my first copy" He went into the house and re- turned in a moment with a yellow, worn- looking manuscript in his hand
 That's 'Dixie,'" he said holding it up for inspection. "I am going to give it to some historical society in the south one of these days, for though I was born here
 
 my father was a Virginian.'
 Half century ago Emmett was fa- nous minstrel Those were the palmy days of burnt cork art, when Bryants theater on lower Broadway was one of the most popular resorts in New York City. Em- nett was born in 1915, at Mount Vernon, coming of a family all of whose members had a local reputation-sdll traditional in the conty-as musicians. In his own case this talent was but little less than crude and undeveloped sort of genius He began life as a printer but soon abandoned his trade to join the band of circus com pany. He was not long in discovering that he could compose songs of the kind in use by clowns one of the finest of these was "Old Dan Tucker" of pleasant If inebriate memory. Its success was so great that Em- melt followed it with many others. They were all negro melodies, and they all won popularity.
 Finally he took to negro impersonations, singing his own songs in the ring, while he accompanied himself on the banjo. He mado a speciality of old men, and he has assured me with pride that when he had blackened his face and donned his wig of kinky hair, he was 'the best old negro that ever lived" He became such favor ite with the patrons of the circus in the south and west, that at last-paptly by chance and partly through intention-he invaded the stage himself.
 This was some time in 1S42. at the old Chatham theater in New York City when with two companions he gave mixed performance. made up largely of songs and dances, typical of slave life and character. The little troupe was billed as the "Vir- ginia Minstres" and their popularity with the public was instantaneous.
 This was the beginning of negro minstrel sy. From New York the pioneer company went to Boston and later on sailed for England leaving the newly discovered field to the host of imitators who were rapidly dividing their success with them.
 Emmett remained abroad for several years and when he returned to New York joined the Dan Bryant's Minstrel company at 472 Broadway He was engaged to write songs and walk rounds and to take part fin the nightly performances. It was while he was with Bryant that Dixie was com posed
 Strangely enough "Dix.e,' or "Dix.eland," |" referred not to the south or to any part of the south. It was the name of an es- tate on Manhattan Island. the property of man by the name of Dixy, who was of the largest shareholders of his day, until the rapid growth of the antl-savery movement in the north compelled him to sell his slaves south.