The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-24
HE WROTE "DIxIE.v
Dan Emmett Lives to See North and
south Sing His Song Together.


Philadelphia Press.
Dan Emmett who wrote Dixie is still
living. His home is in Mount Vernon, o.,
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 midcentury dam
dies of New York city, but now, with calm
Indifference to the conventional he usually
carries a long staff and wears his coat fas-
tened in at the waist by bit of rope. His
home is a little cottage on the edge of the
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 vis-
tor, whose curiosity to meet the composer
brought him out from town. 1t 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 l
went up the path l said, for had some
doubt in my own mind:
Are you Dan Emmett, who wrote
well, 1 have heard of the fellow, sit
down." and he motioned to the steps
Won't you tell me how the song was
Like most everything else ever did, be-
cause 1t had to be done. One Saturday night,
In 1859, as l was leaving Bryants Theater
where was playing, Bryant called after
me: i want walk-round for Monday, Dan
The next day it rained and stayed in
doors. AT first when l went at the song
couldn't get anything. But line, L wish l
mind, and l finally took it for my start.
me rest wasn't long in coming. And that S
the story of how Dixie was written
It made hit at once, and before the end
or the week everybody in New York was
Whistling 1t. Then the South took it up and
clalmed 1t for its own: sold the copyright
LII show you my first copy" He went into
the house and returned in moment with a
yellow, worn-looking manuscript in his
That's Dixie he said II am going TO
give it to some historical society in the
South one of these days, for, though 1 was
born here in Ohio, l count myself a South
erner, as my father was a Virginian''
:, Half a century ago Emmett was famous
nlgger minstrel. Those were the palmy
days or burnt cork art, when Bryant'S The
alter on lower Broadway was one of the
most popular resorts in New York city. EN-
NETT was born in 1875, at Mount Vernon,
had a local reputation-still traditional in
the ccEnty-aS musicians. In his own case
this talent was but little less than a crude
ana undeveloped sort of genius. He began
life as printer, but soon abandoned mis-
trade to join the band of circus company.
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 mem
followed it with many others. They were all
negro melodies and they all won popularity.
Finally he took to negro approximations,
singing his own songs in the ring, while he
accompanied himself on the banjo. He
made a speciality of old men, and he as
sured me with pride that when he had
blackened his face and donned his wig of
kinky white hair he was 1.-The best old
negro that ever lived" He became such a
favOrite with the patrons of the circus in
the South and West that at last, partly by
chance and partly through intention, he in
vaded the stage himself. This was some
time In 1912, at the old Chatham Theater in
New York city, when, with two compan-
ions, he gave mixed performance, made
up largely OF songs and dances typical of
slave life and character. The little troupe
was billed as the Virginia Minstrels," and
their popularity with the public was instan-
taneous.
This was the beginning of negro MINSTREL
sy. From New York the pioneer company
went to Boston and later on sailed for Eng
land. leaving the newly discovered field to
the host of imitators who We're rapidly d.
viding their successes with them Emmett
remained abroad for several years and
when he returned to New York joined Dan
Bryants Minstrel Company at 472 Broad
way. He was engaged to write songs and
walk-arounds and to take part in the night
ly performances. 1t was while he was with
Strangely enough, Dixie" or Dixie
land" referred not to the South or to anv
part Of the South. 1t was the name of an
estate on Manhattan island, the property OF
a man named Dizzy, who was one of the
largest Shareholders of his day. until the
rapid growth of the anti-slavery movement
in the North compelled him 10 sell his slaves
South IL was from these blacks and their
descendants that the words Dixie land
came, expressing their love and longing for
their former home and master.