The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-03-01
A TOUCHING APPEAL.
The Author OF "Dixie" Struggling
With Poverty i'm His Old Age.

WIN Poverty in His Old Age.
There are songs that never die
Called forth by some great event in
nations history, they are ever en-
twined with the cause that gave /
life. 1t may be the writer of the son,
has passed from the memory Of man
but it's inspiration lives on through
Southern heart that Goes not glow u
the familiar sound of "Dixie." TIL,
memories Of the South and all that per
tains to the trying times OF the pastis
preserved with tender care. MOnu
ments have been reared to the heroe.
passed away. The survivors hay,
been cared for, as far as woman's love
and mans sympathy could aid them
but there yet remain opportunities
for the tender ministrations of little
acts OF benevolence ana appreciation
that would oring forth blossoms more
beautiful in living hearts than in cold
white hands. Miss Virginia Clay,
in the Huntsville (Aia) Democrat,
makes touching appeal in behalf OF
the composer OF Dixie" that ir spirY
tion OF the Southerner:
The sad news has reached the South
that the author and composer of
Dixie" Daniel Decatur Emmett, is
Ill In Mt. Vernon, o., and dragging
out his 83 years of life in poverty ana
want. This should never be aliowe
rs long as there are any veterans Of
the CuDfederacy, or sons or daug hters
OF those who loved the sacred cause
for which their fathers fought in Cxls-
tence. Uncle Dan," as he was famil-
iarly called, has appealed to the South
for aid, and his appeals made through
the columns of the Confederate Vet
eran," mus. not BIZ in vain, in Ala
bama
Emmet wrote the song in 1859 that
gave him an immortal name ana fame
in the South, when he was d member
OF Bryants minstrels In New York
He was asked by Jere Bryant one Sat
urday night to write new turn
around" for the boys. He did so be-
fore he retired, and the result was,
wish | was in Dixie Land"-the
original name. With the r,mblings of
war growing founder and nearer each
day, and the loyalty Of true Southern
ers was growing warmer, the song
took like wildtire in the South, and
was received with great enthusiasm.
1t was playt d, sung and wbistled every
where. Uncle Dan had struck the
right keynote, and had found u re
sponsive chord in the hearts of South
erners. Wish | Was in Dixie was
soon Southern property and will con-
tlnue to be ours, echoed and re-cchoed
down the corridors of time.
Emmet was the enly person allow I'd
to sing Dixie" in the North during
the war, and he sang it in New York
theatre from 1859 To- 1866. Though
nearly forty years have passed since
its birth, the first bar still inspires
Sonthern audience with renewed pa
triotism and love for
DE Ian OBJ corn, an de Ian o cotton,
Cinnamon seed ans sandy bottom"
France has her Marseillalse,"
Wales her Men Of Harlech,' England
her God Save the Qleen," Germany
her Wacht am Rheln," the Gordon
Highlanders their "Cocxo' the North
all of them martial airs connected
with the various periods of storms and
stress OF the land OF their birth or
adoption, and are songs that have made
heroes; while "the land of colt n,
pa. metto and pine" has her Dixie"
which inspired our heroes of the Con-
federacy, for they were heroes by in
heritance from their fathers and
nursed it in their mothers milk.
Though Daniel d. Emmet was born
In Mt, Vernon, Ohio, his parents were
Of Southern birth, and inspired him
with Southern patriotism.
We suggest that the various chap
ters of the Daughters of the Confeder-
acy have entertainments for the hene-
lit OF MIR. Emmet, Of Southern songs
and tableaux. Aid him now, and do
not wait to erect to him memorial
monument.