The sun., 1898-06-12
HE WROTE "DIXIE."
Dan Emmett Lives to See the North
and South Sing His Famous
Song TOGether.

Dan EmueVL Lives ~ occ ehC 4SoAt'
and South Sing His Famous
Song Together.
Perhaps very few people know that
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
picturesque figure on the streets OF the
town. In his prime he was one OF the
mid-century dandies of New York city,
but now with calm Indifference to the
conventional he usally carries a long
staff and wears his coat fastened 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 composer Of one of the ma
tional songs of America has 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
book open before him. As l went up
the path, said, for l 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.
won't you tell me how the song
was written?'
"Llke most everything else ever did,
because it had to be done. One Satur-
day night, in 1859, as l was leaving
Bryant's Theatre, where was playing,
BRYANT called after me, Il want walk
round for Monday, Dan.
THE next day it rained and | stayed
indoors. At first when | went at the
song couldn't get anything. But a
line, i wish | was in Dixie kept re-
peating itself in my mind, and / finally
took it for my start. The rest wasn't
long in coming. And that's the story OF
how Dixie was written.
at made hit at once, and before the
end of the week everybody in New York
was whistling it. Then the South took
it up and claimed it for it's own. sold
the copywright for $500, which was all
| ever made from it, I'll show you my
first copy" He went into the house
and returned in moment with a yellow,
worn-looking manuscript in his hand.
That's Dixie he said, holding it
up for inspection. II am going to give it
to some historical society in the South
one OF these days, for though | was born
here in Ohio, | count myself Souther-
ner, as my father was Virginian."
Half century ago Emmett was a
famous 'nigger" minstrel. Those were
the balmy days of burnt cork art, when
Ervants Theatre on lower Broadway
was one of the most populars resort in
New York city. Emmett was born in
1915, at Mount Vernon, coming Of fam
lily, all of whose members had local
eputation-still traditional in the county
as musicians. In his own case this
talent was but little less than a crude
and undeveloped sort OF genius.
, He began life as a printer, but soon
abandoned his trade to join the band OF
a circus company. He was not long in
discovering that he could compose songs
of the kind in use by clowns; one of the
finest If these was "Old Dan Tucker"
0 pleasant if inebriate memory. Its
Success was SO great that Emmett fol-
lowed it with many others. They were
all negro melodies, and they all won
popularity.
Finally he took to negro impersona-
tions, singing his own songs in the ring,
while he accompanied himself on the
banjo. He made a speciality of old men
and he has assured me with pride, that
when he had blackened his face and
donned his wig OF klnky white hair, he
was 'the best old negro that ever lived"
He became such favorite with the
patrons of the circus in the South and
West, that at last-partly by chance and
partly through intention-he invaded
the stag. himself.
This was some time in 1912, at the old
Chatham Theatre, in New York city,
when with two companions he gave
mixed performance, made up largely of
J 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 in
Simultaneous.
This was the beginning of negro min
strelsy. 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 Dan Bryant's Minstrel Com
pany at Az Broadway. He was engaged
to write songs and walk rounds and to
take part in the nightly performances. 1t
was while he was with Bryant that
''Dixie' was composed.
Strangely enough, "Dixie," or."Dixie-
land" referred to the South, or to any
part of the South. 1t was the name Of
an estate on Manhattan Island, the pro-
perty of man by the name of 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 to sell his slaves
South. 1t was from these blacks and
their descendants that the words
Dixie" land came expressing their love
and longing for their former home and
master.
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