The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-12

by his house with a book open before him. As
went up tho path l said, for l had some doubt In
my own mind:
Are you Dan Emmett. who wrote 'Dixie'q'
".Wel, l have heard of the fellow; sit down."
and he motioned to the steps.
" Won't you tell me how tho song was writ
I" Like most everything else 1 everdid, because
as I was leaving Bryant's Theatre. Where / was
playing. Bryant called after me. i want a walk.
The ncxt day II raincd and I stayed indoors.
At first when ! went at Tho song / couldn't get
kept repeating itself in my mind, and / finally
took 1t for my start. The rest wasn't long in
coming; And that's the story of how Dixie
1T made a hit at once. and before the end of
the TSSE fSs Sn%SE ,n in NY e. w 90 on6 WAS va VIII whIs St, ins
its own, 1 sold the copyright for $500. which
was all eyer made from it. I'll show you my
turned IN a moment with a yellow. worn.iooR.
Ing RnngseFjEt IN BIS IN hand saId. .1 nm GOING 70
give 1t to some historical society in tho South
one OF those days. for, though | was born here
IN Ohio, count myself n southerner, as my
Holf a century 0Ep Emmett was q famous
of onlSs nFnt dorf ; RPt. w Thon0 ETyS ~ STn hoGiT aa 6n
resorts in New York city. Emmett was born in
OF whose members had a local rcputation-stiii
traditional in the ,connty-as musicians. In
MS own tNbh inns Inle1l was Out lille less than
q crude and undevcloped sort OF genius.
He began life as n printer. but soon abandoned
HIS trade to join the band Of n circus company.
lie was not long in discovering that, he could
compose Songs Of tho kind In use by clowns.
One of the finest Of these was "Old DanTucker."
of pleasant IL i%nebrtate memory. Its success
was so great that Emmett followed 1t with
many, others. Thcy were all negro melodies.
and they I'll won popularity.
Finally he took TO negro representations. sing
ing his own songs in tho ring, while he accom-
clalty OF old men: and he assured mo with pride
that when he had blackcned his faco and donncd
his wig OF kinky white hair, he WINS 1.-THE best
~tavorite with tho patrons of the circus in tho
South and West that at last, partly by chance
and partly through intention, he invaded tho
This WAS some time In 1912. at the old Chat
ham Theatre In New York city, when. with two
companions. no gave a mixed performance.
made up largely of songs md dances typical OF
billed as the Virginia Minstrels." and their
popularity With tho public was instantaneous.
From New York tho pioneer. company went to
Boston. and lntor on sailed for England. Ienv.
ing the newly discovered field TO the host Of
imitators who were rapidly dividing their sue
Emmett remained abroad for several years,
md whom he returned to New York Joined Dan
Brynnt's Minstrel Company Mt l79 broadway.
lie was engaged 10 write song. and walk,
rounds and to tnEe part in the nightly perform.
Rnces, II WINS whilo no wns with Bryant that
Dixie > was composed.
referred not to The South or to any part of tho
South. II was the name OF an estate on Man
haitian Island. the property of n man named
Dizzy, who was one of the largest slavoholdc rs OF
his day, until the rapid growth OF the anti,
slavery movement In the North compelled him
to soil his slaves South. y was from these blacks
land came. expressing their love and longing
for their former home and master.