The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-08-06
..IN DIXIE LAND"
Interesting Story of the Origin of the
Term "Dixie.''

A correspondent of The New
Orleans Times s-Democrat, in an in
teresting article, traces the deriva-
ton of the word Dixie" to the
notes issued by the Citizens Bank
of Louisiana, says The Banners
Journal.
The original song Dixie Land, "
was composed in 1859 by Daniel
Decatur Emmett, as a walk
around" for Bryant's minstrels,
then performing in Mechanics
hall, New York. Mr.. Emmett's
experiences were varied, and part
of his life had been spent with the
circus. He lad frequently heard
the performers make the remark,
L wish | was in Dixie" as soon
as the northern climate began to
be too severe for the tent life
which they followed. This ex
preston suggested the song Dixie
Land,
1t made a hit at once with the
play going public of New York,
and was speedily spread to all
parts of the union by numerous
bands of wandering minstrels, who
sang and danced to it. In the
fall Of 1860 Mrs. John Wood sang
it in New Orleans, in John Brough-
hams burlesque of PocahCntas, =
and ere week had passed the
the whole city had taken it up, and
the darky on the street corner and
the banker in his Office were both
humming it contentedly. A New
Orleans publisher saw possibilities
in the music, and without the au
thority of the composer had the
air harmonized and rearranged,
issuing it with words embodying
the strong southern feeling then
existing in the chief city in Louis
lana
The word Dixie" was brought
into national prominence and usage
by these songs, and, no doubt,
perpetuated by the war song, the
air of which is today dear to every
southerner. There can be no
denying this statement, but the
general impression concerning the
origin of the word Dixie" exist
ing outside of the south, and in
many parts of it, is correct. Ma
turally the popularity of the word
created interest concerning its ORR
gin. The fact that the term was
used to indicate the states south of
of Mason Dixon line has led to the
general acceptance of the state
ment publicly made some years
ago that Dixie" sprang from
Dixon. The argument was based
mainly on the alleged similarity of
the two words, Dixie and Dixon,
and pointed out that the expression
Dixie Land gradually grew out
of 'Dixon's Land" term which,
by the way, was never in use. As
a result, the real root of the word
has never before been known
1t is often difficult to trace such
a word back to its first usage and
firmly establish its origin, but the
arguments in the present instance.
however, are both conclusive and
convincing, and leaves on room
for reasonable doubt that the term
Dixie Land sprang from the
ten dollar note, Dix" issued by
the Citizens Bank of Louisiana,
which had such an unprecedented
circulation for a number of years
previous of the war.
c. w. Cammuck, teller of the
Citizens Bank of Louisiana, was
instrumental in achieving for that
bank the prestige of a larger cir
culation than any other bank of
the south, if not of the country.
The manner in which the notes of
the bank were brought into almost
national circulation was by invit-
ing the steamboat men to bring
their freight bill checks to the Citi-
zens' Bank for payment These