The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03
EvoLUTToY OF THE CooN soNG.
Philosophical View of n Somewhat Divert
ing Theme In POPULAR Ente rtnin M nts.


When. for the first time, negro or coon melo-
dies Of the cakewalk variety became popular
through the efforts Of established favoritos singing
them, Il was predicted that their durability In
public favor would I've very brief that they would
be superseded by other songs and that the general
public indifference TO humorous negro melodies
would soon reassrt itself 10 the revival OF such
plaintive compositions as The Suwanec River
The Old kentucky Home" and "Mossa's in the
Cold Cold Ground Instead Of such a result at
tending the popularity Of colored songs their &C.
ceptance has gone on increasing steadily. Several
hundred additional coon" songs have appeared
and millions of copies Of the more successful
ones hive be-n printed and sold 20 the great en-
richment Of publishers. and in some cases TO the
great pecuniary benefit Of composers
II would h. difficult for any one truly To say
now that there IL any waning Of popular interest
in these melodies and consequence OF this
the question has been asked why II liz that they
should suddenly show such remarkable tenacity
in their hold upon theatre gocrs aud In the demand
for songs and Cakewalks IL has been said
sometimes that there II no accounting for taste"
in theatrical mattcrs--but this u n view Of the
case which ~ hardly warranted by facts of com
mon observation. The truth appears 10 BE-. and
philosophical inquiry into its probable causes
reveals the fact that this Is the true explanation
Of the cas that since the colore man In the south
ceased 10 ~ factor III political divisions he has
become available for utilization on The stage in
humorous way.
So long a. tho institution Of slavery existed
and the suucrngs. hnrdships expressions and
iquitCs to which that relation give ris negro mel
osties were, generally speaking, Of n pathetic char
hctcr plaintivc and serious The loyalty fidelity.
the SORROWS aud sutfcrings, the thwhrtCd hops
and blasted aspirations OF the negro race nj that
time furnished song. writer's and dramntsts a.
we'll nONrlists and poets with an appropriate
theme After the Close Of the Civil War and the
beginning Of the period OF reconstruction, when
the political status Of the colprcd cleCtnr h~camc
a matter ~ controversy, interest In coorcd men
on the stage cras"d and questions which would
arouse aniipathlcs were thbiSd.
During the last few years however and es-
pcClolly since 1892 there has been n complete
change in this regard The StatNs in which
cnlpT'd men outnumhcr their white fellow citizens
and in which the most serious controversies be-
tween the two races have taken place" have, gen
orally speaking. adopted such radical lcglsa-
ton as practically disadvantages cooTed men
from the suffrage With the gradual passing
away 81 the early and jealous abolitnnisis thcrc
has heen lack Of serious consider huon II political
matters IN which colurCd men are concerned and
by degrees and through a natural and PERHAPS
man IN all the important States ot the country
has bcen eliminated as a voting factor OF I'M
porthncr. This condition OF things has offered
song writer's and others an opportunity Of which
turn TO advantage for stage purposes the more
amusing. grotrsquc and diverting traits OF negro
/ character as shown in ragtime songs modeys
and oakewalks
The public, which has a natural partially
for music ~ African type and especially for SO
much Of IL az offers opportunities for dancing.
has taken kindly TO the innovation and seems
disposed 10 adhere 10 IL without wavrring. From
present indications the popularity Of coon songs
and coon" themes seems likely rather to incrcaSr
than to diminish until there Is some occasion for
q change In favor Of some ne form OF compost
ton In the line of melody.