Evening journal., 1899-12-21
ORIGIN OF DIXIE

.lrNcLE DAN" EMMETT. THE
NOTED MINSTREL. PROVED IT'S
AUTHOR.
The song Of die has attained a
renutation which makes 1t national
air The repertoire OF no band or or
chestra is complete unless it contains
this stirring melody. Thousands OF
pcople hum and whistle the melody
who have never heard the words. There
were more claimants to the authorship
OF this song than any song ever writ
ten.
Two years ago the press OF the coun-
try took up the matter. The Chlcago
Herald began "A thorough investigation.
Years before the song became so uni
versally known Daniel Emmett. a
noted minstrel. had been credited with
It's authorship Until the last ten or
twelve years none had disputed this
claim. After age and its attending in
hrmities had relegated Emmett to the
shades of private life the claimants 10
the authorship of the song of Dixie
became more numerous. The New YORK
Herald devoted several columns in diff
ferent Sunday issues 10 the statements
OF those who claimed 10 be the author
in retirement on his little farm near
Mr.. Vernon. Ohio Al. G. Field, the
minstrel manager, carried copy OF the
New York Herald to "tInclc Dan and
read the article wherein numbers OF
people claimed the honor of the author
ship OF the song. A search was made
through the chests OF music that the
aged vlolinist had been accumulating
for nearly sixty years. The musty,
faded music OF the old song was found.
Mr. Field had Photographic copy of
the song made and several thousand
copies of Il autographed. This settled
the controversy over the song OF
Dixie" That Daniel Emmett was its
author no one can dispute. Mr.. En-
metts narration OF the circumstances
attending the making of the song as
he terms ii. are as follows.
He was the leader of the orchestra
for Dan Bryants Minstrels. located on
Broadway. New York Those were the
carly days Of American minstrelsy
There were several permanent compan.
les IN the city of New York and the
rivalry between them was intense. II
was the custom to end their entertain
ment with a ''walk-around" song an6
dance. Bryant on a Saturday night il
November, 1852 informed Mr.. Emmett
the musical director OF the company
that he desired a new "walk-around" a
once. Mr.. Emmett went to bed tha
night evolving In his mind the subjec
of the song. The next day in his room
at the hotel he wrote the words ant
music OF the famous song. A few day
late II was sung for the first time TIL
song became immensely popular. AL
though born in Ohio, Daniel Emmett
spent his life until the age of 35 in tn
South He is the author OF some fift.
songs. and all but one of them are upol
themes pertaining to the South.
In 1886 al. G. Field invited Mr.. EN-
NETT to make a tour of the Unite
States as his guest. Although 50 year
old Mr.. Emmett accepted the invita-
ton. and from New York to San Fran
cisco. from Minnesota TO Florida, tn
author of Dixie met with continuou
0yations. At the end Of the tour "Un
Gle Dan returned to his little farm
Knox county. Ohio. He is still hale an
hearty at the age Of SO. In the twl
light as one approaches the little cour
try house Of the old author he will hea
the strains Of a violin playing the ol
familiar airs that are dear to the roco
lection of the aged minstrel
The city of Columbus, Ohio, held
biz street fair the past Sumner