The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-10-26
COON SONGS.
Stuart Barnes Believes the People
Are firing Of Them.
Good 0ld-Fashlonsd Negro Melodies Still
Maintain Their Hold. i

Yes, ] think there is no doubt that
the public is firing of the so-called
coon songs. said stuart Barnes of the
team of Barnes and Slsson who are
this week entertaining Keith audiences
with their delightfully."- bright comedy
skit with us quaint negro duties sung
so daintily.
ot course, the modern. rag-time
coon song was SO much Of a novelty
when II first came on deck that IL may
De no surprise that IL became a craze:
buF like all crazes, it's popularity was
never Of character that could be any
,nIhs Dut ephemeral. and already the
signs or its decadence are numerous
ana universal. 1t is at best simply
srotesque buresque. for no one really
Iannlllar with negro songs, music and
uancing viii claim that either the
words. the melodies or the steps are
strictly characteristic Go among the
genuine negroes. listen 10 their songs
ana see them dance. You will see the
dlHerence at once. ~Du Ncn't see them
dancing as If they were ali afflicted with
spinal disease or were trying hard TO
shuiile of this mortal coil. you will not
near enough rag-time to altogether dis
tort the melody and make you think
ana you VIII find more refinement OF
ntiment and less foolishTess in the
verses than characterize the popular
coon song OF the day.
But. while the coon song Is passing.
the quaint, sweet little negro ditties.
n good old-fashioneI negro melodies.
havent lost one bit Of their hold on the
public. They possess an inherent merit
ana charm, vital sentiment and a
certain rehnem MT that are enduring
ana never fail TO win recognition when
they are sung properly and with due
regard ITO their sweetness and dainiti-
ness and sentiment. In singing the reg
uiatlon coon songs. | omit entirely the
eNtravagance that generally accompan-
Ies their rendition and the favor with
winch my efforts are being received here
mis- week Is only what | fni every
where: which is some indication Of what
: ally popular taste. But notice the
llHerence IN the expression on the faces |
~ the audience when Miss SissOn and |
sing one OF those quaint little negro |
htties like The Nigger and the Bee |
II some dainty little grooming lullaby. /
You see at once that the enjoyment of
ne auditors is deeper and finer. that
ne impression made. while perhaps
Weakening less demonstrative evidences
4 appreciation,iss surer and more lasting;
ma you realize that there is "A vast diff
erence between the ephemeral popu-
arty OF the coon songs. so-called and
ne enJuring favor OF the other
Another evidence Of the lasting ana
ieeper impression which is Of course
m excellent indication OF the popular
aste. lies In the fact that il has often
that in cities where my rem
erng Of the regulation coon songs
aS evoked much more enthusiastic |
pDlause than have our little duets |
18th the guitar accompaniment when |
'e came back again IL was by the
after and not bv the former that we /
fere remembered Several times 7
ave set out 20 omit the quaint little
titles from our act: but invariably the !
managers have protested. and once, !
fter | had received A big hand for |
coon song, several people in the au-
ience called out the request that we !
ng one OF the other songs. These are
u straws that show what is the real
opular taste after all. and 60 To show
lat While we may run after strange
lois now and then. We are sure 10 re-
lrn TO the better ana the worthier IL (
RI to follow our own natural inclna- {
ons.
And speaking Of coon songs reminds
e OF something that struck me as
4ry singular when mat well known | 4
'ng All Coons Look Alike TO Me- n
81 came 10 notice on the stage Some o
n years ago when | was doing "a !,
ack-face act with male partner. ono ,
the lines in our act waS all niggers =
ok Just alike TO me- and IL never
lied TO arouse q big laugh. You can r
laglne how peculiarly Il struck me .
hen ! heard the same idea utilized I'm q
at song and IL became such rage y
e time. and IL goes 10 show that -
On i'm MANY Of the popular hits of y
fay we don't always recognize i'm its X
w dress what perhaps our grand Y
theirs NAV have laughed at Some r
nes. toe. a song or joke may be so y
that Ii is new. Such is the case c'
tn our song. The Niger and tho Il
e, which your audiences here seem "
enjoy so much. and which is now
: OF print"
dr. Barnes and his very pretty part
r, Mcss SiSson. are perhaps the most In
'aSing singers OF the sweet, quaint m
gro melodies who have been heard tc
re- rendering them IA dainty. pl
lrmlng way. with guitar accompani ST
mt mat invariably elicits the hearti- pl
evidences OF enjoyment pl