The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-08-09

Look away &c.
Buckwheat cakes and stony batter.
Makes you fat or little atter.
Look away sc.
Here's a health 10 the next old Missus,
An all de gals dat want 10 kiss US
Look away &c.
Now il you want to drive way sorrow,
Come an hear dis song tomorrow.
Look away &c.
Den hoe IL down an scratch yer grabble,
To Dixie Land I'm bound to trabble.
Look away Ge.
The original song, "Dixie Land"
was composed in 1859 by Daniel Deea-
tur Emmett as "walkaroundp for
Bryant's minstrels, then performing in
Mechanics Hall, New York. Mr.. EN-
mett's experiences were varied, and
part of his life had been spent with the
circus. He had frequently heard the
performers make the remark, ''I wish
l was in Dixie" as soon as the north
ern climate began TO be too severe for
the tent life which they followed. This
expression suggested the song "Dixie's
Land"
1t made 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 min
strels, who sang and danced to it. In
the fall of 1860 Mrs. John Wood sang
it in New Orleans in John Brougham's
burlesque of "POcahontas, and ere
week had passed the whole city had
taken it up, and the darky on the street
corner and the banker ia his Office were
both humming it contentedly. a New
Orleans publisher saw possibilities in
the music, and without the authority
of the composer had the air harmonic
ed and re arranged, issuing it with
words embodyiDg the strong Southern
feeling then existing in the chief city
of Louisiana.
"Dixie" would, doubtless, have met
the fate of hundreds of other popular
songs but for this. The original words,
which are printed at the beginning of
this article, rapidly gave way when the
war broke out to the thrilling battle
song composed by Gen. Albert Pike, of
Arkansas, and they have since become
almost lost to view. Several sets of
words were, from time to time during
its popularity, set to the music, which,
doubtless, is from the Scotch. The
words Of the war song thrilled the
South before and during the war and
to-day occupy a permanent place among
the immortal songs of the land. The
first verse is typical of the entire eight:
Southrons. hear your country call you,
Upilest worse than death befall you!
To arms To arms To arms in Dixie!
Loi all the beacon fires are lighted,
Let all hearts be now united.
To arms To arms. To arms in Dixiei
Chorus Advance the flag OF Dixie! Hurrah
Hurrah,
The word "Dixien was brought into
national prominence and usage by these
songs, and, no doubt, perpetnated by
the war-song, the air of which is to-day
dear to every Southerner. Previous to
their advent the word had been used to
indicate the Southland only by few,
and in no sense was the term familiar,
or its usage general. There can be no
denying this statement; but the gen.
eral impression concerning the origin
of the word Dixie existing outside of
the South and in many parts of it is in
correct. Naturally the popularity of
the word created interest concerning
its origin. The fact that the term was
used 10 indicate the States south of the
Mason-Dixon line has led to the gen.
eral acceptance of the statement pub
licly made some years ago that "Dixie"
sprang from "Dixon." The argument
was based mainly on the alleged SINH
Iarity of the two words, pixie and Dix
on, and pointed out that the expression
''Dixie Land gradually grew out Of
"Dixon's land" a term which, by the
way, was never in use. As result, the
real root of the word has never before
been made known.
1t is often difficult to trace such
VOID back to its first usage and firmly
establish its origin; but the arguments
in the present instance, however, are
both conclusive and convincing, and
leave no 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 number of years previous TO the
war. The story is not long one, and
in addition to its historical significance,
II can not fail to be of much interest,
for the word "Dixie" has grown into
general usage, not only in this country,
bui throughout the world.
In the days of State banks their notes
suffered discount in other States, ow-
ing to the opportunity offered to coun-
terfeit, for with such large variety in
circulation, it was difficult to identify
them and to discover whether they
were genuine or wildcat Some idea
Is gained Of what this Identification
meant when you learn that a paper
called the Bank Note Reporter was
published for the sole purpose Of des-
cribing the rates Of the most reputable
banks, some l, 400 in number, TO aid in
the Identification Of their notes. In
consequence the managers Of every
State bank did all ia their power to en-