The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-06-10

Verse. and Music OF the Famous
song Were Composed and Copied
Inside Of an Hour-A Southerners
Appreciation OF the sonE-Emmett
a. n yioIinist
Here are some timely anecdotes Of
Uncle Dan Emmett. the man who
wrote "Dixle Land" and many famous
darky songs
Recently asked how be came 10
write his famous song. be replied after
passing his hand remlnlscently over
his wrinkled brow:
1T was 10 the fall OF 1859, when |
was with Dryants minstrels. who ran
q successful business at 4T2 Broad
way. New York. My particular en-
gagement was TO write comic negro
and other dialect songs and walk
rounds when called upon and TO act
as musician or minstrel when occasion
required One Saturday evening after
the performance was over and the
players gone was walking homeward
when heard footsteps behind me.
Turning around. came face to face
with Jerry Bryant. the manager. who
had overtaken me for some purpose or
other.
Dan he said, I want n new walk
round"-a new one, one that the boys
and the gang win learn quickly and
sing Ia the streets Immediately. Make
me a song that will be popular. one
that the bands will play and the peo-
pie will whistle and sing
"'rhis is pretty short notice to make
what you want | replied, but I'll do
my best. The next day was Sunday.
and the rain flooded the streets keep
ing me Ia the house. Well said my
wife. it's too wet TO go anywhere.
Why don't you get out your pen, ink
and paper and compose that walk
round" you promised Jerry and have
II ready for rehearsal tomorrow
"It was a job | did not relish. but !
collected my thoughts and began. A
tune was buzzing in my head, and I
put 1t down on the lines and spaces.
That's all"
How long did this take your" he
was asked.
Ten minutes"
"Ten ninutesr'
Yes. but II took me longer 20 make
the words. The whole thing. Including
plantation verses and music. was fin
ished and copied in an hour or less.
My wife approved Of IT, saying 1t was
hrst rate.
well said |. it's all finished ex-
cept a name.
"A namel You have one right there
In the song you've written, said my
wife.
"'What is itr
"'why. call II "Dixie."'
81 took ber advice on that point and
have never had cause to regret IL.
took n copy to rehearsal next morning,
and the minstrels never left the hall
until they could sing II perfectly.
"Who sang II FIRST? Dan Emmett. He
showed the boys how 1t ought to be
sung. and they fell right into the spirit
OF the thing Immediately. I continued
to sing II every night from 1859 until
the war broke out. Then the Union reg
lments going south sang II, and the
bands played IT, Finally the southern
ers adopted II as their national tune
and so 1t became associated with the
south"
There Is an amusing incident con
nected with Dixie" that has evoked
much laughter. One night a typical
southern gentleman came into the Bry
ants dressing room aud said. "Shov
me Mr.. Emmett" Upon being intro
duced to that gentleman he exclaimed
10 nn lnlmltable southern manner. "Art
you the author OF 'Dixier" Upon Mr.
Emmett replying that he was, he said
"Well, sah." as he placed both hl,
hands over Mr. Emmett's right hand
'shake. by Gawd, sahl | am happy &c
know you. and | would rather be the
author OF that song than | would be OF
old Hundred" and continued shak
ing Mr.. Emmetts hand.
| Emmett was born in Norwalk, o
"Decate," as he was called, was a mu
steal genius, particularly as a viollnlst
was "A great mimic and singer. even as
a boy. He was made up OF mirth and
music While yet In his teens his violin
playing was pronounced wonderful. al
though entirely self taught. He used tC
blow and strike" for his father q
blacksmith, and when at rest always
took up his fiddle. The villagers gath
cred to listen whenever the sounds OF
the instrument were heard. and they
were often moved to tears by the sym
pathetic, tender playing. Frequently
he seemed TO be carried away by hi,
own music and was utterly oblivious tC
his surroundings.