The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-01
WROTE "SUWANEE RIVER. "

In one OF the largest music houses the
other day chanccd 10 overhNar . young
lady giving an order for several songs.
says "A well known Milwaukee musician.
As she read of the list paid no special
attention until my ear caught the titles.
"Old Kentucky Home" Gentle Annie"
and one or two others.
"Whatr' said TO myself. ARE Fosters
songs still sold?" / had a general idea
that they were sung from msmory when
sung At ALL or that a few copies. yellow
with age and reposing at the bottom Of
the piles OF music In some old-fashioned
parlors. were all that remained Of the
once popular ballads. But a few words
with the clerk proved TO me that I was
wrong. lie told me that IL was no rare
thing for people to ask for them; that,
IL not In stock they could still be OBJ
tained or Fosters publishers.
This set me to thinking Of the young
composer and the melodies which won fo1
him a worldwide fame.
stephen Collins Foster was born In
what Is now part of Pittsburs, July 4. iS2a.
and died In New York January i3. 1854
He wss educated at Athens Academy ana
Jefferson College. He was not distin-
guished for unusual scholarship. but was
quiet, serious boy, with fondness for
scribbiing on scraps OF paper I'm odd cor
ners. His first published song was
open Thy Lattice. Love-" written IN
1912, when he was little more than ls
years old. and his last work, Beautiful
Dreamer" appeared In 1882.
IL Is the ballad writer's OF a time that
most directly address the people. Foster
had word TO say, and though more than
fifty years have passed since he wrote his
best songs, they stii have power to speak
TO us. The opening notes OF Nellie
Gray or Hazel Dell" or ";uwanee
River Will cause hush to fall upon the
gayest company, and I'm almost every
breast will be conjured up some memory,
sweet or sad. OF days gone by.
stephen Foster was not musical prod
Icy: he had not even a good technical
knowledge OF music. His talent lay
rather In the possession OF an exquisite
taste and in a natural use of the simple
rules of harmony-also I'm his ability TO
mt words and notes together BY the
very mesmerism OF his own heart-power
he gave 10 his songs a life and feeling
that was. wonderful and that has made
them live. They had a spirit and inspi-
ration which made them genuine works
or art; for what can art do better than
TO reach the heart.
The popularity attained by Fosters
compositions may best be judged by not
ing the following figures OF "Suwanee
River" there have been sold considerably
over 100000 copies; OF My Old Kentucky
Home" more than 100000 copies: ''Massa's
In the Cold, Cold Ground" 10000 copies.
Nearly 100000 copies OF "Old Dog Tray
were sold in six months.
The inspiration OF "Massa's in the Cold,
Cold Ground" came TO Foster at Coving-
ton, Ky. He heard an old slave be-
wailing the death OF a kind master. and
that he and several other slaves, aged and
worn out in faithful service. would pass
into the hands of less Kind masters
"Old Kentucky Home Is said TO have
been suggested to Foster on hearing an
old negro speak with love and longing
for his former home in Kentucky. Fos-
ter took frequent journeys FOR the pur-
pose OF acauainting himself with slave
life In all It's phases. therefore his work
bore the impress OF truth.
His body was taken from New York 70
RiStsburg for burial. and reposes IN the
old Allegheny cemetery. near tho arsenal.
Milwaukee Sentinel