Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-24
PAUL DRESSER TELLS INCIDENTS
THAT INSPIRED SONGS.

Tell them that l have good posi-
ton, that / am well dressed. ana
stopping at a good hotel Then he
paused before ne added. oh. tell
them anything TO keep back the
truth-just tell them that you saw
me- came here and told his friends
what he asked me TO tell them. The
words, just tell them that you saw
me- struck me as soon as / heard
them. About six weeks later he
committed suicide rather than ask
for help. \ short time after the I'M
fortunate termination of his life
published just Tell Them That You
Saw Me- The song told of woman
instead of man, but the change was
made to make the song more pa
thetic.''
The Curse" is the famous com
Poser's most pathetic song. He
never sings The Curse" however, as
he believes it is hoodoO, having
caused a murder in Boston. \ second
class vaudeville performer. named
Mckenna. after the theatre closed
one night. sang the first verse i'm a
saloon on Howard street. As he
finished the first verse man who
had been seated at one of the tables
implored McKenna TO stop sing
ing the song. Another drink was
ordered by the vaudeville performer.
and then upon request from the bar
tender he started i'm on the second
verse. lie never finished the song.
The man who had returned to his
seat at one of the tables sprang to
his feet, drawing revolver rs he
arose. He fired five shots ut close
range and the actor fell to the floor
dead. Since that time Mr.. Dresser
has absolutely refused to sing The
Curse
There is another story regarding
THE Curse but Mr.. Dresser denies |
its truthfulness. The song tells of |
mother leaving n husband and baby |
to 90 out for carousal with an un- |
principled man. While she * away |
the child dies, crying for its mother.
1t has been said this was Il story of |
an unhappy marriage of its author,
and that the only time he ever sang |
it was when his wife was seated |
near the stage with the man who
caused her downfall. She tainted
before the song was finished. Mr..
Dresser claims there is absolutely
no foundation for that report. He
SAYS the words and music were writ
ten just as he was beginning to re-
cover from the effects of drinking
too heavily.
An inspection of the soldiers home
at Dayton, Ohio, resulted in writing
The Letter That Never Came" One
Of the veterans who had been in the
home many years never failed to APP
pear regularly when the mail was
and he always turned
away with sad face when told
there was nothing for him. The fact
hat this partially demented soldier,
Who had fought for his country, was
always disappointed when he called
Tor letter was the inspiration for
The Letter That Never Came"
Il Believe 1t For My Mother Told
Ne So" was suggested by an argu-
nent between two little boys who
lad been playing in front of "A hotel
1t Brocton, Mass. one Sunday morn
ng. Dresser heard the argument as
we'll as the answer, because my
mother told me So" given by one of
he little fellows in reply to a ques-
ion of the reason for having Ger
ain opinion. The song writer had
completed his Il Believe 1t Because
Ny Mother Told Me So" by o'clock
he same evening.
Each song that he has written has
been inspired by something Mr..
Dresser has either seen or heard. He
5 the greatest living sentimental
song writer I'm America. composing
he words and music for his pieces.
In the past Is years he has produced
many hits of the season in sentimen-
al songs. and great things may yet
DC expected of him. In all probable
ty way Down in Old Indiana" will
1e one of his most popular produc-
ions.
Mr.. Dresser does not claim to be a
singer. The public. however, does
rot care so much to hear him sing
is to see the composer of so many
/