Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-07-21

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Among the extracts from the diary
of Charley White, the old time negro
minstrel, published In the Sun. was the
history of the famous song" "Dixie."
White spent much time in tracing the
history Of other songs, and in his diary
he gave the results of his work. Some
of these song histories are interesting,
and a few Of them are printed below:
The words Of "The Star Spangled
Banner" were written, as every one
knows, by Francis S. Key during the
bombardment of Fort McHenry dur
ing the War of 1872, but the history of
the music to which they were set is less
familiar. -s7'..4 r.. q! ;@,,,i}' s's'':''''1
"The verses" wrote White, "were
printed in ballad form and scattered
through the camp on Federal Hill,
Baltimore. One evening one of the SOL
diers picked up copy and read it
aloud three times until the entire di-
vision was electrified by its patriotic
eloquence.
"An idea struck Fred Durang, an
actor, who hunted up an old volume
of flute music which he found in his
tent. He impatiently whistled tune
after tune, just as they caught his
quick eye.
zone called 'Anacreon in Heaven
struck his fancy and riveted his at
tention. Note after note fell from his
lips. With a laugh and q shout he ex-
claimed
"'Boys. I've hit it, and fitting the
words to the tune there rang out for
the first time the song Of The Star
Spangled Banner
Getting short furlough Ferd and
Charley Durang sang it on the stage of
the Holiday Street Theatre. The mu-
sic was first published by George Will
lig, Jr., of Baltimore.
'Ferd Durang died in New York in
1880. 1 well remember Tom Blakely,
an actor, saying to his wife, Poor
Ferd Durang is dying Durang was
born in Harrisburg, Pa. His father
was Frenchman and fair musician.
Durang died in extreme poverty and
but for his co-laborers on the stage
he would have found q paupers
grave.
"'The Hunters of Kentucky was
very popular in my early days. 1t
was written by Samuel Woodwork.
a typesetter. The Hunters was writ
ten just after the Battle of New Or
leans, in 1915. The tune is from an old
English ditty, Unfortunate Miss
Bailey
ut was sung for many years by an
actor, Noah M. Ludlow, who died in
1885 or 1886 in st. Louis at the age OF
eighty. Ludlow came near having
his brains knocked out on the stage
while singing the song in New Or
leans. An Englishman threw a large
piece of gas pipe at his head, but for
tunately missed his mark.
"Woodworth wrote funny verses as
advertisements for keeper Of a fancy
store in New York for long time, Joe
Bonfanti, who made u fortune from
his poetry. When the California fever
broke out in 1S49 Woodwork went to
the Pacific slope and was engaged as
a reporter on the Alta. He died there
and his remains lie in the Home Noun
tain Cemetery.
Kathleen Mavourneen' was sold by
Crouch, the author, for $25 and brought
the publishers as many thousands.
Crouch was hopelessly improvident
and in his later days became a tramp.
When Mile. Titiens was in this country
a number of years ago she sang
Kathleen Mavourneen' In New York.
A dirty tramp introduced himself as
Crouch, was recognized, and thanked
her for singing the song so well.
Life on the Ocean Wave" written
by Epes Sargent, was pronounced a
failure by his friends. Russell, of a
Boston firm Of music publishers, took
the words from Sargent and the latter
tells this story Of the melody
1--WE passed through the music
store. Russell seated himself at pi-
ano, read over the lines attentively,
hummed an air or two himself and ran
his hands over the keys, then stopped
as If non-plussed.'
Suddenly bright idea seemed to
dawn on him. A melody all at once
came into his brain and he began to
hum it, and to sway himself to It's
movement. Then striking the keys he
at last confidently launched into the
tune since known as Life on the
Ocean Wave
"The melody proved a success. The
copyright became very valuable,
though the author never got anything
from it but fame. 1t was popular in
England as well as in this country.
THE Arkansas Traveller The IA
nous traveller known as the ARKANSAS
Traveller is no myth, but breathes
and has his being In that State. The
traveller lives In Little Rock and
may be seen every day on the streets
OF the town indulging his taste for
music and storytelling.
HE is known as Coloney Sandy
Falkner He was born in Kentucky in
1904 Tn ha uo,,t fo A,.ly,