Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-07-16

more pretentious. Chickens wandered
at will about the yard and through the
Kitchen but they We're not allowed to
invade the bedroom"
HOW THE MINsTRELs STARTED.
on the occasion Of Mr.. Potts visit,
Uncle Daniel Emmett talked about
minstrelsy and his connection there
with.
Much has been said and written ON
the birth OF minstrelsy," said Mr. EN-
NETT 10 his guests, 1T was instituted
in 1912 the originators being Dick Phe-
Ian, Bill Whitlock, Frank Bower and
myself, We performed on the banjo,
tambourine, bones and violin. We all
played and sang together and each
would tell Joke We were at a loss as
to what to call the entertainment. when
found the word minstrel In a die
tlonary, and in a few days we were the
talk OF New York"
How did you come to write Dixe7'
asked Mr.. Potts, And his answer was
a corroboratlon OF the statement set
forth above. He responded.
II wrote the now beloved and ia
nous lines IN 1859 az walk-over for
Bryant's Minstrels. and had no idea
that they would be taken up as the war
song Of the South"
AL FIELDS "REMINISCENCES.
Mr. Emmett became Just a little bit
reminiscent, and TO Mr.. Potts and Mr..
Reeves confided
i've roamed great deal and i've
made lots OF money-and spent IT, |
ought to have taken care OF it, and
maybe now I'd be a trust magnatel
But ] love my little home, and the only
bar TO my happiness is the feeling that
| hear the faint barking Of the wolf
that terrlfies old age-and then | dom
like II because my folks say ! should
dress up more"
But the gaunt wolf never approach
ed the door OF the humble Emmett
home for the reason that his whiIom
companions and the newer show peo-
pie who were inspired by the story
OF his simple life saw to II that he was
provided with more than the neces-
saries Of life The Actors Society of
New York had pensioned Uncle Dan.
a few years ago Al q. Fields. the min
strel manager OF Columbus, took I'm
Gle Dan on tour OF the south He
appeared with the Fields Mlnstres at
every performance, and Mr.. Fields now
relates that I. was a notable success,
not necessarily from the standpoint Of
the boxoillce, but primarily because the
people Of the south rendered the old
man one ovation after another.
Uncle Daniel was not In the best
voice after he had marked his four
score years" tells Mr. Fields with n
quaver In his tones. "but every time he
appeared before the fOotllghts TO sing
Dixie the audience went as nearly
wild as any have ever seen. II SEM
ed TO mo as II they would actually raise
the roofs from the theatep. Every
man, woman and child would rise I'm a
body and simply overwhelm sentiment
al Uncle Dan with applause II was
great, sir. simply great. II brought
back 10 the memory Of the grizzled men
who bore arms for tho southland the
dcFolate camps, the fields Of defeat and
the enthuaing recollectlons Of Victory
Those Confederate soldiers had sung
Dixie on road and IN camp, II re-
called TO the Widows, wives and dnugh-
ters the occasions on which Dixie had
been sung, while the men were vnl0r-
ously nghting for tho cause that was
dear 10 al OF them"
MY acquaintance with Daniel De.
catur Emmett, Familiarity called Uncle
DAN extends over a period OF 80 years
Seven years ago he made a farewell
tour Of this country under my man
agoment, For years the old gentleman
had been lmportunlng me to take him
through the South. Although he was