The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-09

Emmett at a performance Emmett
had broken a string on his instru-
ment). The points of chatting led into
a clown Joke, which convulsed the au-
dience. At the next performance il
was repeated, and Pelham recited a
short poem, and thus was "gagging''
introduced into minstrel first part.
In 1859 Emmett Joined the Bryant
Bros Ministries, then playing at 4T2
Broadway, New York. His principal
compose music and negro songs and
walk arounds. also to act as double
bass player when the occasion requir-
ed. Walk arounds." as they were
styled, were choruses in which the en-
tire company sang and danced, and
were used to close the show with. One
Saturday night. after the performance.
Jerrie Bryant overlook Mr. Emmett
while on his way home. and requested
that he write a new walk around and
have it ready for rehearsal the next
Monday morning. He told Mr. Emmett
he wished it to be all original, catchy,
and taking and one that the bands
would play and make popular, also,
that it be composed of real old plan
tation words and music
Mr.. Emmett spent Sunday in writing
which. when completed, he styled
Dixie" On Monday night Uncle Dan
sang the verses. while the company
joined in the chorus. and wnen the last
deafening, the audience cheering until
the curtain was raised and the chorus
repeated.
The song was the hit of the season,
and Immediately sprang into popular
ity Ere a week all New York was whis-
Ting it. and the theater was packed
each night by people eager to near
Uncle Dan sing it. Dixie" was soon
by minstrel companies. and was never
heard in the south until the northern
companies introduced it there. 1t was
then adopted by the confederacy as
their national anthem.
Strangely enough. Dixie" or Dixie's
Land" referred not to the north nor
part of the south. 1t was the name of
an estate on Manhattan Island the
property of man named Dixey, who
was ore of the largest Shareholders of
his day, until the rapid growth of the
anti-slavery movement in the north
compelled him to sell his slaves in the
south. 1t was from these blacks and
their descendants that the words Dixie
Land" came. expressing their longing
for their former home and master.
From this and the fact that the ne
groes called the states south of the
Mason and Dixon line the Dixie land,
Emmett got the name given his famous
song. He continued to travel with the
Bryant brothers until 1865. when he To-
Gated in Chicago. Here he remained for
upward of twenty-five years, playing
in the various theater orchest1as and
taking part in continuous minstrel per-
formances.
Early in his career as a minstrel
Emmett had visited his parents, who
were in reduced circumstances, and
made them comfortable for life He
educated his only brother and two sis
tiers. The brother became jurist, the
sisters married well. and one of them
became a successful autnoress.
Emmett had his day, a day crowned
with triumph and extraordinary sue
cess Finally his star was in the des-
cendant He lost prestige and latterly
travelled with various circuses. marry
ing an equeStrienne-
In 1891 Emmett was playing a fiddle, |
not his grand old Cremona. with when |
he once delighted thousands, but |
cheap affair, in the purlieus of New |
Orleans. An appeal was made for him |
through a theatrical publication, ana |
Il is understood that some stage folk /
provided for his removal to Mount |
Vernon and for his maintenance there. |