The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-23

'' The Old Folks at Home sold very
close to one million copies, and appear
ed in dozens of different arrangements;
yet the composer received almost moth
ing for it. He lived unhonored
and unrecognized, he died poor, he was
one of the gentlest and sweetest OF
natures; but he was too conViVial and
too easily led by his companions. His
love for his parents was pathetic in
its intensity and his reverence for the
memory of. his mother, whom he idol
ICED ia life, bordered upon mania. His
business abilities were about on a par
with those Of Schubert, and like that
composer he would rush his manu-
script to the publisher almost before
the ink had dried. Many of his later
songs were, therefore. 'pot-boilers' Of
the most pronounced type. Yet some
publishers paid Foster larger royalties
than greater composers have received.
Pond & Co., of New York sent him
checks aggregating thousands of dol
lars, for royalties, during one part of
his career"
Fosters later years, mostly spent in
New York, are described as most pa
thetic and painful" and his marriage,
in 1854, to Miss Jennie Mcdowell, a
lady of good family, was followed by
a separation. Fosters irregular hab-
it's" we are told, were growing upon
him, and he was the last man in the
world to build up a home" We quote,
in conclusion:
1.-THE New York days were Bohemian
enough in all conscience. Fosters ap-
pearance was not unlike that of a
tramp. during much of this time; a
shabby coat, a cheap glazed cap, a
scar upon his upper lip, one would
scarcely imagine this to be the chief
folk-song composer on this side of the
Atlantic.
HE had a great love for poetry, and
It Is not surprising to learn that Poe
was his favorite poet. He could recite
pages upon pages of this author from
memory, and his defamation evinced
a keen appreciation of the subtleties of
the works. He had another and very
different source of inspiration; he was
always melted to composition by trip
in one of the Broadway stages, and
would often ride up and down the
great thoroughfare in one of these
public vehicles, thinking of new melodies;
as he journeyed. Spite of the amount
of money that he received during these
years, his was a hand-to-mouth exist
ence, and he and bis friend George
Cooper, the poet, would often concoct
a song in the morning, sell it at noon
and not be penny the richer by
night.
The end came suddenly. He was
staying at the American House, one 81
the most inexpensive of lodging places
and there one night he fell (while In
his room) and cut himself severely. Ar
artery was severed, and he was toe
faint to summon assistance. By the
time he was discovered he had lost sc
much blood that there was no hope OF
recovery. In the common ward of a
New York hospital this genius died
Unidentified at first, his body was ia
ken to the morgue. but the speedy ad-
vent of friends prevented its being
buried in the potter's field. The acct
dent occurred January 10, 1864 and
Fosters death took place three days
later, he being at that time only Sc
years old. He was buried at Pitts
burg, beside the father and mother
whom he had loved so dearly. At his
grave band played Come Where NY
Love Lies Dreaming and The Old
QUEEN. His daughter was his only de-
1~S1teSltls
in thus raising the curtain upon the