Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1906-09-22
sosososososososo,
aTFla H. g
80 y : --~-A--, -
ece1 rct-s- 90,
The Author OF Dixie.


the immortal and inspiring ballad
Dixie, " was born in Mount Vernon,
Ohio, October %, 1918. His grand
father was sol her in the Revou-
ion, iigrtlpg m m'tt N lg"n at the
Cowpens. His father, who was a
lacksmith, fought in the war of 1872
II the regiment commanded by Lewis
GasS. Dan. as 0".. Eoull blow
md strike for his r9ther IN the lat
tcr's smithy. In the intervals be
tween his work, he ran errands or
laypd the fdlle FIR the villagers. He
managed to pick up an elementary
education and " en- l3 years of age
lo entered Il newspaper office rs a
rcmpositor. The result of his eX-
nericnce in printing offices is said to
have been shown in the careful way
he punctuated all of his manuscripts.
lie was still working at "the case"
when, at the age of ID or l6, he wrote
"Old Dan Tucker" a year later,
he enlisted in the United States army
as ffer, and during his service he
also learned to drum. More than
sixty years later, after his death,
there was found among his manu-
scripts one entitled Emmett S
Standard Drummer, which is a com
plete school for fife and drum, "ac-
cOrding to 'Ashworth' s Node. "
After serving a full enlistment, he
raveled with various circus bands.
{ that time negro minstrelsy was as
ct unknown. although there were in
d;viual Ethiopian performers like
| Dan Rice. of ",Jim Grow" fame. EN-
NETT had travelled with Rice, whose
performances possibly suggested the
negro minstrel idea to the young
drummer. As in all such eases, vari-
ous claims to priority were advanced,
but il is certain that in the year
/ lS43, in New York, Emmett organ
lied sable quartet. with violin, ban
jo. tambourine and bones, and NAM
ed it the Virginia minstrels, first
carefully looking up the word, min
strel in the dictionary to assure him
self that it could be applied appro-
priately to the new organization. The
costume consisted of white trousers,
striped calico shirt and blue calico
coat, with exaggerated swallow tails.
1t was not until some years later that
the regulation evening dress was
| .doptcd as the costume more suit
bile to the mock dignity of Minstrel
~.
Fmmett's troupe showed success
fully in various American cities, but
when it ventured tour of Eng
land, it promptly stranded. Its or
'anizer returned to New York, found
that his idea had been utilized by
others and eventually joined Bry-
ants Minstrels. From that time on
and until he retired at Mount Vernon
his occupation was negro minstrelsy
His retirement was due to his age and
to the fact that changes in the style
pf minstrelsy had made him a back
1rm'cr ~ the composer of "Dix
r" he has long since been forgot
en- He actually bad hen overshad
ved by its own popularity.
The vo"ue Of "DiXie,' as the wal
ny of the south seems to have or
mated in the excitement it caused
when SUM- on the stage of the New
rlenn, Variety Theater in the spring
| + 1861. when Mrs. John Wood was
| lppcaring there in "Pocahontas. y a
feature of the performance was q
Iorave march which was introduced
into the last scene. A catchy tune
was wanted for this and Carlo Patti
the leader of the orchestra. after
iying over several pieces, decided
IN "Dixie." He little knew what
that decision would mean for thu
rng. When the Zouaves marched on
'Ie first night. led by Miss Susar
Denim. singing "Dixie," the audi
nnce went wild and demanded sever
'ncores. From New Orleans it seem
4 to fash over the entire south. Tn,
WASHINGTON Artillery had the tun,
arranged for a quickstep and soon tn,
whole section Of the country rams
with it,
At the Grand September 20.