Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10
THE REAL SUWANEE.
How It Struck a Distinguished For
eigner Who Knew the Song.

From the Nashville American.
Perhaps Calve cannot sing "Suwanee
River" as others have sung it, neither could
Ole Bull play Arkansas Traveller as many
an old-time darkey has done, yet We were
glad to listen to the sad sweet strain. which
because of human interest appeals so
strongly to sentiment so universal. and
while listening were reminded of a letter
written to London paper by Sir Edwin Ar
mold when touring the states, as follows;
when we were passing through Georgia,
and at the moment when the tedium OF the
journey was worst, the train approached a
long hollow in the hills. where one of those
pleasant surprises occurred which go to
A river. not very broad or deep, but with a
certain special grace and character or It's
own, lay In front of our track We had a
good view of 1t as we came near the wooden
trestle by which the line was carried across
structures which. until you become accus-
toned to American travel always make you
wonder whether they will carry the train
safely over The river ran down from the
Georgia hills in a lively current, broken
sometimes into rapids and little cataracts
where the red and black rocks lay across its
channel. and then widened out into pic
turesdue reaches bordered by thickets Of
dark green foliage and clumps of cypress
and willow
I'm the clearings here and there between
the woods which bordered 1t stood isolated
negro cottages. around which You could see
little black children play, and the invariable
pig, which Is the house guest of the negro
as well as the Irishman. A punt was gliding
along on the quiet part OF the stream, with
a negro on board dragging a fishing line.
and the black buzxards .circled over the
maize field 1t was not striking scene but
beautiful in its way. giIded as 1t was by
the rays OF the magnificent sunset. Yet 1
should have forgotten hundreds OF other
foh In, gpd
had 1t rot been that l. happened to ask the
conductor what was the name OF this par
ticular water. Quite carelessiy he answered:
That's the Suwanee river, mister
THE Suwanee river. In a moment the
stream had for me a new and extraordinary
interest. had not even known that there
was such a river In geographical reality,
or that 1t flowed through Georgia, and yet.
here it was. real. authentic, alive--leaping
down through the southern forest, past the
maize fields and the cotton flats. to pour
itself into the Gulf of Mexico In an instant
everything around appeared to be full of
the song that all the world knows and sings,
Way Down Upon De Suwanee Rfber. The
live oaks seemed to wave It In the evening
air; the stream seemed to sing II as II
hustled over the rocks: the birds in the
thickets had 1t In the soft musical notes
we caught. and the crickets and katydids.
beginning their sunset chirrup. Joined In the
half-heard chorus. The journey was no
longer monotonous. To be way down upon
corner of America dedicated to that deep
emotion OF our common humanity-the love
of home. Is there anybody who has not
felt the charm of the simple negro melody;
q When was playing wid my brother
Oh. take ne to my kind old mudder.
Oar let me LIB and die.
I" AN the world am sad ana drear.
o. d ssl sa sis &. IL s ssss 4 '5ss ss1