The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-09-20
10y Glenn Guernsey

New York. Sept. l9.-'LoUk away,
look away. Dixie Land
Just forty nine years ago on the
night OF September. 1859, Bryauts
Minstrels then at Az Broadway New
York. sang this song for the first
time. 1t was an instant hit and the
"corroGing touch of time" has not
since robbed 1t of It's pre-emincnce.
During the war. and ever since the
melody OF Dixie set to the varying
words. has been the song of the
south and scarcely less populn- In
all other sections OF the country Yet
il was written and had It's prcmi 'ro
in the metropolis.
The author 70, pixie was Da"ici
Decatur Emmett. who was born In
Ohio. on October -, 1913. and died
In his native town of Mount N,ruap
Oh June q. 1904 lie began h,i ca.
reer In country newspaper Office.
lie soon abandoned he trade OF ,l.l.
positor to travel with circuscs grd
sidcshows He organized th' Nd.
ginia Minstrels In lSiS. and after
success ssCul season then took his az.
gregaton to London, where u wa,
stranded on the rocks of public uiif.
renee. Early In his 'arcer hc com.
posed man, songs. amons which was
odd Dan Tucker rag time classic
of the Old t6ys
II was IN 1861 that Emmett entered
the employ OF Dan Bryants MINSTREL
"a famous organization Of it's kinl. and
contracted to write wnat was then
known as walk arounds rhis
name has applied to the concluding
act of a minstrel performance being
song and dance for The entire
troupe. II was while employed Ia this
capacity, hat Emmett wrota ;h. i'm.
mortal Dixie" The followmg &C.
count of the song is supplied by Gus.
tave koSbe.
On Saturday night Sc2tcm5,r ~.
1853, after the performance. ono of
th Bryants told Emmett thai a neS
walkaround was wanted In tiuc for
rehearsal on Monday. The minstrel
replied that, while The time was very
short, he would do his best. That
night after he !. achcd home. he tried
to hit upon some tune but the music
wouldn't come. His wife chcrrily
told him to await until mornihs. lie
should have the room to hims,l SO
that he could work undsurbeI aud
when he had finished the walkarorn ]
ne could play It for her as a solo
audience. II she liked II the Dr,ants
would and so would the aycrag, lis.
tener.
Next day was rainy and dismal
Some years before Emmett had ira,
elled with a circus as drummer In
winter the warm suothern circuit was
popular route with circus people.
and those who were obliged TO show
north would say when the cold
weather would make them shiver 81
wish | was In Dixie The phrase waa
I'm fact, current circus expression
On the dismal September day prob
ably the beginning of the cQunoctial
when Emmett stepped To the window.
aud looked out. the old longing for
the pleasant south came over him
and inyoluntarly he thought tu him
SELF, I wish | was In Dixie Like a
flash the thought suggested the first
line for a walkIrouud and a lir.le lat.
er, the minstrel fiddle iu hand was
working out the melody. which coupled
with the words made Dixie a genuine
song of the people almost from the
instant il was first sung from the
stage of Bryants Minis rcls. then ON
No. i72 Broadway. New York. ON the
might of Monday, september 70. 1889.
Il was on the suggestion OF Mrs.
Emmett that the song was named
pixie The copyright Of the song
was sold hy Emmett To Firth Pond n
company of New York for the sum or
S5oo-a st.I prI,, To pay Tor song
iu those DAYS but au-urdly inadequate
in view of the gr,a, and lasting pop.
ularty of the production