davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-10-11

w 1HEN Du Maurier by writing
M "Trilby" gave renewed vogue to
Ben Bolt he did not know the
name of the author. Yet Thomas Dunn
English. who had written the song so
years before, was living, was a member
of the United States congress and sur
vived Du Maurier eight years, dying
in Newark, N. J., in 1902.
Du Maurier made a fortune out Of
''Trilby." Thomas Dunn English never
received cent from Ben Bolt
The circumstances in which the lines
were written, and which were related
to Mr.. Kobbe by the authors daugh-
ter, Miss Alice English. who often
heard them from her father, seem to
take us far back in American literature
For DR.. English personally. knew Ed
gar Allan Poe and many of the other
early American writer's. During the
summer of 1913 he was visiting in New
York, where he became acquainted
with N. P. Willis, who with George
P. Morris recently had revived the
New York Mirror. Willis asked Eng
lish to contribute a sea poem. explain
ing, however, that the paper was run
on very small capital and that its edi-
tors would be greatly obliged to him
If he would let them have the. poem
just for the love of the thing. That
was not an unusual request to be made
by editors of American periodicals in
those days. Attall events. English con-
sented, then went home and forgot all
about his promise until reminded of it
by letter from Willis.
He had the manuscript of a sea poem
which, however, he. had discarded as
not up to the mark, but which played
its part, nevertheless in the compost
tion of Ben Bolt" When he sat down
at his desk to write something new
for the Mirror it seemed as if the
mantle of Dibdin were reluctant to fall
upon him, and the poem of the sea was
not Forthcoming. BY one of those
curious reflex actions of the mind he
drifted into "reminiscences of his boy
hood, and almost before he knew it he
had written the line:
Don't you remember sweet Alice Ben
Bolt?'
The poem consists of five stanzas of
eight lines each, but not until the last
line is there the slightest hint as to its
hero's walk in life, when suddenly he
is apostrophized as Ben Bolt of the
salt sea gale" line that gives con-
siderable lift to the whole and adds
touch of vigor to what was simply
sentimental ballad. 1t looks as If
The San Francisco call., 1908-10-11

DR.. English had bethought himself
at the finish that Willis had asked for
a sea poem, and, in order to comply
with the request, had introduced the
line at the end of five stanzas in which
the sea was conspicuous by its alb
sence. The curiously interesting fact
is, however. that when he was half
way through the last stanza his inspi-
stuck" as the more commonplace say
ing is. when he chanced to think of the
discarded sea poem and simply copied
the last four lines of it on TO what he
had written, making them the last
four lines of Ben Bolt" which was
duly published in the New York Mir
ror of September 2. 1S43, with a few
commendatory words (by way of COM
pensation) from the editors and
signed with the authors initials, 1T
D. E."
Ben Bolt was set TO music at least
three times. The first version, which
was never published. was made by
Dominick NJ. H. May of Baltimore. a
young composer who at the time re-
sided in Washington. In 1S4S a melody
composed by English himself was
printed in Philadelphia, but it was not
success. The tune which carried
Ben Bolt to the farthest ends of
peared two years before. 1t was :.
German melody which had been adapt
ed to the words or rather to a garbled
version of them, by strolling min
strel performer named Nelson Kneass.
The San Francisco call., 1908-10-11
By Gustav Kobbe

= HE popular song writer always
is ION the job but his songs are
not Every spring and autumn
the music publishers are on the
lookout for the song hit of the coming
season. But apparently it is destined
to last only that long. Then it disap-
pears as completely as if it never had
been written. Another and another
take its place.
Fleeting fancies these which for q
while tickle the ear, but do not reach
the heart. To sink deep into the affec-
ton, to be caught UP not only by those
who first hear it, but also by those who
come after, and thus be handed down as
part of the popular inheritance, "a song
must appeal in direct and simple way
to some sentiment that is common to
all humanity-love of home, OF mother,
Of country
Such is one universal characteristic
Of these popular songs, which live on
from generation to generation. There
is another. 1t is their entire freedom
from coarseness. The ''commcn people,"
as the "highbrows" are pleased 20 call
them, reject with one accord what is
coarse or impure The topical song"
Of the day, with its suggestive lines.
viii be forgotten tomorrow, because the
common people" decline to give it
vogue. The words of our folk songs
may be commonplace, but never are
they vulgar. Love of bone tenderly
expressed is the quality that seems to
commend a popular song most strong
ly. For this reason Home, Sweet
Home" by John Howard Payne. and
"Old Folks at Home" or, as ii Is COM
monty called, The Suwanee River" by
stephen Collins Foster, probably are
the most popular songs in the English
language. Indeed, they have been
translated into other languages. Fos-
ter's song even into several Asiatic
tongues. The story of Home, Sweet
Home is peculiarly interesting.
In May, 1923, Charles Kemble pro-
duced at the Covent Garden theater,
London. play by John Howard Payne
entitled "Clari, the Maid of Milan" E"
Clari, village girl, who has run away
with nobleman, is led to return to
her home by hearing the strains of a
song that has been familiar to her
since childhood. When in the first act
Of the play Ellen Trees sister, Anna
Maria Tree. who was Clari came out
on the Covent Garden stage and began:
Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam
BE it ever so humble, there's no place like home
the song that now is known the world
over was heard for the first time. In
November of the same year the play
was given in New York, and find that
in 1897 Ellen Tree played Clari in this
country, and in 1855 Matilda Heron was
seen in the role.
There are several musical numbers
in the play, and their composition was
'intrusted by Kemble to Henry Rowley
Bishop. Some years before Bishop had
made for a London publishing house
an elaborate collection of Melodies of
Various Nations" for which Thomas
Haynes Bayley, a popular song writer
and composer (f. l., "Gaily the Trouba-
dour"), wrote the original words. The
The San Francisco call., 1908-10-11

certain other songs. however popular.
these romantic personal touches can not
be given. j. l.. MOlIOy, who wrote
Loves Old Sweet Song" was an anna
teur with the versatility of a clever
Irishman He was the eldest son of
Kebo Molloy Of ConolOre. Kings county.
Ireland. was born in 1887, and called
to the English bar in 1854. A lawyer
and a holder of public positions, he
managed nevertheless to compose sew
eral operettas, and many songs. Mrs.
Charles Abingdon Barnard, better known
as "Claribel.' also appears to have led
the simple life Although she died 80
years ago in Dover. Eng. at least
three of her songs survive because OF
their simple yet true sentiment and
righteousness They are Take Back
the Heart That Thou Gavest." Come
Back to Erin" and Il Can Not Sing the
Old Songs.2
"The Red. White and Blue some-
times called the Army and Navy Song"
because it celebrates the prOwess OF
both services. although there is an
English song TO the sar-e melody. seems
undoubtedl to have been written and
composed in the autumn of 1S4S by
Thomas A Beckett. an Englishman re-
siding in Philadelphia. for an actor and
singer named d. T. Shaw. There is
an edition of the song giving Shaw's
stating that Beckett arranged" the
song. But Beckett set forth the cir
cumstances in detail in a letter to
Commodore Preble when the latter was
writing his book on the American Tag
"Tenting on the Old Camp GrOuRd''
is the work of Walter Kittredge, who
was the tenth among the IL children
OF farmer of Merrimac. n II. Walter
had fine voice. He never had music
lesson, but his natural gift was SO
great that in 1852 he began giving
ballad concerts. In 1856 he joined forces
with Joshua Hutchinson. one OF the
famous Hutchinson family. During the
civil war he was drafted into the vol
unteer service. and while preparing to
go to the front wrote and composed
the famous song His manuscript WA
returned to him by one publisher afSer
another. but his own singing OF it was
so successful that a spurious version
Of it was brought out and then sos
ton firm bought the original from him
and published 1t.
Does any one know the history of
Fiddle and T.? All the publishers now
can tell about it is that the words
are by Fred Weatherley and the music
by Arthur Goodeve. On some editions
of the song Goodeve's name does not
even appear.
The San Francisco call., 1908-10-11

IT is curious fact that Dixie" the
famous marching song of the south
ern armies and now one of the popu-
lar songs the world over, was COM
posed by. a northern man before the
civil war, has no reference whatever
to war and was written simply to serve
as walk around" for Dan Bryant's s
minstrels. Its composer was Daniel
Decatur Emmett. a poor man, who died
only four years ago in his native town.
Mount Vernon, o.
Emmett wrote Dixie" while he was
member Of the famous Bryant's min
strels, which he had joined in 1851.
He was known already as the COM
poser of old Dan Tucker and he was
engaged by Bryant, not only In the
capacity of a stage performer, but also
to compose negro songs and walk
arounds." On Saturday night, Sep
tember II, 1859. after the performance
one of the Bryants told Emmett that
a new walk around" was wanted in
time for rehearsal on Monday. The
minstrel replied that while the time
was very short he would do his best.
Next day was rainy and dismal. Some
years before Emmett had Travelled
with circus as a drummer. In win
bSi Liic WITH southern ciICull was q
popular route with circus people, and
those who were obliged to- show in the
north would say when the cold weather
would make them shiver. Il wish l
was in Dixie The phrase was, in
fact, current circus expression. On
that dismal September day, probably
the beginning of the equinoctial, when
Emmett stepped to the window and
looked out the old longing for the
pleasant south came over him, and in
voluntarily he thought to himself, i
wish | was in Dixie" Like flash the
thought suggested the first line for a
walk around" and little later the
minstrel. fiddle in hand, was working
out the melody which. coupled with the
words, made Dixie" genuine song
OF the people almost from the instans
1t was first sung from the stage of
Bryant's Minstrels, then at 472 Broad
way, New York, on the night of Mon
day, September 10, 1859.
The vogue of Dixie as the war song
or the south seems to have originated
In the excitement it caused when sung
on the stage of the New Orleans Va
rieties theater in the spring of 1861.
when Mrs John Wood was appearing
there in "Pocahontas." feature of
the performance was a zouave march
The San Francisco call., 1908-10-11

HE popular song writer always
is ION the job but his songs are
not Every spring and autumn
the music publishers are on the
The San Francisco call., 1908-10-11
TTIE PA1YNE COTTAGE AT EASTHA3IPT TON, N Y
IL = Ir1sti

collection includes "a Sicilian Air. set
to the words:
To the home of my childhood. in sorrow 1 came.
When Bishop read Paynes verses
they seem to have reminded him of
this earlier home poem, and he
promptly adapted the "Sicilian air. to
Home Sweet Home" Is it really a
1 have looked in vain for 1t through
collections of Italian popular songs
Moreover, Donizetti, an Italian, when
he wanted to introduce a typical Eng
lish air in his Anna Bolena," selected
Home, Sweet Home" which he surely
would not have done had 1t been Ital-
ian. Bishop was fairly prolific COM
poser, and he may have found 1t easier
to compose some of these Melodies
find and arrange genuine ones This,
according to one of his friends, is pre-
cisely what he did in the case of "A
Sicilian Air" 1t has been argued that
he could not have composed 1T, be-
cause nothing else of his has survived.
This, however. is incorrect, for nearly
every collection of familiar songs con-
tains his song, The Mistletoe Bough."
Payne's life story often has been
told The world has literally sung
my song until every heart is familiar
with it's melody, yet l have been a
wanderer since my boyhood" were the
pathetic words of the gifted but err
ratio author of Home, Sweet Home"
Payne was living abroad when he COM
posed the famous lines. He left Eng
land and returned to the United States
in 1882. Ten years later, and again in
1851, he was appointed United States
g, 1852, far from home and with no
relative or friend at his bedside. He
was buried in ST. Georges cemetery,
overlooking the bay of Tunis and the
ruins of ancient Carthage.
Hands of the stranger. ring the mournful knell-
Homeless the bard who sang OF home well!
In 1883 w. w. Corcoran, who when a
boy had seen Payne actor he was
an actor before he became a play
wright-had the poets body transferred
from Tunis to Washington. When the
body reached Washington it was placed
in the Corcoran art gallery. On June
the body was reinterred in Oak Hin
cemetery, the president of the United
States, his cabinet and a military es-
cort forming part of the cortege-a
contrast to the poets sad life and lone
ly death which conveys it's own COM
mentary. But at least they were bring
ing him home
EvEN sadder than the fate of the
homeless bard of home" was that
of Stephen Collins Foster, probably
the most gifted composer of popular
songs. His genius in this direction
for 1T certainly amounted to genius
is now being recognized by serious
writers on music, and the man whose
body barely was saved from burial ir
the Potter's field is now spoken of as
occupying "a unique position among
American composers" Most familiar
of all his songs is, of course, his "Old
Folks at Home but among the Others
are MY Old Kentucky Home" "Old
Dog Tray" iMassa's in de Cold, Colo
Ground" Nellie Bly," Nellie was q
Lady" Willie, We Have Missed You.'
"Old Uncle Ned" "Old Black joe" 20
Boys, Carry Me Long" and Come
Where My Love Lies Dreaming"
The San Francisco call., 1908-10-11

This Kneass came of a good family,
which had disowned him for going on
the stage. He had a sweet tenor voice
and became a favorite, but always was
more or less of a rover. While ap-
pearfng at a theater in Pittsburg he
was told by the manager, who was
preparing to produce a play by local
writer entitled THE Battle of Buena
VISTA" that if he could get a new
song he would be cast in the piece.
One of the hangers-on at the theater
was former English newspaperman.
A. NJ Hunt. The minstrel consulted
him about the words. and Hunt told
him he had read some years before
in a newspaper in England a poem
called Ben Bolt" of which he re-
membered enough to be able to piece
1t out for music.
Kneass told him to go ahead. and
Hunt produced three stanzas made up
in part of the original. in part of lines
which Hunt supplied himself. Kneass
adapted a German melody to them.
sang the piece in the play. where
it made a great hit. and it became
almost instantaneously popular. After
ward the music and the garbled YER
sion were published, and to this day
the song is printed with the incorrect
words. Two of the lines which Hunt
had remembered correctly,
And the shaded nook by the running
brook
Where the children used to SWIM
were changed at the instance of the
publisher, who objected that to sing
about children swimming would offend
the sense of delicacy of some of his Gus
toners In consequence the natatory
diversions of the young hopefuls We're
eliminated from the printed version,
and the Youngsters have not been per-
mitted to go in swimming since-at
least not in the song.
English used to relate that soon after
the song was published ship. a steam
boat and race horse were named after
it. adding, The ship was wrecked. the
steamboat blew up and the horse never
won racial of which was true He
considered these untoward events in
some way in accord with his own i'll
luck in never having made penny
out of the poem
The San Francisco call., 1908-10-11

IL UNDOUBTEDLY the songs that
have been described have by far
the most romantic history of any,
and there was about their authors the
touch of bohemianism and devil-may-
care that the public seems to asso-
ciate with genius of this kind To
The San Francisco call., 1908-10-11

orooaAe- ooe~ '-o~,e s~esv
.O~veae 6, &c -
eaor soAca eooarssr
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-08
Furniture Repair
UpHoLsTERINc

GIVE have opened a first
class Furniture Repair Shop
and are equipped 10 repair all
kieds Of Furniture, do uphol-
steering and finishing work on
furniture We do all sorts of
wood work and if you have
"a piece Of furniture a bout the
house in need ,of,repair you
will make no mistake by
bringing it to US.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-08
Mile.
COst#eIiI 10,
WORLDS Famous AND GREAT
EST PIANIST AND CLAIR
yoYANT.

Mic. Costello stands alone. pos-
sessing a force of power, "a gift that
none can equal. She tells the past,
present and future: love marriage and
divorce what bItsine6s you are fitted
for. IN fact she reads your life like
an open book. Are YOU In trouble Of
any kind? II so. can and consult this
wonderful person. There is no need
OF anyone being unhappy or unsuc-
cessfuI. eRemember all business sa-
crcdly confidential. Perfect satistac-
ton given or no Zee accepted Gem
.tIemen SOC, ladies csc.
Located at.
f82 w. Main Allsslllll.g5s va.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-08

sWEEE MDLoDY TLoUR.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-08

Though Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes KnewMot. of It
Until After ii Fell.

IA Washington sBetial annnouces
that senator sam OIL HBg1 AfodtBo mery,
of Preston county, w. Va. has been.
given a good cpositf6n,1n the depart
ment of commerce3a labor without
the previous knowledge OF either
West Virginia senator or any OF the
Representatives from this state. He.
is a special agent and is detailed to
look after information about mines
and labor generally The President
appears to-haev appointed him on his
appears to have 8ppofntedshim on his
- ~
e. H. Cushing is in Parkersburg
on business and pleasure.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-08

To the Amount of Three
Thousand olIars in the
Claim Made.

NEW MARTINsNILLE. Dec. s.
At rules in the, circuit court OF Wet
Ezel county the declaration in suit
IN debt was fled today by Robert
Hutchinson VS.. the. Baltimore g.
Ohio Railroad Company. The plain
tin claims the sum OF So. 900. which
he alleges Is due him FOR over
charges for transportation, over the
West Virginia Short Line railroad.
a road owned and leased by the de-
fendant company. He alleges that
in october. 1901. he purchased a
ticket from this city to .Jacksonburg,
a distance OF. twenty-three miles, and
was required to pay the sum of go
cents. He recites i've other dates on
which he was required to pay the
same sum for transportation between
the same two points 3.99ne way, or the
other. He also sets. forth the gross
earnings Of the road per mile.
showing that the amount charged
was in excess of the amount pre-
scribed by law which was In effect at
that time, and claims the statutory
penalty Of $500 for each of the
charges. The plaintiff Is represent
ed by Attorneys NJ. R. Morris and
j. e. Law.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-08
BALnMORE&ORe
RAILROAD.

schedule elective Nov. 90, 1908.
CLARKSBURG, W. va.
"Daily. xDutly excpe: Sunday.
Sunday only.
MAINE LINE, EASTBOUND.
Cumberland, Washington Baltimore
Philadelphia and New York, depart
"3:52 am, '5:4O pm. 1895 pm.
Arrive 1888 am, 1855 am; "6:os
MAIN LINE, WEsTBoUND.
Parkersburg, Cincinnati. Louisville
and st. Louis, depart 1888 am,
"9:55 am, "6:Os pm. Arrive 1859
am. "5:4O' pm, 1895 pm. II
Pnrkersburg Accommodation. depart
1928 am. 1900 pm. Arrive "1O:2o
am, 1890 pm.
w. VA. s PITTS, NORTHRoUND.
ConnellsvIlle and Pittsburg. depart
x6:lO am. Arrive x11:05 pm.
TaIrmont and MorRantown. depart
x6:1O am, X3:15 pm.
w. VA. s PITTS, SOUTHBOUND. 4
Weston, depart $4,000 am z1O:25amy
X11:3O am, "6:45 pm. Arrive 70: So
am. 1890 am, x2:15 pm, z5:26pm,
xT:O6 am.
dickens, depart $500 am, x6:16 pm
Arrive 1855 am. X7:05 pm.
Redwood and intermediated points
depart x6;OO am. X11:3O am. Arrive
x2:15 am, X7 05 pm.
= WEST VA. SHORT lime.
New NIartinsv:lle and Wheeling ac-
commodatIon, depart $500 am,
%2:45 pm, Arrive S11:26 am,
1880 pm.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-08
DEEDS REcoRDEB

A. N. Ritter to George Randolph.
Ia interest in 4 acres, Tehmtle dis
.trict.
Same-to same, 3-4 interest. same.
John Stark to trustees of Wesley
an Methodist clurch,gf lot, Tenmtle
district,
David s. starcher TO Martina A..
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-08
DIRECTORS

'Frum. lot, Sardfs district.
John Robinson to Nelson. Robin
son, 1 lot. Tenmlle district.
n. p. Gain to Matte Reed, lot,
Salem. Tenmtle district
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-08

sUPERTLUoUs HAIR, MoLIss Ann
OTHER FACIAL BLENuSHES
Removed by the Electric Needle.
Con. Phon l40 Miss NLnude HofT
92f Water st.
.cLARKsByRG, w. VA.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-08

/ ". B. Reed. Of Wheeling. is a city
visitor
y. J. Sullivan u here from
Wheeling
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-08
suppeF ana Bazllar

A church benene supper an a. bazaar
viii Sc held ii the school house in
the New Fair Ground addition SAT-
tfrtifty night TO which all are cordial
~ IilVtted, 5Ssrhere win be clothes
,ISfE, social ana q sale eof CItiilts. rugs.
aprons cuslions and numerous other
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-08
q

Civic Club efpe
{ the regll aI. melting of the
Won mss Civic Club at tl1hS Waldo
VVednesday .1ltef1 ginning at 3
O'Clock the follow Ing proG1sll n VIII Pc
liant iTdf3y-
Public InstitlItf -. A.. 4 Roberts
IIoef1itai work. Mrs y w. stuart
Tl1bercul0 sis: Mrs. II. II Food
Private citizens as Public I3ene
i factors =. =. .-.-.s. Mrs. a. IRtlRapr
Disenston: Iieat der. Mrs q. 8. V4allh
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-08

The, women OF CaFt Episcopal
church will hold their annual christ-
mas sale In the assembly. roomne
the Waldo Thuraday ana aylFgG
ternoons OF t1is week. All are e6rz
daily invited TO attend
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-08

Mrs W, y. Hess. OF hIannlngtqn )
Visiting relatives IN the citE
Gloucester County Democrat., 1908-10-08
Personal Property

STOCK-One bay horse, 10 years old, sound
kind and gentle, will work anywhere; a good
roadster. One black horse, u years old. an ex-
ceilent wo kerr sound and gentle One bay
mare Ia years old, excellent farm worker;
one good family COW. four pigs.
WAGONS and I'M IMFLEMENTS-One shelving
wagon heavy wagon. box for two horse wagon,
gravel body, hack wagon, buggies, one new;
Cham pion moving machine, cart, Spsngler fer
tilizer drill, corn shelter, corn knives Kpapsack
rayer vine cutter, weeder. half bushel meas
ure l.orse rake, half peck measure, 2 two-horse
plows. one horse plow, sweet potato plow, vine
turner 8 cultivate 5. 80 hot bed SASH Baines
marker two horse scratch harrow, grindstone.
box OF hot bs glass, tree trimmer. twoshorse
swingietres s, one-horse swingletrees. traces and
breast chains, 2 wagon jacks, hoes forks, shoy-
els scythes asparagus trough
HAY AND CORN-Three tons of hay, 100
bushels of corn
HARNESSES of carriage harm ess, double set
of heavy harness. set OF single harness, set OF
cart harness. fly nets, collars brides. blankets,
lap robes, halters
Sale will commence at o'clock, sharp.
CONDITIONS-AH sums under $40, cash at
close OF sale. A credit of nine months will be
allowed on all sums Of $40 and over by giving
approved note in bank.
E. G. BRUNER.
A. S MniIin. Auet Chas. wilkins j " Leon
ard Clerks.