The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-03-28

the long array OF CIliUerS, Ohiy III
This instance the claim Is made by
friends for man whose many
original compositions really gave
much pleasure to many young
people.
The name of VIII s. Hayes, OF
Louisville has been added TO
"the, little listn yet in this lifetime
he never mentiog himself as
one OF the songs authors.
This makes exactly thirty-seven
persons to whom the authorship
OF "Dixie" has been attributed, or
whom 1t has been claimed, every
one of whose claims is spurious,
up aud down and all the way
through.
Only one other popular song has
been composed by so many authors
"The Old Folks at Home" which,
like "Dxie,' Is a household theme
haps the world.
About the middle of June, 1868,
forty counties of the state of Vir-
ginia, represented in convention at
Wheeling. repudiated Secession. and
applied for admission 20 the Union.
! do not remember the exact date
but recall the event distinctly, be-
cause on The following day Stephen
ollins Foster Daniel Decatur EN-
NETT and myself were seated in
ha a nrnn 4
and Spring street, New York, talk
iny over the subject and war mat
ters in general.
Presently we heard music, and
stepping to the window. saw a
brigade OF boys in blue marching
down Broadway journeying to the
front, led by brass band playing
~ wish | was in Dixie"
"Your song" said Foster.
eyes" replied Emmett.
A regiment passed along. when
another approached with band at
its head playing "The Old Folks
at Home"
''Your song.'' said Emmett.
"Yes". answered Foster.
And there stood I, a beardless
--youpr man between the parents
of the two most popular songs
This or any other country has ever
produced, waiting impatlently to
seize my diary and fasten the in
cident and the worlds of the mo-
ment.
was dyed-in- n-the-wool diary
tiend at that time. and I am glad
of II, for now find that. like the
doorplate of the immortal Mr..
Toodles. my old diary is exceed
ingly handy to have in the house.
Ny recollection of Foster Is very
distinct as that OF man about
thirty-five years of age. trifle be-
low medium stature. slightly built.
with long. hairless face. most
youthful In appearance. brown
eyes. high forehead and short,
brown hair, while the garments he
wore had passed into the sere and
yellow leaf OF usefulness.
But he was a hero In my eyes
.hen, aud a far greater one now. as
recall my acquaintance with him.
ard look over a partial list of the
beautiful songs he gave to the
world.
Foster told me that he hoped
and expected "The Old Folks
would outrival Pavne's "TIome
Sweet Hon,en that the latter was
not an original composition, and
that he considered It written con
trary ITO the laws of melody. Ht
added that II was a cause o
amazement to him that 1t could
ever have achieved such popular
lty. II may have been Fosters er
ror In localizing his song. givini
prominence to the "Suwanee Riv
or that effected Its more pro
younced success at the moment 70
he was poet as well as com
POSER and wrote both the word
aud the music OF all his songs. bu
that "The Old Folks at Home
Is finer. sweeter, more melod
ions and touching composition ad
mits of no doubt.
Resides II Is original. which can
not be claimed for "IIome. Swee
Home" More than 10000 copies @
"The Old Folks at Home" wer
sold previous to 1862, one editio
nttributng It's authorship to e.
Christv, OF Chrlsty's Minstrels, VIII
raid Foiser $500 for this ephemer'
bonor.
II was negro minstrelsy whic
brought Foster publicly for whe
troupe OF 'HSerenaders" invade
his naive city of Pittsburg, he a
tended the performance, became II
splred with "Oh. Susanna!'' SUI
mitted and had 1t promptly accen
ed and produced with immedia
end pronounced success. 1t becan
tho f'Merry Midow' waltz OF
time, and music publishers begf
70 outbid each other for Foster
compositions.
In ,,anftnnt,a. ooh o......,,,