New-York tribune., 1908-03-01
Dixie" g "
Hou Oar" Emmett's Song Became
the War Song of the South.

letter recently received by the editor OF The
Tribune directs attention to q common falling
among writers musical matters; called upon
and over again in the course of a season to
discuss things familiar 10 them, they assume that
the memories of their readers are equally tenacious
and frequently content themselves with references
TO articles which have appeared In their journals
rather than repeat what to them Is Old story
A remark which occurred in a musical review n
this paper fortnight ago offers case IN
point. An amiabla correspondent writes: IN
article music in this mornings Tribune Dixie
receives considerable comment. but the writer slys
the story is too familiar to need repetition As
matter of fact there seems much confusion that
point The other evening half dozen OF Us were
on the subject and obtained little definite salts
faction from reference 10 all the BOOKS Of music
and history available. 1 know that a large number
OF readers would appreciate full and authentic
account of this song, especially to whether tho
words and music still the same as at first
written. whether the adaptation Of the air
a Southern battle hymn it words
The request implied is modest and the subject
interesting. II is a fact that there has been Il lot
of fiction written about Dixie" and the greater
has been the wonder. since until four years ago
the author of both words and music still alive
repeat. he did hundreds of times. the tale CT
how he write II. This author DsuisI
Decatur Emmett. who began his life at Mount Yer
non Ohio, October %. 1915. and ended il in Eis
native June -. 1904 His father was 4
blacksmith and the boy worked in the sTnthv. got
type In country newspaper office, began TO COM
pose tunes and became ffer and drummer in the
United States army, all before he was seventeen
years old "Old Dan Tucker which cu-ht to be
second IN popularity only 70 Dixie was one of
his early productions After serving his in the
army he travelled with circuses and gave sketches
I'm the sideshov-s singing and acting his own
pieces AS early as 1StI he organized the Virginia
Ministries. which gave entertainments at The Chat
ham Theatre. in New York. and even worked its
70 here ~ md
Emmett came back TO New York.
In 1851 Emmett joined Dan Bryaut's N1instreyz
for which he wrote ''walk-arounds.' which rs the
present writer remembers them. were the conclud-
ing act-a song and dance for the entire company
of the first part of the programme called the oIio
1t for such use that Dixie written. Tho
origin of the term has been much debated. 1t has
been said that the term was peculiar to New York
and derived from boss game, something Ike
prisoners base the ground between the goal
lines being known ''DXie's Land The most wide
spread and popular notion has been that the Dixie
of the song being plainly the Southland, the term
was derived from Mason and DiXons Line. Brew
ers Dictionary OF Phrase and Fable gives an
explanation of the phrase which Is a singular III
version OF that which Emmett himself was won't
to tell Says Brewer:
Dixie te, Land ID The Utopia Of The American mig
Island. but the force Of public opinion induced
tieIe they were strangers In Il strange land and
had 10 work harder and fare worse, 50 that they
their dear old Di&e Land Imasnat.on ard dis
thnce gave charms 70 the old place. which I'll
Hately became the ideal paradise OF RCSCO song.
Here the negro slaves who were taken away
are represented longing for the Joys of Man
hattan-tust the opposite is the essence o. the
story told by Emmett. \ little than a year
before he died the old minstrel told the story OF
the song a reporter OF The Mount Vernon
Banner; II follows:
l remember when boy with the circus that the
performers always spoke OF Dixie land when win
ter approached and the season for a tour in the
South drew near. This be a part of the
circus vernacular, and grew from the conflict
which was then already being fomCnted the
slavery question A named Dixie owned a
great plantation Manhattan Island. When lie
was compelled TO abandon slavery he took his
tates 10 Maryland, and thereafter when slave
owner was compelled TO leave the North II came
TO be remarked that he going To DiNie's land.
Ffom this the term grew until it lost all its pro-
yinCialisln.
Now for the story of how the song came 20 he
written. Emmett is the best witness in the case,
and the facts they derived from him are
pleasantly given in the book Famous American
Songs" by Gustav kobbe
on Saturday night, September L. lS59. after the
performance, one of the Bryants told Emmett that
walk-around Was wanted ia time Tor re
hearsdl Monday. The minstrel replied that,
while the time very short. he would do his
best That night after he reached home, he
tired to hit upon some tune, but the mISlr
wouldn't come. Ills wife Cheeriy told him t"
Wait unn morning; ne should have the room -
hinlself so that he could work und1AtlI hs<a aad