The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-03

with whom he corresponded regu-
larry. When ne. submitted his orig
inal manuscript to the publisher it
contained the title. TN Hiawatha."
A friend told him that the In
would be Jonah and suggested
that the remaining word should be
used alone as the title.
The composer Of the music had
no idea OF the Indian end in its
writing. 1t is in no way charac-
teristic OF an Indian tune, but has
the rhythm of the two-step, which
was just then coming into such
great popularity. Mr.. Daniels is a
fine pianist, and ever since he at
tanned any skin on the instrument
II has been his chief delight to i'm
provise odd combinations. and for
that reason everything he writes
has an individuality about it that
has made il popular and different
from the compositions Of any other.
writer.
Since he has become famous as
a composer, Daniels has lived in
various cities. mostly in Detroit
and New York, 10 be near the cen
ters where are congregated the
large music publishing firms. Every
thing from his pen meets with a
ready acceptance. and he is to-day
the best paid of all the composers
OF popular music.
At a low estimate. more than a
million copies of ''Hiawatha" were
sold within the first three years Of
its publication. Since then II has
had a steady sale. until there are
very few homes containing pianos
where either the instrumental or
vocal number is not to be found.
and few players of popular music
but have 1t in their repertoire.
The composer refuses to tell what
became OF the Hiawatha, Kans..
romance which prompted the song.
but it can readily be understood
that the popularity the song brought
10 the Kansas town Of the same
name would have been able to kill
any romance. no matter how deeply
rooted. for when -'Hiawatha" was
at the height OF its pOpularityitS
continuous Interpretation not only
drove the composers to distraction.
but it is noted as having been the
means of breaking up not few
previously happy homes, estrang-
ing engaged couples. and compelling
thousands of people living in flats
in the large cities to move.
One of the most interesting Incl
dents of the popularity of the song
was brought out In the London
Mail, in 1903. A Londoner was trav-
cling in America. He had hardly
reached our shores before ne was
greeted with ''Hiawatha." He was
rather pleased with 1t as being a
distinctly American composition. He
heard 1T at his first supper in a
New York hotel. A visit to the
theater the first evening was his
first introduction to the vocal "Hia-
watha.' The bands played it and
the orchestras played il everywhere
he went. The hurdy- gurdy ground
it out whichever way he would
turn. He was almost driven fran
tic. He took a boat trip out Of
New York to escape "Hiawatha,"
but the orchestra on board gave
him more of il, and it was a com
position de reception" upon his
landing at what he was told was a
notably quiet and charming island
resort
Everywhere he went in America
he met with the same experience,
and finally. when be turned his face
nomeward. "Hiawatha" gave him
his send-off at the pier. When he
arrived in London and had become
more complacent. following his ex-
perience, he told the readers Of the
Nail about his impressions of this
country and its popular song. Be
ginning with "Hiawatha." after he
had finished with that part Of his
description, he had little space left
'or anything else.