The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-09-05
Interesting
Article On Proposed MOnu-
meDt To Emmett
Written By A Former Mt,
Vernon Boy
Also Writes OF Dan Emmett's
Life And Work
(5y Dess 9. Kirk in Canton News.
Democrat).

Democrat).
While the years roll on and hun
dreds applaud Americas most popu-
lar song the body of its author lies al
most forgotten in it's narrow home in
beautiful Mound View cemetery in Mt.
Vernon. The inscription in the small
headstone is simply Daniel Decatur
Emmett" A small tribute surely for
the man who wrote Dixie" and assist
ed in founding negro minstrelsy.
The man is almost forgotten except
by few of his old neighbors, but his
song still lives and thrills the hearts
of thousands. How popular minstrel
sy is become the bank accounts of
minstrel promoters mutely testify.
Shortly after his death which oc-
Cured in Mt. Vernon few years ago,
q subscription was started for the pur.
pose of erecting fitting tribute to
the memory of this unusual man, but
interest was lax and the Emmett Me-
mortal fund became a thing forgot
ten.
Recently AL G.. Field, the popular
minstrel, sought to arouse public in
terest and so collect money for the
| erection of a shaft to the memory OF
the composer and minstrel The fund
backed by Fields force and ag
gressiveness will doubtless be raised
| Emmett was born and reared in the
city in WHICH he died, and early in
life showed a decided aptitude fol
music. While his work In a little
blacksmithshop was not calculated tC
nurture the music imprisoned within
his breast, yet Emmett dreamed anC
at night he secured his pleasure from
his age worn fiddle.
At last as dreams sometimes do
his came true and he Joined a troupe
of players. Happy in the life anr
careless of its troubles, he at last, as
prominent member of the compan!
reached the goal of all actors ambi
ton, New York.
Their form of entertainment prove,
popular but as the weeks rolled b!
the crowds dwindled and it becam,
very apparent that II the pay check
were to continue something woul,
have to be done. 1t was then tina
Emmett and couple of friends con
ceived the Idea Of blacking up lik
Southern negroes and giving an enter
tainment of the Southland
Except for stray reports New Yorl
knew little OF the country south o
Mason and Dixons line and welcomes
eagerly the announcement that tn
company would produce negro mir
Btrel. Then came Sunday, the day he
fore the show was to open. and
dreary rainy day 1t was. The mana
ger falling to secure a catchy sons
tingling OF the south was in a quar-
dry. The premier was the next da
and greatly perplexed the trouble wa
confided to young Emmett.
The young musician thought a MT
, ment OF the lifting tune which ha
haunted him for days.
I'm write you a song" he said, an
he started to compose the air that
now known from one end of the coul
= try TO the other.
He picked up his well loved violi
and played, slowly and hating at fir,
as the melody took form, then Il
threw aside his fiddle and picking u
IA pen he put his thoughts on pape
Dixie" had been written.
The theatre was crowded Monda
night for the negro minstrel a
nouncement had aroused curiosit
Then the curtain went up and ii
opening strains of Emmetts wa
around" was played AS the catch
tune doomed through the hail feet b
gan tapping and finally came such
salyo of applause as the theatre ha