The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-06-18
At A Banquet Held 10 Los
Angeles, California
But A Former Mt Vernon
Woman Exposed The Man
AOd Clearly Showed That
Od0 Emmett Wrote "Dixle"

Out In Los Angeles. California, the
other day man sprang up who claim.
ed to be the author OF Dixie" which
was written by our own Uncle Dan
Emmett.
The individual gave his name as II,
T. Arnold and was the guest of honor
at a banquet given by the Gamut Club
of Los Angeles.
In an account of the Gamut Club
banquet the Los Angeles Sun said.
Among the guests whose works
have distinguished them was II.
T. Arnold, author and composer
of Dixie" Arnold was accompan.
led by his wife, and made an In
teresting talk. He came TO Los
Angeles from his home in Mont.
gomery, Ala.
The account OF the banquet was read
by Mrs Helen Kelsey Wood. a form
er resident of Mt. Vernon who was
highly incensed over the fact that
some unknown person was trying to
steal the laurels from Daniel u. EN-
nett, and she Immediately wrote to
the Los Angeles Sun asking that a
correction be made as to ArnOld's
claim AZ being the author of Dixie"
Mrs. Woods letter to the Banner
and the following article from the Los
AM les Sun are selfexplanatory:
Perris, Riverside Co, Cal. June ..
Editor Of the Mt Vernon Banner:
Dear Sir-Thinking that the en-.
closed articles clipped from the Los
Angeles Times, may be of interest TO
your readers. | enclose them.
When read the item referring to a
Mr.. Arnold of Montgomery. Alabama,
as the author of Dixie" ] immediate.
ly wrote n wrathful and indignant pro.
test to the Times, as no good Mt. Yer
MONTE will stand quietly by and see
Dan Emmett's well-earned laurcls-
worn for half a century, cruelty wrest.
ed from him-albcit he has lain in his
grave for several years.
My just Indignation was shared by
Mr., Post who also came forward In
defence OF the dead composer,
After having evoked such reprisals,
] rather fancy that Mr.. Arnold will
refrain In future from stealing wreaths
of the graves of ,he dead,
Permit me, In closing. to express
The sincere pleasure | feel upon the
weekly appearance OF the old Mt. Yer.
non Banner out her In my faron Cali.
fornia home.
Very sincerely yours,
Mrs. Helen Kelsey Wood.
The article from the Times follows
II may or may not be of interest ia
". l.. Arnold. who was recently In.
troduced at Gamut Club entertain.
mcnt as the author of Dixie" 10 learn
that at least two persons In Southern
California say emphatically that Ar
The soul-stirring song. that has be
come popular In every nook and Gran
ny OF the United States and chcered
the Confederate soldiers through many
a long march and heart-breakins bat
tie during the great Civil War, was
written by n northern man who was 9
'nigger minstrel" according to Mrs
Helen X. Wood OF Perris and Charles
A. Post, vice-president and treasurer
of the Western Mallcable CASTINGS
Company, thIs city
Mrs. Wood and Post have writer
letters to The Times In which they
throw interesting lights on the fam
Gus song and It's apparently little
known author, Mrs. Wood says Dan
iel Emmett, the composer, died tw,
years ago and citizens OF Mt. Vernon
o., his birthplace. are planning /,
rear a monument Ia his memory II
the M. Vernon public square,
Emmett, a member OF Bryants min
strels Of New York. wrote "DiNie' II
1853, under the following clroumsian
es, Post says In his letter
"One Saturday evening al the clos,
Of minstrel performance. Jertl
bryant asked Emmett TO write son,