New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06

about the fatherland the mothcrland and the
land Of his best girl
Macdonald locates the father in Berlin father
in song has always been placed anywhere at all
and the mother in sunny France. The best girl IS
located by the audience TO suit individual taste.
Macdonald apparently believes it is better not to
nix up too much in geography since he wrote
"The Trail Of the Lonesome Pine" He told me
that in that song he placed the Blue Ridge Noun
tans in Virginia, and did not know until after he
Lad received $1,000 in royalties at half cent
on 100000 copies that said mountains were in
Kentucky
They are happy lot writer's of popular songs.
Irving Berlin acknowledged that the most money
he had made in any one year yet was 100000.
He is young. He is the author of-see theatrical
programmes for last five years and later in this
report.
When | first saw Macdonald he was wearing
black and white check suit and a coat Of tan such
as only royalties could purchase. was with him
two hours during which time he in two suits
of clothes, with neckwear, shoes and walking
sticks to match, three taXicabs and imperturbable
good humor.
He would have been an migrate if he had been
anything less than the latter when all he has to
do to make the chauffeurs go is to spend few
with the ache of separation, to gather in three
times the pay of associate justice of the
United States Supreme Court.
He TAXED to Pach Brothers, in Fifth av., at $3.50
o'clock, where he posed three times in front Of
an imaginary fireplace, for the picture of the war
of the emotions that will be printed in lurid
colors the outside Of the song. Mr..
Bernstein in my presence had told Mr.. Pach
the telephone that he sending Macdonald be
caused the proofs submitted showed man in
evening clothes, with cane, silk hat and broad
smile. ali Of which, said Bernstein, seemed incor-
rect when it was recalled that the subject of the
song was torn feelings and all that sort Of thing.
GOT HEART-wRENCHING SONG FROM PAT
TER OF DRUNKEN MEN.
Macdonald, though one of the biggest money
makers n the song writing game, is essentially
frank about the tricks Of the profession. He
says he got the inspiration for "I'd Like to Get
the Old Girl Back Again" popular several years
ago, from overhearing conversation between two
intoxicated Irshmcn in the smoking car Of
train coming in from New Brunswick, n. j.
One OF. the men asked about Maggie. The other
said he had done with her, she good, she
was awful she was that-and yet, he said, "some-
times, do you know, Mike, Id like to get the old
Girl back again"
When asked to pose he looks when writing
= popular song Macdonald called to the Office boy
to bring him a drink. lie says the first three
songs he wrote were successes, and he used to so
in to see his publisher and talk about himself
One day the publisher said TO him: Mac, you're
a clever boy, aren't you
"You bet | am" replied Mac, losing no time
at all.
"Wcll, why don't YOU give the other fellow
chance to tell you about it once in while"
And Macdonald says that suggestion together
with some lean years. has done him good.
He says he has freeanced and freelunched in
this town, written hits for carfare, and that he
likes success much better. All told, met dozen
Song writer's who held similar views. They eat at
Rector's although the Automat IL closer to their
factories. and the way they address chaufeurs in
dicates that long association with them, in the
capacity Of employer, has taught the song writer
how to be at ease in their society