Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1925-09-09
THE BEST SONG
Article written for the Spirit of JEFF
ferson by Arthur w. Hawks. Sr.

ferson by Arthur w. Hawks. Sr.
A part of my platform work that
I enioyed very much when | was on
the road was visiting the Public
schools and giving them talks on our
songs. For instance, / would get
them to sing The Star Spangled Ban
ner. and tell them some of its his
tory. Then, we would have America
and they would tell the story of
America. Then, / would say. 81 have
kept the best song until the last.
Now. children and teachers. who
wrote Dixie? Where was it written.
and who wrote the music?" They
did not know. Now Stop, Look, and
Listen, please.
1t was late in November in 1859
that minstrel show came to Hor-
nellsville, (now called Hornells), up
state in New York. The show had
been there before and was popular.
The troop landed in town early in the
morning after a short run in good
shape, and had an easy day before
them-no Matinee parade at II
A. NJ, then a rest time before the
show. After dinner. the manager
went down time to see how the tick
cts were going. He found the house
sold out. The ticket man said, "Got
anything newt"
"Sure, new clog dancer, good
new monologue. and a bran new af-
ter piece"
whats your opening chorus?"
"Oh, same old thing, Say, pretty
yellow. gal, can't you come out to-
night?'"
.sCut it out. you've got to have a
new walk around and opening song"
30. K"
The manager went back to the Ho-
tel and called the troop together at
the Hall at 2 P. M. They were all
there. He made his little speech:
eve are up agin' it. Got to have a
new song and walk around tonight.
Who vii write it,"
81 WILL" said Dan Emmett. He
got down at the table. got the man
1T the piano and wrote the Best Song
Ever Written-"Way Down South in
Dixie" He wrote the words and the
music. They worked on it until they
had it down fine. Opened up with it
over it. The next day every body in
that night, and the house went wild
town was singing it. 1t was publish
ed and became. at once. the favorite
song of everybody. The War came
on-the War Between the States.
The confederate soldiers had do
rena". 'sThe Bonnie Blue Flag"
tWhen This Cruel War is Over
but above all they had 'Dixie"
I remember one afternoon on
Halls Island in Harper's Ferry. was
standing at the barred window of the
prison with Mr.. John Selden. The
Federal troops were passing and
singing "John Browns BODY Lies a.
moulding in the Ground" Well,
there were fifty of us in that room.
but we struck up '.Dixie" all right,
all right.
If you want to hear 'Dixie" at its
best go to a Confederate Reunion.
hear the Daughters of the Confeder-
acy and the Children of the Confed-
eracy and the Sons of Confederate
Veterans, and the old Confederate
Veterans, (God Bless Emu sing
Dixie, and help it along with the old
Yell.
At the Reunion in Chattanooga,
Tennessee. some wears ago, ] stood in
front of the Patton Hotel with 0pie
Reid. He watched the DAUGHTERS go
by and then came the thin line of
Those Who Wore the Grey, and they
were singing 'Dixie" as they march
ed. Reid threw his arms around my
neck and said. "Mv God, Hawks, |
can't stand it." burst into tears and
rushed up to his room.
But to return to Dan Emmett; like
all MINISTRIES he made fairly good
money, but he spent more than he
made. Broken down and poor he
went to live in two-room cabin with
lean-to at Mount Vernon, Ohio.
There he eked out miserable exist
ence by selling autographed copies Of
Dixie. His wife took care of him.
One night in the Hotel Aston Ball
room in New York City. the Southern
people had a concert; the room was
packed, Southern young lady in
Confederate colors came out COM
menced to sing Dixie. The crowd
Joined her, out came the old Yell.
At that same time out in Ohio. Dan
Emmett pulled the thin cover up UNI
der his chin and said to his wife, Il
wish / was in Dixie" and passed
over.
/ made a visit to The cabin and to
Dan Emmett's unmarked grave. But
one day AL Fields, the minstrel man,
who worked mighty hard for his
money, put his hand down in his
pocket and put up stone on Dan
Emmett's grave.
Some silly folks have put new
words to the dear old song, but the
world loves the old words.
Teach the words and music to YOUR
children and grandchildren. Tell
them the story of Dan Emmett. God
bless you.
ARTHUR w. HAWKS.
goth August, 1925,
Ruxton, Maryland
ATTEND uIIyETT PEIJNION