The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-04-06

less were lyrics and songs that in spite of their
vugarity actually represented something def
nitely American. Stephen made Of this class of
music literature that is well worth preserving
he brought artistry and sincerity to medium
that before his entry had reeked of the alley
and the barroom."
The gayest of them all is 20, Susanna ~ writ
ten when Stephen was blithe young blade OF
nineteen. He had half dozen boon companions.
youths of his own age, who met regularly twice
a week to sing at Stephens home. They brought
their banjos and guitars with them. and called
themselves "Knights of the Square Table" 1t
was for this group that Stephen wrote many of
his finest and earliest songs, including "Louisi-
ana Belle" "Uncle Ned and 20, Susanna!" The
latter was Immediately taken up by all the min
strel shows of which there were great number
then on the road. 1t also became the marching
song and the campfire song of the Forty-niners
on their way to the gold fields of California.
For 20, Susanna Foster received $780, an
event which determined his career for him.
sImagine my delight in receiving 500 in cash !"
he wrote later. Though this song was not sue
cessful yet the two $50 bills received for it
had the effect of starting me on my present
vocation"
OF all the popular songs that had their birth
on American soil in Fosters time, his were the
only ones that lived. The others were sung for
a year or two and forgotten. Curiously enough,
Stephen imagined that his songs would be for
gotten as quickly as the Others 1t never seemed
to occur to him that they might have the seeds
of Immortality in them. Proof of this was to be
found in his willingness, after receiving $1,000
in ROYALTIES for one of his songs in six years, to
sell the copyright for 500 in the belief that it's
day was nearly spent and it would not be likely
to bring in more than that. So he presented
20, Susanna !" and "Old Uncle Ned" to W. G.
Peters, friend of the family who was In the
music publishing business and who proceeded to
make $4,000 out of them.
Fosters Indifference to what became of his
songs led to their being copyrighted by other
persons Even in the case of "Old Folks at
Home" song which became world-famous and
which Mr. Howard believes has been printed
more often than either "H0me, Sweet Home" or
"Annie Laurie" he authorized, for a small con-
sideration, the publication under the name of
E. p. Christy, who headed the Christy minstrels
Morrison Foster has related how his brother
came to him with letter from e. P. Christy
asking the composer to write song for him to
sing before 1t was published
Morrison told Stephen not to do 1t unless
Christy paid him. form Of agreement was
drawn up and the paper was sent to Christy
Afterward, when the song had become closely
associated with Christys name and had been
copyrighted with his name as author and COM
poser. Stepnen wrote 10 THIRSTY 10 permit MIN 10
claim II as his own. He wrote humbly: ION
receipt Of your free consent to this proposition,
will, If you wish, willingly refund you the
money which you paid me on that song, though
It may have been sent me for other considera-
lions than the one In question. and promise in
addition to write you an opening chorus In my
best style, free Of charge, and in any other way
to advance your interests hereafter. I find
cannot write at all unless write for public ap-
probation and get credit for what write"
Although Stephen had told Christy that he
could accomplish little SO long as -Old Folks at
Home" stared him IN the face with another
mans name on It and although he expressed
the hope that the singer would appreciate an
authors feelings in the case, there Is no record
Of a reply from Christy. and It was a long, long
time before Fosters name appeared on the song.
Although Morrison Foster said Stephen received
$500 for the song he confessed to a friend in
New York that he got from $40 to $15 for his
songs from Christy, but that he received two
cents copy for the 100000 copies of the first
edition which was soon exhausted Adelina Patti
and Christine Nilsson helped to make the song
popular by singing it in their concerts.
The story has often been told of how the
Suwannee river, small stream In Florida which
Stephen never saw, or even knew Of, came to