The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-04-13

biography of Stephen-that the composer wanted
the name of some southern river two syllables in
length, rejecting both Pedee and Yazoo, which
Morrison suggested Then the latter took down
an atlas and Suwannee was found. That's it
exactly" the brother reports Stephen as saying
and continues: ''He left the Office, as was his
custom, abruptly, without saying another word,
and / resumed my work."
Although Mr. Howard admits the ring of au-
thenticty, he doubts the exactness of the account
of the incident as here set down. 1--WE know
from Stephens workbook," he says, "that Pedee
was probably not Morrison's suggestion, but
rather Stephens first idea, one with which he
was dissatisfied"
The decade 1850 to 1860 was to be Stephen
Fosters heydey. In 1850 he was married to Jane
Mcdowell. In 1852 he wrote "Massas in the
Cold, Cold Ground; began efforts to have him.
self acknowledged as the rightful author of
"Old Folks at Home" and with his wife took
that memorable steamboat trip to New Orleans,
the rich fruit of which was to be the song "My
Old Kentucky Home" copyrighted in 1853. What
claim the state of Kentucky may have upon this
song Mr.. Howard discusses at length. Stephen
had cousins living in the beautiful mansion
known as Federal Hall in Bardstown, and that
he visited them there is certain. Beyond that
Howard is not willing to go. The house was re-
Gently purchased by the state and made Fos-
ter shrine. However, although he was to write
literally hundreds more of songs, this marvellous
piece, with It's haunting goodnight" line was
never to be surpassed by Stephen.
America hummed, whistled and sang Fosters
songs in its streets, but at first the highbrows
were ashamed of them Foster himself was some
times little shame-faced about his Ethiopian
Melodies" Dwight's Journal of Music arbiter
of elegance in Boston, reported one week that
at the Castle Garden concerts in New York
Anna Zerr had, SHANE to say, stopped to" sing
"'Old Folks at Home for the boys; one would
as soon think of picking up an apple core In the
street. "True, she sings 1t only as an encore"
remarked the New York Musical Review and
Choral Advocate, "but we think that 1t is bad
taste for her to sing it at ALL" That was in
1853. By 1859 the New York Evening Post was
reporting that Ethiopian minstrelsy :. is now
in its Decline" and that "Mr Foster now writes
songs better adapted for general use"
Fosters newest biographer treats the subject
of his marriage cautiously, declaring that Jane
doubtless put up with great deal of nonsense
and that it would have required saint to be-
come the perfect wife for Stephen Foster But it
seems that Jane had some irritating ways, such
talking during concerts, which must have
been exasperatng indeed to her sensitive hus-
band. Mr.. Howard thinks 1t probable that she
nagged him. They had child Marion, but the
dreamy Stephen may not have been very good
at family life. His efficient wife subsequently
learned to make her own living as telegrapher.
They lived for few years with Stephens
family in Pittsburgh, then moved to New York
where the composer yielded more and more to
strong drink. Jane left him only because she
had to earn her living. and when he died, she
and Morrison FASTENED to New York together
Stephen Collins Foster died on January 13,
1S64-still young man-and he died almost
unrecognized, patient in a charity hospital"
Bellevue in New York City, In the pocket of his
clothes they found small purse containing just
3S cents and slip of paper with five penciled
words on It They were: Dear friends and
gentle hearts,"
mo doubt this was to have been the title of
an unwritten song, but whatever its intent the
phrase describes quite perfectly the dear friend
and gentle heart who added old Folks at Home
and dozen other immortal songs to the worlds
spiritual riches"
Thus, the end Of the sad saga of Americas
Troubadour."
NV Me-.