The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-04-15
NOW
Foster
Memorial
NEAR SUCCESS
By HELEN EssARY

c.. Foster, who wrote "Swanet
River" "Old Black Joe" and ''My
Old Kentucky Home" is on its
way to realization because a senti
mental little girl way down in
Texas used to sing the Foster bal
lads and adores them. The little
girl has grown up into the pretty,
vivacious Mrs. Luther johnson,
wife Of the Representative from
Texas, and it is through. her efforts
and enthusiasm that the memo
q rial has been organized.
Many little girls-and big ones
land many boys and men have
sung the songs Of Foster and have
realized the tender quality in
their words and music. But of all
these thousands only Mrs. John
son thought definitely about hon
Oring the memory of Americas
foremost native composer.
The name Of the society promot-
ing the memorial, as finally de.
cided. upon, will be the Stephen
Foster Memorial Foundation. It's
purpose will be creation Of fund
Tor the assistance Of needy musi-
clans Of unquestionable talent.
The fund, according to Mrs.
johnson, will function in the
lives Of talented youth and not be
buried in masonry and stone"
The Foundation plans also to
hold an annual Foster song week.
Each year during the week Of the
anniversary of Fosters death,
January IS, schools, theaters and
clubs viii call attention by songs
or pageants to the music and
genius Of Foster. -
Mrs. johnson has been talking
about the memorial for only a
short time. But the response to
the idea has been spontaneous
throughout the country. Last
week Mrs. johnson put her plan
before the national conference Of
music educators in New York
y. City. Ten thousand delegates at
the conference promised coopera-
ton. &
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt Is.
deeply interested in the move
lnellt. She is the only patroness
Of the foundation.
The story OF the beginning Of
the foundation il very interest
ing. Mrs. johnson comes of n1ll-t
steal family, attentive alike to the.
beauty In classical music and folk
songs, and particularly appreci-
alive Of the songs Uf stephen c.
Foster.
TWO years ago Mrs. johnson
gave the Junior High School at
Corsicana. Tex, a portrait Of
Foster, The school was so inter.
ested in this presentation that
Mrs. johnson later ir1augurated q
Foster Memorial Week. Following
this. dozens OF letters came to
Mrs. johnson. Every letter told Of
the writer's delight in such q cele-
bration. SO quick was the re-
Spouse that Mrs. johnson began
to consider ablishing Stephen
Foster Memorial.
She mentioned the subject here
and there to people Of influence
and discretion. They agreed, all
of them, that such a movement
would have an enthusiastic re-
Spouse and should be undertaken
In any event in honor Of the song
writer.
Josiah Lilley, president Of q
nationally known pharmaceutical
company, Is the honorary presi.
dent Of the foundation. Mrs.
johnson is the active president.
Mr.. Elley is q Foster enthusiast.
He has collected most Of the orig
anal Foster ballad scores, has his
clothes, his letters and every bit
Of information that he has been
able to find about the musician.
Foster died as. he had lived a
poor. struggling fellow. In his
purse were 80 cents and q crum-
Piled scrap Of paper on which was
written:
'Dear friends and gentle
hearts," Is
Stephen Fosters life has been
made into a beautiful moving pic
tllre Harmony Lane" The pa
thetic story touches the hearts of
cinema audience as do his songs.
Foster died when he was 80. He
had written $50 songs. Among
the other popular ones that I
have not mentioned are "MaSsa's
In the Cold Cold Ground" and
stOh SuSannah." "Swanee River"
according to Mrs. johnson, is the
best seller Of all songs in all
languages.
BY January IS when the next
Foster memorial week will be held
it is expected that the memorial
will be well on its way to success.
Children love the Stephen Foster
songs. They will be asked in the
schools to put on a Penny Assem-
bly, built around the writer's life.
Members Of all u. S. organizations
will be asked to contribute five
cents o year. Other forms Of men,
bership viii be open.
The officers of the Foster Foun-
dalton are walter Damrosch. the
Right Rev. James e. Freeman.