Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-11-03
BARD OF NEGRO MINSTRELSY

Editor Democrat wonder now
many people realize, when they sing
"Old Kentucky Home" cold Black
joe" "Suwanee River" "Massa's in
de Cold, Cold Ground" that these
songs are not of negro authorship,
but were written by stephen Collins
Foster No sweeter serenade was
ever written, than "Come, Where My
Love Lies Dreaming" College songs,
"Nellie was Lady" "Oh Susanna,
and over 200 more were his, and he
has never received the credit, which
we owe to him for his creative mu'
steal talent. He received little re-
ward for his labors, "Old kentucky
Home netting him $1,372, al
though he hoped to receive another
500. Bardstown, Kentucky, is con-
nected with this bard of negro min
istrelsy. 1t was here that "Old
Kentucky Home" was written, at the
home of his uncle, Judge Rowan.
The home is supposed to have in
spired it, It gave us peculiar
thrill to visit it. 1t stands on Fed.
eral HILL reached through a noble
park, by an interesting drive, a
beautiful and once palatial resi-
dence. Tourists by the hundred
thousand visit it. 1t is of large dl-
mensions. ivy covered, and built OF
bricks. once carried across from
England as ballast. They were pur~
chased at Newport News, Va. Load.
ed on sledges, drawn by oxen, in the
winter season; they were driven by
slaves, over old Indian trails
through Cumberland gap. 1t was
surely a laborious way TO get
house, even in those days. It is sup
posed to be the oldest brick house IN
| Kentucky, great mansion for Its
time.
I It is in fine state of preserva-
! ton, not a nail being used in its
construction, but wooden pegs te
Join the woodwork. The front door
| is still barred at night by the old
original piece of wood Here Eos
ter brought his bride from New
York, then already a big city, and
here he spent his honeymoon. The
charm of the old house, and the love
| CT the negro for the plantation home
is woven into the song.
"The head must bow and the back
will have to bend, wherever the dar.
key may go, a few more days, and
| the trouble all will end in the fields
where the cotton canes grow: a few
more days for to tote the weary load
| no matter twill never be light. A
| few more days till we totter on the
road, then my old Kentucky home
good night"
If you are interested in antiques
hn with
Ileplethwaites, Chippendales, and Co.
lonial furnitures. Rowan was a
great lawyer in his day, and scorned
to defeat '.the arch suspect Aaron
Burr at any fee. Foster is said to
have written "Massa's in de Cold
Cold Ground" after the death of his
uncle and after gazing into his
grave. He composed all his wonder
full melodies on the flute, and trans
posed them for the piano. He taught
himself music, modern languages,
and painting. 1t is said he might
have been our American Schubert if
trained He has been called the
"American troubadour."
Like many a genius he died at an
early age, 3S. The end was pitifully
tragic. Separated from his wife, he
was lonely and poor. Ill health
and drink dogged his steps. Frail,
temperamental and high. strung, his
folklore songs, beautifully tender in
sentiment, are immortalized in their
popularity In his pocket was found
38 cents, and a paper with the
words Dear friends, and gentle
hearts, probably the first words of a
rremeditated unwritten lay. He
died in the midst of the Civil war. in
New York, in 1864. King Louis
PHILIPPE gave to the cathedral at
Bardstown nine old masters pictures
by Van Dyck, Van Eyck, Murillo,
Rubens and others.-Howard H.
Scott