Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 193, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1919 — HIS FAME SECURE [ARTICLE]

HIS FAME SECURE

Emmett Immortalized Himself by Single Song. Writer of "Dixie* Ran With Rouge* de I’lsle, Composer of "La Marseillaise,” Moat Famous of Martial Hymns. A roan died In Ashtabula, Ohio, recently who has done much to perpetuate the memory of Daniel Decatur Ejmnett, the man who wrote "Dixie.” James Lewis Smith was his name. He was a wealthy bachelor whose fad was building monuments. After his death blueprints of a memorial to American sailors and soldiers who fought In the late war were found on his desk. The monument, however, that will give him lasting fame is the one erected In honor of Eminett, at Mount Vernon, Ohio, where Emmett was born, and where he now lie* buried. Smith’s interest In Eminett has brought to light many interesting things about the origin of “Dixie” and about Emmett himself. It is interesting from the viewpoint of how a man may spring Into fame almost overnight without knowing just why, and also from the viewpoint of what constitutes a popular song. In after years Emmett said to an old Mount Vernon friend: "If I had known that ■Dixie’ was destined to become so popular I would have written It better." But then maybe he might have polished It so much that It would have lost Its appeal. Who knows? In his youth Emmett was a printer. He was a flfer In the army for a while, and then ran away with a circus. Later he helped to organize the first negro minstrel show ever put on In America. This show made a hit In the United States and later had a successful run in England. After his return to the United States Emmett ; Joined a company headed by Dan Bry--1 ant. While playing at Mechanics’ hall in New York Bryant told Emmett one Saturday that he must have a new “walk around” song for the following Monday’s performance. On Sunday Emmett wrote the music and I words for “Dixie," which was given | for the first time in Mechanics’ hall, i New York, in 1859, under the title 1 "Dixie’s Land.” The song was a hit from the word go, and was soon adopted by other traveling companies. In 1860 Miss Susan Denin sang “Dixie” to a great throng in New Orleans, and eventually It spread through the South and became the war song of the Confederate armies. In 1895 A 1 G. Field sought him out and the two had a happy time reviewing the past. Field was astonished to find Emmett still playing the fiddle and planning to go on the road again, although he was quite old. Finally Emmett Induced Field'to take him out for a season. He appeared in Newark. Ohio, on August 23, 1895. He was then eighty, but very vigorous and spry. Ovation after ovation followed him as he traveled through the South. During his closing days he was helped by a weekly allowance from the Actors’ fund of New York. Little or nothing was done to mark his grave, although an organization had been formed for that purpose. Mr. Smith, however, put up a monument at Emmett’s grave In Mound View cemetery that is a credit to the mao and to the donor. A curious .story brought out In connection with his song Is that the original “Dixie’s Land” referred to was not the South but an estate i>n Manhattan island, New York city, owned by a man by. the name of Dixie, who employed a large number of colored slaves. These slaves were sent south because of the rising abolition sentiment, and while there they improvised the refrain “I wish I was in Dixie’s land," which was once heard by Emmett and became the inspiration of his song. However that may be, “Dixie” is always associated with the South, and had a part in the war In France as a typical American production.