Presto

27
December 4, 1920.
head dies like a dog," or anything of that kind.
Popular songs are usually based upon the
more or less vivid imagination of their writers.
A rare instance to the other effect was the
writing of "Star Spangled Banner," by Key,
when that patriot was in the hold of a British
warship, but as a rule the song-writer has
never experienced the sensations about which
he writes and sings. So with the fiction about
"Hello, Central, Give Me Heaven," the story
of which suggested this writing.
STORIES OF FAMOUS SONGS
The cycle of song-stories seems to have
come again. At uncertain intervals the space-
fillers and magazine writers like to tell how
certain popular songs happened to have been
born. Some of the stories are quite pretty
and a few of them are pathetic. In several
cases whole books have been devoted to tell-
ing of great songs, and such chapters in books
are comparatively common. We have been
told how F. Nichols Crouch came to write
"Kathleen Mavourneen," and just before the
old Baltimorean died he indignantly denied
the story.
The pitiful tale of how the late Frank How-
ard happened to compose his "Little Bare-
foot" touched the hearts of readers long ago.
But Mr. Howard could also write, and he said
that he did not get his inspiration from find-
ing a tattered little waif half 'hidden in the
snow on a rich man's stoop.
When Will S. Hays made his great hit with
"Write Me a Letter From Home" a newspa-
per writer told how a dying boy, far from his
native heath, had indicted a letter which was
found on his dead body, and in which he had
made the appeal which suggested the song.
But Hays paused in his work, as river reporter
on the Louisville Journal, to say that he had
not heard of that particular boy's sad ending,
and that his song came from his own insides
when he had been sent out of town on a news-
paper assignment.
A few weeks ago a magazine called "Com-
munication" contained a long illustrated story
street, has assigned for the benefit of creditors to
Milton M. Sittenfield. The company was incorpo-
rated in 1916. William Phillips is president of the
company.
The Columbia Dealers' Association recently
formed in Washington, D. C, elected Harry C.
Grove as president and.M. Phillips as secretary and
treasurer.
Additional space has been secured by the Reming-
ton Phonograph Corporation for increasing its office
capacity at 1662 Broadway, New York.
ANOTHER WOODEN HORN.
C. P. Henkle, of Henkle & Co., Portland, Ore.,
has just perfected a phonograph with a very sweet
tone, in which the metallic sound has been entirely
eliminated through the construction of a wooden
horn, concealed in the interior of the cabinet. A
patent has been applied for on the plan of the horn
construction. The "corrected" wooden horns are
now almost legion, and Mr. Henkle must have some-
thing unique if it differs materially from many of
the others.
about how the song "Hello, Central, Give Me
'-Heaven" came to be written. It was told how
a little child in Chicago lay dying and, seeing
her mamma use the 'phone, lisped the wish
for direct communication with the celestial
spheres. A Presto writer who happened to
know the true story of the song sent the
printed tale to Mr. Chas. K. Harris, writer of
both the words and music of the song. Fol-
lowing is that gentleman's reply:
New York, Nov. 23, 1920.
Editor Presto: Regarding "Hello, Central,
Give Me Heaven," you are right and the
"Communication" is wrong. The song, which
I wrote that time when you called at my office
in Milwaukee, and which I showed you, was
taken from an article printed in the "Chicago
Daily News."
The article told of a business man of Chi-
cago, in the coal business, whose wife had died
leaving a little girl about seven years old. As
he was reading his paper one night the little
girl was building a house of blocks upon the
floor when suddenly she sprang up and, going
to the telephone asked the Central to give her
Heaven while her father sat in shocked sur-
prise but did not disturb her.
That was how the song and story originated
and is the true version. I have no doubt if
you will look over the files of the paper you
will find the same story. The other story in
the paper called "Communication" is not a
fact and did not inspire me to write the song.
Very truly yours,
CHAS. K. HARRIS.
Of course it doesn't make much difference
what stirs the song writers when they make
their big "hits." Whether Miss Willard wrote
"Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep" while on
the bounding billows or in her quiet study,
doesn't matter to the singers who absorb its
lesson; nor does it change things that Bar-
bara Fritchie never lived and that Stonewall
Jackson never cried "who shoots yon grey
A National Song Hit
That finds its way into the Hearts of the
People is
'AMERICA!, fIRST and fORMR"
"Our Greatest Song of Praise"
Song Leaders and Supervisors of Music Laud
Its Power to Strengthen Americanism.
It is full of pep. 18 cents. Order Now.
MR. WAX IS MAKING WAX.
Monte J. Wax, retail and wholesale dealer of talk-
ing machines and accessories is now doing busi-
ness at 437 Stark street, where larger quarters facili-
tate the carrying- on of his business, which now in-
cludes a manufacturing plant, where "Tone Clear,"
used for cleaning records, and "Frax," a polish for
cabinets, is made. Mr. Wax took over "Tone Clear'"
from M. W. Davis, who originally made it.
COLUMBIA GRAPHOPHONE.
In the nine months ended Sept. 30 the Columbia
Graphophone earned net profits of $3,612,474 after
allowing for Federal taxes and charges. This wa?
equivalent to $2.54 a share on the common stock
after deductions for preferred dividends. Profit and
loss surplus as of Sept. 30 last was $4,542,621.
Corinthian Music Co.
Hadley, Illinois
Copies may be secured thro' Lyon & Healy, Ch r cago, and
Plaza Music Co., New York.
SUCCESS OF MCKINLEY SONG
"Sweet Hawaiian Moonlight," Produced by Chicago
Publishers, Takes Europe by Storm.
"Sweet Hawaiian Moonlight," a production of the
McKinley Music Co., Chicago, has won the success
of popularity and big sales in England. Bands and
orchestras are heard playing it everywhere and the
music is prominently displayed in all music stores.
"Hawaiian Moonlight" is the most popular number
in London.
But elsewhere over there the music lovers have
taken to the McKinley Music Co.'s production with
enthusiasm. "Hawaiian Moonlight" is featured at
the Follies Bergere in one of the best-attended mu-
sical shows in Paris. It is produced with special
stage effects and scenery and is sung in French.
"DUMPED" MUSIC.
British music store proprietors are reported as
saying that large consignments of cheap popular
music, which comes in free of duty, are arrivine:
from the United States. Italy is also sending in
music; and Germany, because of the favorable rate
of exchange, is able to send editions of classical
works "at a price at which the British publishers
can not produce them." Bonar Law announced in
Parliament on October 19 that a bill dealing with
"dumping" is in preparation and will be introduced
as soon as possible—he hoped this session.
If you are not handling the
McKINLEY EDITION OF
10c MUSIC
Comprising Standard,
Classic and Teaching Music
you are losing an opportunity to make money
Dealers Realize
150%
PROFIT
On Sales of McKinley Music
It is the most popular library of 10c music
on the market. Selections contained in thii
Edition are used by the most prominent
teachers in the country — Students, Accom-
plished Musicians, and the Music Loving
Public in general.
It is conveniently handled; arranged in
compact form, and is labor saving in serving
the customers.
The dealer is supplied with catalogs bear-
ing the business imprint which serves to
bring more customers to the store than any
other advertising medium that could be em-
ployed.
WRITE US FOR SAMPLES AND PAR-
TICULARS TODAY
Our Jobbing Department is the largest and
most complete in the country. We can sup-
ply you with every want in the sheet music
line. We fill all orders the day they are
received.
McKinley Music Company
Thm Largest Sheet Mutic Houum
in the World
CHICAGO
1501-13 E. 55th St.
NEW YORK
145 W. 45th St.
A Most Beautiful Waltz Ballad
"THAT IRISH LULLABY"
Endorsed by the BEST, as the BEST
Dealers and Jobbers Send for Sample and Introductory Prices
EMIL BACHER, 46 Henion St., DUBUQUE, IOWA
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