"On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" by Paul Dresser

Popular song writer Paul Dresser was the beloved older brother of the even more famous American novelist Theodore Dreiser . Dreiser honors his brother's memory still green in a wonderful story ( included in a book of his best short stories ) " My Brother Paul " . It begins : [ "I like best to think of him as he was at the height of his all-too-brief reputation and success, when, as the author and composer of various American popular successes ("On the Banks of the Wabash," "Just Tell Them That You Saw Me," and various others), as a third owner of one of the most successful popular music publishing houses in the city and as an actor and playwright of some small repute, he was wont to spin like a moth in the white light of Broadway. By reason of a little luck and some talent he had come so far, done so much for himself. " ] I listened for the first time to the Paul Dresser sentimental " On the Banks of the Wabash ". You have to read Dreiser's story ( which I did last night ) to understand its sentimentality. In fact , it did seem that brother Theodore wrote the lyrics. When young reporter Theodore Dreiser was down and out and depressed brother Paul reminded him of his contribution to the song's success. 300 pound Paul had a lust for women , all kinds of women , married and unmarried, which was just part of his LUST FOR LIFE and big hearted temperament . Once rich, Paul Dreiser died impoverished ( and even had a problem getting a decent burial ) . Does his brother Paul's happy-sad life fit in with the social criticism themes of Dreiser's great novel " An American Tragedy " ? There is definitely a CATHOLIC element in Paul Dresser's lyrics and brother Theodore's novels and short stories. NOTE : [ Theodore Dreiser's Short Story “Free” Litbreak Magazine https://litbreak.com › theodore-dreisers-short-story-free Dec 11, 2021 — " For all of Dreiser's atheism, his Catholic background keeps sneaking around in his work, the morality of good and evil, of right and wrong. ... " ]