Rag Time (1896)

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   6 September 1896, BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE, pg. 4:
   The novelty of the performance is Ben R. Harvey, who ought to interest students of American music and should have been seen and heard by Dr. Dvorak.  He invents and plays what he calls rag time airs and dances, the effect of syncopations being to make the melody ragged.  This is real American music; not of the highest order, but genuine.

(INVENTS?...OED has 1897...This is the first of about 150 "rag time" hits between 1896-1902--ed.)