Two pieces were published in 1903. The first is just plain wonderful.
In 1904, St. Louis got its own Worlds Fair. Scott Joplin and Belle bought themselves a 13 room mansion which they turned into a boarding house. That year Joplin published four pieces.
The first was actually written in 1898 in Sedalia and finally published by the A. W. Perry firm.
The others were published by John Stark.
This was based on a watercourse that was a major part of the Worlds Fair.
This is best played at slower pace due to its contemplative nature.
Sir Arthur Sullivan and Scott Joplin both shared the desire to write Grand Opera, while their publishers and the public preferred their more accessible popular music.
One of my students was so enamored of Joplin that he learned several of his complete original rags by the time he was 17.