The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-04-18
PARLoR MUSIC AND PARLoR TALK


To The Editor cf The Sunday Herald:
SIR While spending social evening
lately, Twas charmed iy the Admirable manner In
which lady sang simple song. So much 80, that
paid her the compliment OF asking u she could sling
Aiicen Aroon, She did not know &C. 'Robn Adair Y,'
said l. 81 used to sing Robin Aialr, " she replied
"but since the music has become associated in nv
'mind with Nearer My God TO Thee, II sccms 10 mo
"too sacred for such an occasion, " something OF
the kind then remarked that tic melody was
originally Aiccn Aroon. 'Oh, no, said She Aileen
"Aroon and Robin Adalr are not the Same. y,
''Wcll " feJoincd I, "Chafies Rcade Is my author
"ity. lie says so In one Of his novels 'oh, you
| are mistaken" F." said another lady: "Rcade SAYS
' something about Robin Adair but''-etc. Now.
Mr.. Editor here are several grievances of the kind
| which both kill our parior music and the converse
tion for which good muslc like the drama affords
us ono OF The best topics that he introduced In
general society, where we cannot talk politics. nor
poemics II we discover that rare treasure ono who
can sing nicely and ask for favorite old song we
are told that the air has boon adapted to somo
hymn, and made too sacred for Its legitimate and
original ownership. Now Is not such an approprla
ton larceny, In the world Of art? some true bard
has given us "a thing Of beauty and because IL ,s
beautiful, II is taken from Its proper place and SET
ting, spoiled probably, by alterations and change Of
fsmpo, and forbidden to as too sacred for the place
and use 1t was meant forl Does not every lover OF
OF things feel as II he had been wrongcd by such an
act as the misappropraton OF the old Irish melody of
Aileen Aroon to church hymn9 And devout peopIe
nave not even thep'ea OF poverytha their own music
Is so poor that they take what does not belong o
themfor sacred music has been the love and labor of
many OF Vie greatest composers. hut l win ask the
reader to apply to this case sli OF the aninnd-
version which Mr. Reade, whom shall bring into
court presently, applies TO the original theft of
Alieen Aroon.
Ihen' was twice contrndloted bv ladies', on my
statement OF fact. Now take tho cruel OF cor
rcction when am wrong as amably n. any one for
am ready and willing to learn, and am anxious to
know 1t II my memory ever plays me such n sorry
Trick as 1t wond have played me II my contradictors
hau peen right and had been wrong. But to be set
back by forward Ignorance IN not pleasant I hone
tho lady who thought my memory at fault reads THE
SUNDAY HERALD, and commend to her and to nil |
your readers the subjoined charming parlor scene
from Very Hard Cash, :" which shows lust what
parlor music ought TO be in its highest estate lust as
one who knows whereof he speaks Illus
rates Just what paror talk ought not to be- Hore is
heade's scene, which would make n pretty one on |
the stage, provided Doctor who could MASTER n |
broad Scotch accent and Julia who could sing;
DR.. Sampson: "Now give us something
~ worth the wear and tear OF your orQIus Immor
1a varse welded "a t. Immortal sounds that what
The song julia Dodd sang on this happy occasion
to to meet tho humble but heterogeneous views Of
messrs. sampson and Hartlie, was simple eouuent
Irish song, called Aeen Aroon, whose history Nv
the-by was curious one. Early In this century II
occurred to somebody to hymn son OF George tho
rhird Tor his double merit In having been born and
going to ball People who thus apply the fine arts
In modern days seldom artists; nceordinrv th;s
parasite could not invent melody: 30 he coni,y stni
Aeen Aroon, soilel 1t by Inserting sor,,Id and In
Jerks into the refrain and called the stolen
anu ahnlternted article Robin Adar. An artisan M
Le s same nv Kidney was soon found to write words
down to the degraded dty: and strong il Fun-
keyis, and so weak Is criticism, in these islands
That the polluted tune actually superseded the cioan
melody; and this sort Of thing '''
Who was In uniform ut the hailg
,ro,,or,, .,,. ,, silly Billy,
. But Mrs. Dodd's severe taste In music re,ectsd
those ignobe Jerks, and her enthusiastic dauShter'
havihg the option to hymn Immortal Coi,stuicy or |
mortal fat, decided thus: VI
When like the early ,,Ss, rose. ,u
Beauty in eb,lsbooI Ml,GsM s,%,vS Afoon'
When like diadem ..
Buds blush around the stem
Which is the fairest gemP
Aeen Aroon.
isit the laughing eyer
Isl the ,inid sghs '''''''
Ailccn Aroon. II
is II the tender tone,
SOFT as the stringed harp's moan? l.
NO; IL Is Truth alone, 9
Iknow gentle maid,
Flower Of the hazel glade, !
~ Aileen AroOn.
Who in the song so sweetp
~ Aileen AroOn.
Who In the dance so fleet In
Aileen Aroon. o
Dear are her charms to me- G
Dearer her laughter free
Dearest her c0iistancy, d
Ailecn Aroon. C
Youth must with time decay o
Ailcen Aroon II
Beauty must fade away,
Aileen Aroon. I
Castles are sacked In war, /
l,hcftains are scattered far, d
Truth is fixed star, St
Aeen Aroon. II