The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-24
THE OLD SONGS.
Whatever the Vogue of Style In Must,
They Never Lose Favor

Whatever the Vogue of a Style In Music
They Never Lose Favor.
1t was q hotel parlor; q brilliant nj.
anist had just rendered one of Wagner's
most difficult pieces, and u nlurmur of
we'll bred applause followed. Then
very softly and tendcrly, like q sweetly
tremulous old voice reciting pathetic
memories, tho ivory keys sent tho plain
tive melody of 'Auld Lang Syne" sigh
Ing through the room. The idle chatter
ceased, every mind was busy with bit
ter sweet memories, and the air was full
Of the scent of vanished clover, the
warm fragrance of newly tossed hay,
tho echo of babbling brooks. Tho simple
tune knocked ut tho door of every heart,
ind tho ghosts of dead days came troop
Ing forth i'll answer.
a stout dame on tho musicians left
looked away through tho open window,
beyond tho moon flooded hills, and q
sigh scintillated tho jet upon her ample
bosom. She had gone back to q sum-
mer eve years ago and was dressed
i'll faded pink calico and tapping sun
bonnet again Her bare toes sank deep
i'll the yellow dust of the country road
rs she drove the COWS home through the
lonely, cool shadows. John Edward,
freckled faced and honest eyed, came
sheepishly out of the woods and joined
her, and the cows were late that night,
for what has young love to do with
time?
A dignifled old gentleman beside her
blew his nose and incidentally wiped
his eyes He was thinking of tho morn
t,,fv 1t-l,ny l,,,x - L..
tune and turned under tho windy or
chard trees to II wave of last farewell to
mother, who stood in the door with
her check apron to her eyes. He had
whistled "Auld Lahg Syno'' to keep
back the rising sobs as he trudgcd upon
his way.
Not word was spoken when the last
memory haunted note died away in 81
lence, but every ono had paid the tribute
of n tear to AUD Lang Syne'
An almost forgotten poet, Robert
Hinckly Messenger. quantity wishes for
old wood to burn, old books to read and
old friends to talk with III an ideal old
age, and he might also have added old
tunes TO DO played in the long twilights
III which he doZed and dreamed in an easy
chair. 1t is fact that none of the pop
ular songs of late years survives mayfiy
existence. They catch the lip, but do not
hold the heart, and are written TO cater
To the popular fancy, unlike tho old
tunes which are birth marked with the
joys and woes of the human race
Music hall melodies may come aud
go and be forgotten but as long as
sprig of heather blossoms on Scottish
moors Highland Mary will bring
tears to Scottish eyes, and the cruelty
of Barbara Allen will go down
through all the ages while lads go court
ing and lasses arc capricious- Every
sailor leaves Il BLACK Eyed Susan in
port behind him, and there is chord
i'll every bosom set to the wanderers
immortal Cry, Home, Sweet Home -
Annie Laurie will live rs long rs the
English language Neither Handel
nor Beethoven composed the Mar
seillaise," yet it became the battlccry
of nation. 1t is not to the music of tho
symphony societies that tho dying turn,
but TO Rock of Ages y
Many of Gilbert e. Sullivm's catchy
melodies are borrowed from old ballads,
and they have even Mother Goose" to
thank for some of their success
Strauss max set the feet to dancing,
Wagner tickle the brain and Mozart
please the car, but nothing can touch
the heart like the old tunes -Philadel-
phia Press.