The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-07-20
THE OLD SONGS.
Whatever the Vogue of . style In Music
They Never Lose Favor.

Whatever the Vogue of . style In Music
They Never Lose Favor.
1t was a hotel parlor, brilliant
pianist had just rendered one of Wag-
ner's most difficult pieces, and a muir
muir Of well-bred applause followed.
Then very softly and tenderly, like a
sweetly-tremulous old voice reciting
pathetic memories, the ivory keys sent
the plaintive melody of 'Auld Lang
Syne" signing through the room. The
idle chatter ceased, every mind was
busy with bitter-sweet memories, and
the air was full of the scent of vanished
clover. the warm fragrance OF newly
tossed hay, the echo of babbling brooks.
The simple tune knocked at the door of
every heart, and the ghosts of dead
days came trooping forth in answer.
A stout dame on the musicians left
looked away through the open window,
beyond the moon-hooded hills, and a
sigh scintillated the jet upon her ample
bosom. She had gone back and on a
summer eve years ago, and was dressed
in a faded pink calico and tapping sun
bonnet again. Her bare toes sank deep
% she drove the cows home through
the lonely, cool shadows. John Ed
ward, 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 dignified old gentlemen beside her
blew his nose and incidentally wiped
his eyes. He was thinking of the
morning when he went out to seek his
fortune, and turned under the windy
orchard trees to wave of last farewell
to mother, who stood in the door
with her check-apron to her eyes. He
had whistled "Auld Lang Syne" to
keep back the rising sobs as he trudged
upon his way.
Not word was spoken when the
last memory-haunted note died away
In silence, but everyone had paid a
tribute of tear to "Auld Lang Syne.'
An almost forgotten poet, Robert
Hinckly Messenger, quantity wishes for
old W God TO burn, old books to read and
old friends to talk with In an ideal old
age, and he mig hit also have added old
tunes to be played in the long twilights
which he dozed and dreamed in his easy
chair. 1t is fact that none of the
popular songs of late years survive a
Mayfy existence. They catch the lip,
but do not hold the heart, and are writ
ten to cater to the popular fancy. I'M
like the old tunes which are birth
marked with the joys and woes Of the
human aace.
Music-hall melodies may come and go
and be forgotten, but as long as a 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 counting and lasses are
capricious. Every sailor leaves
"Black-eyed Susan" in port behind him.
and there is chord in every bosom set
TO the wonderers immortal cry, "Home
Sweet Home" annie Laurie" will
live as long as the Englis language.
Neither Handel nor Beethoven COM
posed the 'Marseillaise," yet it became
the battle-cry of nation. 1t is not to
the music of the symphony societies
that the dying turn, but to Rock of
Ages"
Many of Gilbert & Sullivan's catchy
melodies are borrowed from old bal
lads. and they have even Mother Goose
TO thank for some of their success.
Strauss may set the feet to dancing.
Wagner tickle the brain and Mozart
please the ear, but nothing can touch
the heart like the old tunes.-Phila-
delphia Press