Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1894-09-14
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.
 It was hotel parlor, brilliant pianist had just rendered one of Wag1 ner's most difficult pieces, and a mur- mur of well-brsd applause followed. Then very softly and tenderly, like 8 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 ot every heart, and the ghosts of dead days came dropping 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 in the yellow dust of the country road as 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?
 \ 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 a wave of last farewell to a mother, who stood in the door with her checl-apron to her eyes. He had whistled "Auld Lang Syne9 to keep back the rising sobs as he trHdged upon his way.
 Not word was spoken when the last memory-haunted note died away in silence, but everyone had paid 8 tribute of a tear to 'Auld Lang Syne.
 An almost forgotten poet. Robert Eincl1ly Messiuger. quaintlt wishes for old wood to burn old books to read and old friends to talk with in an ideal old age, and he mig Int also have added old tunes to be played in the long twilights which he dozed and dreamed in his easy chair. It is fact that none of the popular songs of late years survive 8 Mayhp existence. They catch the lip but do not hold the heart. and are writ ten to eater to the popular fancy, un- like the old tunes which are birth marked with the joys and woes of the human aace,
 Music-hal melodies may come and % and be forgotten but as long as a sprig of leather blossoms on Scottish moors "Highland Mary will bring tears of Barbara Allen will 20 down through all the ages while lads go courtiug and lasses are eapricious, Every sailor leaves 8 "Black-eYed Susan import behind him. and there is a chord in every bosom set to the wonderer's immortal cry Home Sweet Home Annie Lauriea will live as long as the Eng glish language. l Neither a Handel nor Beethoven com l posed the "Marseillase. yet it became the ba ttle-cry of d nation. lt is not to tic music of the symphony societies that the dying turn. but to Rock of i Ages.
 Many of Gilbert lS sullivans 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- delpbia Press.