The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
MELODY And SENTIMENT
Reminders Of0ld Songs that Cannot
Be Forgotten.


of Lady John scott spottiswoode.
Sentimental Gems That VIII Never
BE Effaced From Loving Hearts.
The death recently of Lady John Sect
Spottiswoode. who composed the musil of
Annie Laurie and other melodies. re-
calls many Of the sentimental songs of the
olden time with which our mothers charm
ed the beaux and chevaliers Of their day
and generation. She was ninety-one years
of age. An aunt OF the Duke OF Buccleugh.
she was also closely related to the late
General Wauchope, who was killed in bat
tie by the Beers in December She had
very strong character and was great
upholder of old manners and customs.
When travelling she rode in a carriage. al
ways had postillions, and encouraged the
observance of old customs
This distinguished woman was a liberal
benefactor of the poor, and maintaiIed a
meal mill as q relic Of old times. She was
an indefatigable collector Of antiquities.
In noting the passing OF this venerable
lady, who was golden link connecting the
past with the present, it will be interest
ing to recall some OF the old time melo-
dies that lent such tender charm to home
when the hours Of day were numbered,
And the voices OF the night
Woke the better soul that sumbeseI,
To a holy calm delight"
Among such melodies none is more
exquisite than Annie Laurie" the poem
with which Lady SCOTS name will al
ways be associated. Scarcely less beau
tiful are such songs Of sentiment as
Highland Mary" by the immortal
Burns. and two other equally famous
Scotch Coming Thro' the Rye
and wed Better Bde a Wee" With
in a Mile of Edinboro' is still another, and
the little Spanish song, "Juanita" ranks
in the same class. Among other gems are
Douglas Tender and True" AUD Robin
Grey" Gypsy Maiden, I'm the Gloam-
ing" Then You'll Remember Me-"
When You and l We're Young. Maggie"
Il Dreamed l Dwelt in Marble Halls
When | Saw Sweet Nellie Home" "Su-
vance River" and Lily Dale" a rustic
melody, Of which a very amusing parody
was written. entitled BILLY Dale" Some
of these old songs we're inspired by a pc
culiarly tender sentiment. What could
display flial piety more divineiy than
we Better Blde a wee
As the story goes, this was composed by
a Scotch lassie who met the plea of her
ardent lover with the noble sentiment that
her first duty was TO her aged parents.
What more tender appeal can be made TO
old and young alike by the mere mention
of such gems Of the heart as The last link
is broken that binds me to thee" Wont
you, tell me why. Robin" and When you
and were young, Maggie"
Next to Burns in point of genius as an
author Of exquisite songs Of sentiment was
Tom Moore. Among his most famous songs
that survive, are oft in the Silly Night"
Origin Of the Harp" e Twas Ever Thus
from Childhoods Hour" The Harp That |
Once Thro' Tara's Halls" Believe Me |
if All Those Endearing Young Charms"
and a multitude of others.
There are many pretty songs Of lesser
fame, but very charming, such as Her !
Bright Smile Haunts Me Still,' while few |
melodies of modern date are more popular |
than Sweet Marie" The Girl Left Be |
hind Me" was a Confederate air and as
popular in the South during the war be- /
tween the States as Jumping the Boun- |
ty" was in the North. The former, ap /
pealing as it did, TO Southern and Northern /
soldiers alike. was caught up by the Fed /
eral bands and played by them with the |
greatest zest, as was also the ringing air 1
of Dixie" which became as popular above |
Mason and Dixou's line as below it, Many |
of the most familiar ballads loved by men |
and women have been composed by the /
fair sex. In the field Of poetic sentiment, /
at least, she has proved a dangerous rival
of man.
In the Cleaning owes its birth to
Lady Arthur Hill. Mrs. Elizabeth Morton
was the proud mother of that languorous
melody "Juauita," while Douglas. Tender
and True was the happy offspring of La
dy Scott Cattle. Maryland My Mary
land, owed the thrill Of its spirited tune
to a woman. the late Mrs. Newell Martin
Of Baltimore. Mrs. Fitzgerald Is RESPONSE
bic for the melody Of Il Remember. | Re
and the musical pathos OF Aud
Robin Grey originated in the brain of
Lady Ann Lindsay, and wed Better Bide
a Wee" was the work of a woman. Lady
Marine. a charming Scotch woman, has con-
tributed two songs that need only to be
sung In any cline TO cause every wearer Of
The tartan to throw his plaid cap TO the
breeze. These are the "Campbells Are
Coming and the Land of the Leal" She
also wrote the well-known Laird of Cook
Pen" which with that other famous old
tune, Ben Bolt" has been revived to
memory by Trlby.
Joanna Baille is another woman from the
and OF the heather who wrote a good old
Scotch ballad Wood and Married and
A." What Ais This Heart of Mine?" is
he work of Miss Blamire and it was a
woman who wrote the words to Rocked in |
he Cradle OF the Deep"
Mile Chamlnade. French woman. is one
II the most popular songwriters of the ,
present age. In these days Of utilltarian | I
utilization when the flowers of sentiment {
re In danger OF being crushed to earth be ]
ieath the car of progress it is refreshing to s
evive these old songs Of sentiment To ! I
enew Tecollections Of them is like throw |
ng open the windows and doors Of a great {
actory to the fragrant breath OF the flow |
RS that bloom in the fields around
UNFORTUNATE WAITS. q