Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-06-12

1y to the Popular 1astes
The death of Lady John Scott Spot
tiswoode, who composed the music OF
annie Laurie" and other melodies,
recalls many Of the old-time songs OF
sentiment with which our mothers.
charmed the beaus and chevaliers of
their day and generation, says the Phil
adelphia Ledger. She was 81 years
of age.
In noting the passing of this vener-
able lady, who was a golden link con-
Meeting the past with the present, 1t
may be a matter of interest to recall
some of the melodies of the olden time
that lent such tender charm to home:
"When the hours of day We're numbered,
And the, voices of the night
Woke the better soul that slumbered,
To a holy calm delight"
Among such melodies none is more
exquisite than Annie Laurie the
poem with which Lady Scott's name
will always be associated.
Scarcely less beautiful are such
songs of sentiment as Highland
Mary" by Robert Burns, and those
two other sweet Scotch melodies,
"Comin' Thro' the Rye" and Wed
Better Bide a Wee" Of other ia
nous old ballads there are ''Auld Rob-
in Grey" Douglas. Tender and True"
"Gypsy Maiden" "Juanita,' "Then
You'll Remember Me-" "suwanee
River" I'm Days of Old, When
knights Were Bold" In the Gloam-
ing" and Lilly Dale" of which a very
amusing parody was written, entitled
BILLY Dale"
Some of these old songs were in
spired by a peculiarly tender senti-
ment. What could display filial piety
more divinely than Wed Better Blde
a Wee?" AS the story goes, this was
composed by Scotch lassie, who met
the plea of her ardent lover with the
noble sentiment that her first duty
was to her aged parents. What ten
der appeal is made to the experience
of most readers by the mere mention
of such gems of the heart as '"The Last
Link Is Broken that Binds Me to
Thee" won't You Tell Me Why, Rob
in?" and when You and l Were
Young, Maggie"
Next to Burns in point of sentiment
as an author of exquisite songs OF
sentiment was Tom Moore. Among his
most famous songs that still survive
are loft in the Silly Night" "Origin
of the Harp "'Twas Ever Thus from
Childhood's Hour" ''The Harp that
Once Thro' Tara's Halls" Believe Me,
If All Those Endearing Young
Charms" etc. There are many modern
songs of less fame, such as when l
Saw Sweet Nellie Home" Her Bright
Smile Haunts Me STILL" and, coming
down to a still later date, Sweet
Marie is one of the most popular.
"The Girl 1 Left Behind Me" was a
confederate air and as popular in the
South during the war as jumping the
Bounty" was in the North. The former,
appealing as it did, to Southern and
Northern soldiers alike, was caught up
by the Federal bands and played by
them with zest.
Many of the famous ballads have
been composed by the fair sex. In the
field Of poecc sentiment at least, she
The charming ballad, I'm the Gloam-
ing" owes its birth to Lady Arthur
Hill, and the Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Nor
ton was the proud mother of that
languorous melody, "Juanita," while
Douglas, Tender and True" was the
happy offspring of Lady Scott Cattle.
Maryland, My Maryland" owed the
thrill Of it's spirited tune to a woman,
the late Mrs. Newell Martin of Balti-
more. The musical pathos of 'Auld
Robin Grey" originated in the brain of
Lady Ann Lindsay. Mrs. Fitzgerald
was responsible for the melody, 81 Re
member, 1 Remember" and it was
woman who wrote the words to Rock
ed in the Cradle of the Deep" Lady
Marine, a charming Scotchwoman, has
contributed 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
"T and of tho Tea1"