The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1900-06-01

Each heart recall'd a different name.
But oil sang Annie Laurie.
Had the same words been set 10
other notes, or had some other love
ballad been adapted TO the sweet mn- /
sic OF Annie Laurie" would the sub |
lie charm Of suggestion have been .
the same2 When a dear old song
plays upon our hearts. IS Il the words
or the music which cxerts the most
influence? Whom do we hold best
beloved, the composer Of verse or the
composer OF notes?
In the case Of this. perhaps the
greatest love song OF the English LAM
guage. she who wrote the music
practically wrote the words-certaln-
ly the version as syng for the last half
century. Annie Laurie really lived
She was born I'm the purple so to
speak. more than 200 years ago In
Dumfrleshlre Scotland A young fell
low OF the name OF DouFlas In a near
by hamlet loved fair Annie. and he
wrote the original version Of the we'll
known poem. The verses lived their
little day and died. Their author, In
due course Of time, laid him down and
died. too. but not for bonnie Annie
Laurie for she would have none OF
him, and instead Of becoming Mrs.
Douglas, she elected to take the name
OF Ferguson. In this manner she got
the husband OF her choice, but no
fame
In the course OF little moro than n
century there was born In England the
woman who was 10 breathe into the
dead poem the breath Of life and the
soul Of music. She rescued from obli-
WON the name OF Annie Laurie. and
wrought worldwide bond OF sympa.
thy for the hapless Douglas Even
the name Of Mr. Ferguson emerged
from the gloom OF the tomb and went
gathering down the corridors OF Time
as the lucky husband OF Annie Lau.
RE. II was a sort OF a general resur
rection.
So to Lady John Scott spottlswood
who has lust died. the world Is indebt-
ed for the words and music OF the
song that Il sings today. Born In 1899
she was married In 1885 TO Lord John
Douglas Montague Scott. She sue
ceeded TO her brothers property In
1870 and resumed the family surname
OF Spottlswood She was an accom-
pllshed musician and an efficient play
er on several instruments. Many
years ago she issued a volume OF pop
ular songs with music. II was much
more than half century ago that she
modified the original words OF annie
Laurie" and composed the music that
will keep alive the verses for aye.
When In 1854 England was fighting
in the Crmca II was our own Bayard
Taylor who wrote the Song OF the
Camp" containing the lines:
They sang Of love. and not OF fame;
Forgot. was Britaln's glory;
Each heart recalrd a different name.
And all sang Annie Laurie"
and thus linked the song to the other
and younger branch OF the English
speaking world.
The poor and lnnrm In the parish
OF Westruthor have lost real bone
factor blythe death OF Lady John. who
was wont 20 say OF her charities, MY
father was kind 10 the poor, ana why
should not be-" OF pronounced an
tlquarian tastes. Lady Scott spottls'
wood secured every important find In
the district. and during her long life
gathered n large collection OF objects
OF archaeological interest. She per
mitted no interference on her estate
with any feature that served to keeI
alive the memory OF the past, and old
place names were strictly adhered 90
Instead OF placing the direction, "shu
the gate" on gates she wished KEEP
closed In her demesne. the request
appeared In her vernacular "steek The
yett" She had no box-seat ON hel
carriage her coachman having TO ride
as postllllon. and her cllnglng 10 by
gone customs was manifested In every
relation OF life.