Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1911-08-11
90 LEST We FORGET.


Years ago. when Milton and Dol
lie NobleS were playing For ReNe-
nue. Only, "a melodrama written by
Mr.. NobicSl. on the Pacific Coast, at
each town where it was produced he
vas beSicgcd for a copy of the de-
lightful verse he spoke to his sweet
heart IN the play He was supposed
to be going far away, and his pretty
lady-love told him that she was afraid
that he, during his absence amongst
strange faces and other scenes, would
forget her. 1t was at this Juncture
Of the play that Mobiles recitcd the
verse to her
1t was so pretty verse OF rndear-
ment that after the performance
people would rush back TO the stage
and ask him for copy OF II. Finally
he had the verse printed on slips and
when so requested, gave the appIi-
cant one containing the lines.
Few ever knew, nor do many yet
for that matter, that there was more
than one verse, as used 10y Mr.. No
bles and supposed to be written by
him. But it seems that Mr.. Mobiles,
through claiming it as his own, anC
using it in the play " For Revenue
Only really never wrote it at all,
but took it from poem written by
John Moultric, an English poet who
first became known through his pub
lished writings in 1880.
The verse as rendered by Mr.. No
| bleS in the scene between himself anC
sweetheart was this:
Forget thees II to dream by night an(
think of thee by day;
If all the homage, deep and wild.
poets heart can pay;
| If prayers in absence breathed for thee
to Heavens protecting power;
| Ifwinged thoughts that fit to thee-teI
thousand in an hour;
II busy fancy blending thee with al
nv future lot
If this thou calls forgetting" then in
deed thou art forgot!
Mr.. Mobiles, as will be noticed
took only the first verse, changed
four words and used it in his play
giving the public to understand
there was only the one stanza, anC
even that being written by himself.
While the full poem spOils the
pretty scene that fancy portrays t(
us of the years gone by, the pretty
sweetheart, sitting on the rustic
bench, with feathered songster.
warbling their liquid notes, ant
trees in full blossom, with Milton
Mobiles looking the ideal manly lover
standing back OF her. in soft musi
cal tone of voice reciting the eXqisit'
verse admired SO much by lOve-sicl
lads and lassieS in the audience, Still
we wonder why Mr.. Mobiles did no
repeat all of the poem. Perhaps i
was too long, and would take up tot
much time, thus being detrimental
to the action of the play.
Be this as it may, here is the com
plete poem:
FORGET Thee?
Forget thee? If to dream my night an
muse on thee by day;
Ii all the worship. deep and wild,
poets heart can pay;
If prayers in absence breathed for the
to Heavens protecting power;
Ii winged thoughts that fit to thee
thousand in an hour;
If busy fancy blending thee with all m
future lot
If this thou call'st forgetting" tho
indeed shalt be forgot
Forget thee? Bid the forest birds for
get their sweetest tune?
Forget thee? Bid the sea forget to swel
beneath the moon.
blu the tnlrStv mowers lOTgeI 10 uFiul
the ewes refreshing dew,
Thyself forget thine Town dear land" an
its mountains wild and blue;
Forget each old familiar face, each long
remembered spot
When these things are forgot by thee
then thou shalt be forgot!
Keep, if thou wilt, thy maiden peace
still calm and fancy-free,
For God forbid thy gladstone heart shoul
grow less glad for me.
Yet, while that heart is still unwon,
bid not mine to rove.
But let it nurse its humble faith and un
complaining love.
Ii these, preserved for patient years, a
last avail me not,
Forget me then-but ne'er believe tina
thou can'st be forgot
! Ill.,.