FORGOTTEN SONGS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 326, 6 January 1937, Page 3

FORGOTTEN SONGS.

Memories Of the Boer War. The popular songs of the Great War period are still alive in the memories of most of us. But how many of us could whistle offhand half a dozen, of the melodies that were the rage during the Boer War, only 14 years earlier—“Good-«bye, Dolly Gray,” “My Own Bluebell,” and. the rest of them? The question is prompted by an episode which occurred at Bristol in connection with a special showing of the film, “Rhodes in Africa,” to an audience of Boer War veterans. It occurred to someone that the occasion called for appropriate organ music, and it was suggested that the organist should play “The Absent-minded Beggar.” Alas’ the organist did not know the tune. Not to be defeated, the manager of the picture house telephoned to a local music shop. Still no luck; the shop could not produce a copy of the song. Luckily, one of the staff at the shop knew the music. Accordingly, the organist was sent there post-haste. The song was played to him until he had memorised it. He played it on the cinema, organ, and the veterans greeted it with enthusiasm.