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200 A CENTURY OF BALLADS
Love Jack,' 'Three for Jack,' 'The Holy City,' 'The Star of Bethlehem,' 'The Drum Major,' 'The Sergeant of the Line,' 'Beauty's Eyes,' 'The Last Watch,' 'In Sweet September,' 'Stone-cracker John,' 'Mountain Lovers,' 'Maids of Lee,' 'Old Black Mare,' 'London Bridge,' 'Punchinello,' 'Little Tin Soldier,' 'Old Brigade,' 'Deathless Army,' 'Admiral's Broom,' ' Nini, Ninette, Ninon,' ' I beg your pardon !'
"As a rule I only write for friends, and if they forget sometimes to return rejected verse I forgive them, and send the verses elsewhere. But once on a time I was asked by a publisher to submit some verses to a youth, supposed to be a budding genius. It was no case of pestering a great man with my merchandise unasked. The youth never acknowledged the songs. After waiting a month I humbly asked for their return. He returned them—without even ' his compliments ' on a card. Compare this with a letter, written by Gounod, already a great master, to me, then an unknown versifier, who had dared to send him a song !
"'Which is written first—music or words?' is a question frequently put to me. The answer is, 'It depends on circumstances.' The usual and artistic order is words first, and then the music, for the words ought to inspire the music. And in most cases, if they are inspiring, they |
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