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266 A CENTURY OF BALLADS |
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duced one evening at the Meistersinger Club to a gentleman whose name he did not catch. "I have no desire to meet you, Mr. Kellie," said the latter. Kellie naturally looked a little astonished, but said nothing. " In fact," the other went on, "I hate the very sound of your name. For months past my mother has been worried by the receipt of telegrams and letters of condolence on my behalf, and the thing is beginning to get monotonous." "I'm sorry," said Kellie ; "but what's it got to do with me?' "Well, I'll tell you," returned the other. "My name's Douglas Gordon, and everybody imagines that your confounded song refers to me." And with that he turned on his heel and went.
The words of " Douglas Gordon" were written by Weatherly, and he, too, has an experience to relate in connection with it. Some time after the song was published he received a letter from a lady, in which she said : " Dear Sir, I like your song ' Douglas Gordon,' but I don't like suicide." To which Weatherly replied, "Dear Madam, nor do I ! " The writer, however, would not leave him in peace, but thinking he was a composer as well as an author, sent him some verses of her own for him to set to music. They began as follows :—
Would you die when your curls are all dense, And the passion of life is intense ? |
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