£2000 BREAKFAST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 280, 25 November 1937, Page 25

£2000 BREAKFAST.

PUBLISHER'S FORTUNE 10/ FOR POPULAR SONG. JfUMCIAXI' SXPERIEHCB. ~~ LONDON. It is well known that some of the most famous and popular of literary and musical compositions have brought their authors little or no compensation. Many yeare ago, according to an old etory, three younj? men, all highly gifted, but improvident and unfortunate, were walking the streeto of Parie together, penniless and hungry. ■

"What wouldn't I give for a nice breakfastT" said one of them. "What wouldn't I give for a breakfast, even if it weren't nice?" said another. "Any kind of breakfast would do me, provided it was a breakfast," said the third. "How much must we have with which to get breakfast?" asked the first. "We ought to have five shillings." said another. "I have an idea! Here's a music publisher's. Come along,

said one. Said the publisher, "It is not much of a song—a simple little thing. I will give you 10/ for It." The three, young men looked signiflcr.ntly at each other. They had not expected as much. The author of the words was Alfred f?e Miwnet, the composer, Hippolyte Moujion, and the singer, Gilbert Duprez. The song, which was entitled "Connais-»>e/.-vous dans Barcelone?" had an immense popularity. It yielded the publisher £2000. The breakfast which the three yonns men ate was, therefore, porhnp* the most expensive one that wag ever eaten. , i