FAMOUS OLD SONGS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 152, 24 December 1931, Page 13

FAMOUS OLD SONGS

END OF OLD ROMANCE

A beautiful love story came to an end recently, with, the death, 'at her homo in Sussex, England, of Mrs. Albert Chevalier, widow of the famous musichall artist, who'was popular in Australia, says.,the "Daily Mail,.' I Chevalier's sketches of Cockney characters and ' the songs with'which he accompanied them, stirred to. mingled tears and laughter multitudes of people in Britain and elsewhere. "Knocked 'Em in the Old Kent Eoad" was sung on New York's-Broadway as lustily as in Piccadilly or Poplar, and all the world knew about "Mrs. 'Enery 'Awkins."

But never did a music-hall song set the hearts of old and young so warmly beating as "My Old Dutch." The secret of its universal appeal was in_ the source of its inspiration —Chevalier's great love for his wife. Eomance was in the very writing of the song. While Chevalier was on his way home one night he became lost in a thick fog in the West End of London, and took refuge on a street island. He thought of his wifo waiting for him at home, and began to scribble on an envelope the song which millions soon were singing:—

I've got a pal, a reg'lar out-an'-outer, She's a dear old pal. I'll tell yer all

about 'er! It's many years since fust we met, 'Er 'air was then as black as jet; It's whiter now, but she don't fretNot my old gal!

And then that chorus which brought tho "house" down every time Chevalier sang it: —

We've been together now for forty years, An' it don't seem a day > too much; There ain't a Jady livin' in the land > As I'd swop' for my dear old Dutch!

There was a prayer in the last, verse which was answered: —

I ain't, a coward,■ still I trust . When we've'to part, as part we must, That death may come and take me fust, To. wait—my pal!

Mr. Chevalier died eight years ago, at the age of 63. Mrs. Chevalier, too, was 63.