"Kathleen Mavourneen."

Lake County Press, Issue 906, 12 April 1900, Page 2

"Kathleen Mavourneen."

There have been many newspaper references lately to the composer of the 'beautiful and famous song. " Kathleen Mavourneen," and in a recent paragraph Mr. Crouch is spoken of as harms " attained the age of 77." •Mr. F. NichoHs Crouch is now in his 89th year, and is living at Baltimore, U.S.A., where, after a life of brilliant success and many reverses, he is now in comparative poverty ; and, in spile of declining years and failing eyesight, he frill composes music and writes verses. In June, 1594. he travelled from Baltimore to Portland, to celebrate bis 87th |iirthday amongst old friends ; he made the whole trip alone, and is proud of the fact that at no time on the journey did he need assistance from any one. The trip lie declared made him feel years younger than he really is. Mr. Crouch composed his first ballads at Drury bane for Miss Annie Tree and the famous Madamie Mal'ibran ; but 'it is his pathetic and Par-famied " Kathleen Mavourneen" thai has made his name a household word wherever the English language is spvken. lie was present at the coronation of William IV., and was suuuimoned to attend the coronation of Queen Victoria. He was an intimate friend of Dickens, Thackeray. Mark Lemon, Douglas Jerrold, Mrs. Homans, Sheridan Kuowles, and many leading writers, artists, and actors etf the day. Mr. Crouch left tlhe shores of Merrie England in 1559, and sailed to America, his object being to find material for a national work to be called " Life in the Weat." When the American war broke out Crouch laid down his pen, exchanging his musician's income of S4OOO a year for a private soldier's pay of .~?12 a month, .and marched to the front liehind the Confederate flag. Here he fought bravely through all the conflict between North and South under General Lee, with the first Richmond Howitzer Company, until the surrender at Appomatox. Wounded and penniless, he made his way to Buckingham Court-house, where he was thankful to earn a crust as gardener or farm hand, until the terrible hostilities of the civil struggle died out. But then, alas ! everything was changed ; the Con'federaite soldier was quite "out of date." and cruel coldness only greeted the haiploss musician. Destitute of books, music, money, and manuscripts, desolate and heartbroken, he found his way to Baltimore, where nothing remained for him but to take up work as a mechanic ; and as such he toiled for many years, never again being able to get to windward of his illfortunes. " There was a time," says the " Manchester Guardian," "when his most famous song was in the repertory of every English soprano, and one of its lines, ' It may be for years, and it may be forever,' has become one of the most familiar of quotations. It was in 1837. when Crouch was only 19 years old, that he canne across the words hv an English magazine. The pathos of the poem made such an impression on him that it seemd to haunt him. and during a ride one day at Endsh-igh. in Devonshire, he was inspired to compose the ■famous air. He sang the song himseW at a concert in Plymouth, where it was heard for the first time in public ; but. unfortunately, he gave away the score and the oopyri<ght, which must have been a profitable possession to its different owners. The copyright was once sold by auction for £2500. and this was long after many editions had been sold ; but all that the composer ever gained by it was the knowledge that his music 'had given unsirwnka'ble pleasure to countless multitudes in both hemispheres." Eighteen months ago two young ladies, ardent admirers of his lovely " Kathleen Mavourneen"—Miss Kate Simpson amd Miss Elva Lorence—got up an entertainment on his behalf ; •their efforts met witlh a warm response from all classes in Newcastle, and tihey were able to send the old composer., who is now almost blind, a very handsome sum of money. It was acknowledged with heartfelt gratitude, Mr. Crouch adding that this act of > great and unexpected kindness from the "eld Conn trie" had stirred the old bard of inspiration, am? woke his pen once more. And in token of his deep appreciation. Mr. Crouch, though in his eighty-eighth year, composed a new song, presenting and dedicating it .to his " friend Kate A. Simpson," <by whem the words are ■written. The song. " Donna Dear." published by Evans and Co., London. 1s a charming and melodious little Irish (ballad, attractive in its simplicity and from its association also. All friends of " Kathleen" anxious to do the old composer a small kindness will find this a fitting opportunity, and it is hoped 'by this meagre Mr. Crouch may gain another "benefit" in his old age. A- strange coincidence in his varied life is told in an American journal recently received from Mr. Crouch himself. A boy named James Roach, born in Kilkenny, grow up with # the song of " Kalfhleen Mavourneen" 'on his lips. Of a roving description, he joined the Amerkian army and had unconsciously fought against the composer of his favourite song. In 1883, his sior-s led him to Baltimore, and he learned accidentally that Mr. Crouch was living (there, and finding it difficult to make ends meet. With rare tact and delicacy he did, aind still does, all in his power to make life easier for the aged composer. The following lines are from one of Mr. Croudh's poems, printed in the "Maryland Journal." called "The Lament of flie Last Bard," and written November. ISO 4 : "His harp, silent hanging, enshrined by the willows. His lyrical strains in affection addressed. By night winds are wafted over the billows, As sorrowing tears bedew the moon's crest. On his laurels he'll sleep, where Carrolian slumbers. His melodies ringing through ages unborn, Out the soul of a bard, are measured his numbers. And sung they will be when his spirit has gone."