AN OLDSTER'S MEMORIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20650, 23 August 1930, Page 8 (Supplement)

AN OLDSTER'S MEMORIES.

"FATHER O'FLYNN." " Modern critics who encourage youngsters to write off their lives at 33 may think me 50 years too late." These are the words of Alfred Perceval Graves, who, at 83, lias published, in some respects perhaps as a counterblast to his son Robert's " Good-bye to All That," his own autobiography To Return to All That." In the course of his long life Mr. Graves has touched life at many points. He originated many successful movements, literary, musical and educatiopal. " The Irish Fairy Book," " Irish Folk Songs," and " The Elementary School Manager " give an idea not only of his nationality but also of tho range of his interests. It was through his influenco as a school inspector, by tho way, that organised games were introduced into the English educational code, and he mentions having received (in 1904) a letter from the Now Zealand Minister of Education to say that his suggested schomo was about to be tried in the New Zealand primary schools. " Nearly 25 years afterwards the New Zealand representative in London assured me that it huci caused a marked improvement in the physique of tho young New Zcalandor." Creator of " Father O'Flynn." But despite his multifarious activities Mr. Graves will best bo remembered by posterity as tho creator of " Father O'Flynn." Tho tune is an old Irish air, a Kerry version of " Tho Top of the Cork Road." " I had often danced an Irish jig to this tuno, and one morning found myself whistling it as I crossed the Loudon parks to my work in the Home Office. As I whistled recollections of Father Michael Walsh (a parish priest) roso to my mind, so that when I reached Whitehall they had woven themselves inlo my song of " Father O'Flynn." Lest it may be generally thought that so popular a song brought iu rich royalties Mr. Graves relates how ho parted with Ihe whole collection of 50 songs, in which it was included, for £BO. Latterly he has received a few pounds a year from gramophone and broadcasting fees, which rights, not then being in existence, ho had not signed away. And ho still has hopes of the "talkies!"

Literary Reminiscences. Though Mr. Graves never, like his brother Charles, was invited to the Punch table, ho was a friend of the editor, Tom Taylor, and much of his light verse appeared in its pages. He recollects Charles Keene, the black-and-white artist, as a " long dark man with a serious face over which a slow smile would break when he thought the joke I brought him worth illustrating." Keene, like all good Scots, was devoted to the national instrument, and whiled away his leisure playing the bagpipes, " though it is doubtful whether the other occupants of the house shared his enthusiasm." Another literary colebrity well known to the author was Tennyson, whose " Voyage of Macldune" was suggested by a book of Celtic romances which ho lejit t(he poet. He gives an amusing instance of Tennyson's eccentricity when some American visitors once called at Freshwater unannounced. " The maidservant innocently confessed that ' Mr. Tennyson was at home ' and ushered them into the drawing room. Tennyson had barely time to bolt under the sofa, and left his wife to effect his early release. But the visitors proved extremely interesting both to the ' host ' and his wife. Finally something was said by the American lady which he could not help challenging from his lair under the sofa!" The War and Robert Graves. Mr. Graves, who has been married twice has 10 children, several of whom have distinguished themselves in various ways, but the most challenging personality among them is undoubtedly Robert, whoso " Good-bye to All That " provokes the father to some mild criticism. He quotes some amusine extracts from Robert's letters from ihe front in 1915. Speaking of his batman he says "Ho is a good servant but a bad man. The worso the man, in fact, the better the servant." And in apology for the fact that he has still but one star on his sleeve he quotes from the Hangar Herald, a journal published at the front by the A.S.C.:— Oh deem it pride, not lack of skill That thus forbids my sleevo's increase, The moraine and the evening still Have but one star upiece. This sprightly octogenarian, who belongs to a family which has frequently topped the century, concludes by apologising for writing his autobiography at the comparatively early age of 83." The readers of this entertaining volume will be glad that he has rushed prematurely into print. " To Return to All That," by Alfred Perceval Graves (Jonathan Cape).