THE STORY OF A FAMOUS SONG.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2691, 14 December 1895, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE STORY OF A FAMOUS SONG.

11l a Berios of interesting articles) “ Stories of Famous Songs," now being published in an English paper, Mr Adair Fitz-Gerald gives the following notes on “ Robin Adair." The real Bobin was a descendant of the Desmond Fitz-Geralds, “ the mighty Geraldines," His father was made a knight-baronet after the battle of the Boyne. The new Version of the song was written about 1750 by Lady Caroline Keppel, to Robert, or Bobin Adair, with whom she was deeply in love. I will repeat the story as it is handed down : About a century and a half ago, an impulsive young Irishman, named Eobert Adair, who was studying in Dublin for the medical profession, got into some scrape, and as he possessed little money and few friends, the only way he saw out of the difficulty was flight. So he speedily quitted Dublin and made his way to, Holyhead with the intention of going to I that golden city of ambitious youth— London. But travelling in those days was very expensive, and when Adair reached Holyhead he discovered that his purse was as light as -his heart; consequently he had nothing to do but accept the inevitable, and so ho manfully set out to walk to the metropolis. He had not gone far when he came upon a carriage that had been overturned, for the roads at that time were in a horrible condition. The owner and occupant of the vehicle, a well-known leader of fashionable society, was greatly alarmed at the accident, and had, besides, received some slight personal injury. Adair, like a true Irishman, at once offered his services, and in a very short space of time had the carriage righted and the lady carefully attended to. Adair was a very handsome and aristocratic young fellow, and, notwithstanding that his dress might have been of finer texture and in better condition, he had a striking appearance. AVith ready frankness he soon explained that he' was a surgeon, and begged to examine into the state of the lady’s injuries. An examination soon showed that they were of merely a trifling nature —that the nerves were more upset than the body hurt. Adair then took the opportunity to explain that he was on his way to London to endeavour to make a name in the profession he had chosen, and as the fair lady was still apprehensive of unknown dangers, and still felt the effect of the shock, she offered the vivacious young Irishman a seat in her carriage as a protector, for she herself was travelling to the metropolis when the accident occurred. He was only ioo delighted to accept the proffered kindness, and very soon restored his travelling companion to health and good spirits. Arrived in London, she presented him with a hundred guineas, and invited him to come to her house as often as he pleased. Bobin Adair was a wise and energetic young man, and took full advantage of the lucky turn in his fortunes to study assiduously ; and soon, with the assistance of his patroness, acquired a good connection at the beat end of the town. He was frequently at the dances given by this lady and others, he being a graceful dancer, a good conversationalist and a man of considerable natural ability. One night, at a party, he found that his partner was Lady Caroline Keppel, the second daughter of the Earl of Albemarle. It was a case of love at first sight—mutual love; and Lady Caroline’s attachment was as sincere as it was sudden. They wore the observed of all the guests, and after a few meetings their relations were in despair. The young couple, however, continued to meet again and again, and their affection ripened into an intense passion. Her kinsfolk were stupefied with amazement. Wore they to allow an unknown Irishman to carry off the flower of their flock—the beautiful Caroline ? They set their wits to work to try and persuade her to give him up. But all in vain. Handsome heirs of the oldest and stillest families were prevailed upon to woo her, but she would not listen to them. She was sent abroad to see if travel would alter her determination and cure her of her “ folly," but without avail, and gradually she fell ill. AVhen she was at Bath for tiro benefit of her health, she wrote the verses now so popular and adapted them to the melody of “ Eileen Aroon," which Bobin Adair' had doubtless often sung to her. At last the separation from Adair and the importunities of her relatives caused her to become so dangerously ill that, upon the doctors despairing of her life, and seeing the disease was more of the heart and mind than of the flesh, tbe union of the faithful pair was consented to. , Tbe event was duly notified in tbe Grand Magazine of Universal Intelligence thus: “February 22ad, 1758, Bohert Adair, Esq., to the Eight Honourable the Lady Caroline Keppel." This was the culminating point in the pretty love story. A short time after his marriage Adair was appointed InspectorGeneral of Military Hospitals through the influence of this wife’s relations. For did his good luck end hero; for the King, being taken with Adair’s agreeable manner and undoubted skill, made him Surgeon-General, King’s Sergeant Surgeon, and Surgeon of Chelsea Hospital. Good fortune did not spoil him, and he continued to work hard at his profession; and the King was so greatly gratified at the successful way in which bo treated the Duke of .Gloucester that he , offered to make him a baronet. Adair, however, declined. Adored and admired by all who knew him, he lived to the ripe old age of eighty, and his death was deeply lamented. Lady Caroline, however, who did not enjoy good health, died after giving birth to their third child. Knowing ho”v devotedly attached her husband was to her, she felt he wonldnot marry again, and sho was right, mxcept on State occasions, when ho was obliged to don Court costume, he wore mourning, in remembrance of his love and his wife, until ho died in 1700, when he was buried with her in the family vault. Their only son, the Bight Honourable Sir Robert Adair, died in 1855, at the advanced age of ninety-two, after a brilliant career, having proved himself a very capable diplomatist. This sketch would hardly be complete without the words of the song, and I here append the lyric, as originally written by Lady Caroline at Bath—

What’s this dull town to mo ? Robin’s not near; Ho, whom I wish to see— Wish so to bear. Where’s all the joy and mirth, Mad© life a heaven on earth ? 0 ! they’re all fled with theo, Robin Adair. What made th’ assembly shine ? Robin Adair ! What made the ball so fine ? Robin was there I What, when the play was o'er, What made my heart so sore ? O I it was parting with Robin Adair.

But now thon’rt far from me, Robin Adair! And now I never sc© Robin Adair! Yet ho I love so well, Still in my heart shall dwell j Oil can ne’er forget Robin Adair. There are other versions, notably one commencing “ Welcome on Shore, again,"

and a ridiculous parody, “Welcome to Punchestown, Johnny Adair/' but the above is the true one.