THE LOST WALTZ.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10304, 8 November 1911, Page 2

THE LOST WALTZ.

Many years ago "The Lost Chord" brought Sullivan much lame and money. "The Lost Waltz" may perhaps inspire another composer one of these days. Let us succinctly relate the story (says the "Musical Newt;.") In the first place it concerns Franz Lehar, whoso "Merry Widow" waltz also brought him fame and money. He was not seated at tho organ, but was one day walking in the woods when a waltz melody suddenly occurred to him. It was too good to be lost or even entrusted to liis memory. So, as ho had no paper with him, he toc-k off his collar, which must have been of the mythical G.O.M. dimensions, and, sitting down, promptly wrote tin's wait/, down without more ado. Having done this tho collar was no longer wearable, if only for the reason that tho inspiration emanating from the brain must not run any risk of being transferred, to the outside of tho neck. So Lehar turned up his coat-collar, and: with the linen manuscript in his pocket, started for home. Here he played over the composition, with which he was delighted. Alas, on how small a. thread depends the. existence of even the best of Avaltzes! Lobar was summoned to see some friends. Without a second thought ho put on a clean collar, and left tho other on his writing-table. While ho was gone the laundress came. To her—tiood, honest Philistine soul—a soiled, collar on a, writing-tablo was just a soiled ■collar and nothing more, and so into the washing basket it went witli tho other tilings. The distracted composer, on his return succeeded in tracking it to the laundry, but alack and alack too late, for the collar was not now to bo distinguished from its follows. In spotless purity it was guiltless of a single note of the ravishing waltz, while, worst of all, tho composer's memory was an equal blank ! Thus was a masterpeico lost to the world, all because of a matter-of-fact laundress.