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FAMOUS SONGS
Here again is the story of this famous song told in Crouch's own words : " The words in-stantly attracted my attention by their purity of style and diction. I sought the authoress, and obtained her permission to set them to music. Leaving London as traveller to Chapman and Co , Cornhill, while prosecuting my journey to-wards Saltash I jotted down the melody on the historic banks of the Tamar. On arriving at Plymouth, I wrote out a fair copy of the song, and sang it to Mrs. Rowe, the wife of a music publisher of that town. The melody so capti-vated her and others who heard it that I was earnestly solicited that it should be given the first time in public at her husband's opening concert of the season. But certain reasons obliged me to decline the honour. I retired to rest at my hotel, and rising early next morning, and opening my window, what was my surprise to see on a hoarding right opposite a large placard on which was printed in the largest and boldest type: ' F. Nicholls Crouch, from Lon-don, will sing at P. E. Howe's concert, " Kath-leen Mavourneen," for one night only!' Amazed and confused at such an unwarrantable and unauthorized announcement, I hurriedly com-pleted my toilet, took my breakfast, and rushed off to Mr, Rowe's warehouse. But, despite my
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