The Edison phonograph monthly (Dec 1914-Dec 1915)

EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY, APRIL, 1915 13 Thomas P. Westendorf "I'LL TAKE YOU HOME AGAIN, KATHLEEN"— HOW IT CAME TO BE WRITTEN WHO, that has ever heard this captivating, love inspiring melody has ever heard it enough? You play it through, or rather let the Edison record play it for you, and immediately you say within yourself, "That's GOOD! and set the reproducer back again to the starting point and listen, enraptured by the words and the irresistible swing of the melody. It must be classed as one of those immortal songs that have a perennial spring, for its words take us back to flowers, to love scenes and to the dear old home whence all the happy hours, so tenderly sung about, were lived. Mr. Edison, in the course of his self-imposed duty of hearing every record before it is put in circulation, has again and again expressed his admiration for "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen," and his recent remarks about it indicate that his first impressions have proved long and lasting for he said: "Tell that author to write another as good." "So say we all of us" — meanwhile we willingly sit beside the author and learn from him, how he came to write the beautiful song. Thomas P. Westendorf, the gifted composer, was born February 23rd, 1848, at Bowling Green, Caroline Co., Virginia. His father, a German by birth, had a musical education and was an accomplished violinist. His mother, a native of Virginia, was of good family. At the age of seven, Thomas or "Tom" as his admirers delighted to call him, began to study the piano with Prof. Ernest Ambolt, of Richmond, Va. In 1859 he continued these studies in Chicago, adding the violin. 'Twas not until 1873 that he met, wooed and won, the "Kathleen" he was to immortalize in song. Soon after her marriage "Kathleen" began to pine for her old home "Across the Waters Wild and Wide." She prevailed upon her lover husband to let her go "back again" — once more to visit the old folks ere she settled down to what the author declares has been "A life, freighted with its full share of conjugal happiness." The occasion inspired him to pen the words and set them to music. WTe are not told whether "Kathleen" ever went home again after the song was composed or whether, if she wanted to go back, she received gracious and loving permission, in the ardent manner this sweet old song describes. We do know that the song became immensely popular right from the start, that it has been treasured ever since among the heart melodies of the song-world. It has been widely circulated in England and Ireland, in fact it has gone wherever the English tongue is spoken and sung. Among the much beloved "Irish emigrant" songs it is a particular favorite. We became interested in the origin of the song and wrote to Mr. Westendorf, who is now a resident of "Sunny" Tennessee. At our insistence he made a special trip to Memphis, to stand beside an Edison and hear once more the song that has made "Kathleen" the idol of many a true lovers dream. The photograph herewith is the result of the trip, and it gives us much pleasure to present it. Long life to Mr. Westendorf, to "Kathleen" and to the song that is only yet in its first stage of popularity. You who have not heard it don't know what you are missing. TWO YEARS' FAMILIARITY WITH ANOTHER INSTRUMENT CHANGED IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE WHEN THE EDISON DISC IS HEARD TWO years ago our small son was sick and a kind neighbor brought her over to amuse him during convalescence," writes V. R. Bourland of St. Louis. "Then we decided that we would get an instrument of this kind. We went to the Wellston Talking Machine Co. fully intending to buy a but when we entered the store an Edison Model A250 was playing 'Dreams of Galilee.' When the piece was finished the Edison had scored another triumph over a competitor. "We looked at the various Edison models, and next day Model A150 was delivered to me. We kept_it about nine or ten months; then got Model A250, which is in constant use, and which gives complete satisfaction morning, noon and night. "When Mr. Lapping and the other members of the Club bought machines I suggested to them the Club Idea. We now spend many pleasant hours together with our Phonographs, thanks to Mr. Edison's genius." (Incidentally, Mr. Coleman, of the Wellston Talking Machine Co., says he is a good salesman to sell a S150 machine to a man who comes in to buy a #15 instrument of a make he was so long familiar with. I tell him it is the instrument.)