Alice Stroup, age 17, of Tacoma, Wash., for her question:

WHO WROTE THE SONG 'O PROMISE ME'?

The classic song "0 Promise Me" was written by a very remarkable musician named Reginald DeKoven in 1890. During his lifetime, DeKoven wrote more than 400 songs, 17 operettas and two grand operas. In addition, he was a well known music writer and critic.

Born in Connecticut in 1859, DeKoven was an exceptional child who could read Latin at the age of 6. He moved to England with his family when he was 11 and by the time he turned 20, he had already earned a doctor of music degree from oxford University. He had studisd,piano, voice and composition.

In 1889, when he was 30, he became a music critic for the Chicago Evening Post, Harper's Weekly, the New York World and the New York Herald.

In 1902, when he was 43, he founded the Philharmonic Orchestra at Washington, D. C.

All through the years, DeKoven composed music. His "0 Promise Me" was from his best known operetta, "Robin Hood." DeKoven died in 1920 when he was 61.