the experiences of a bandmaster-第2章

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A　succession　of　sharp　cries　from　women；　the　hasty　shuffling　of　feet；
and　the　nervous　tension　manifest　in　every　one；　gave　proof　that　a
panic　was　probably　imminent。　　I　called　softly　to　the　band；　〃Yankee
Doodle！〃　and　the　men　quickly　responded　by　playing　the　good　old　tune
from　memory　in　the　darkness；　quickly　following　it　with　〃Dixie〃　on
my　orders。　　The　audience　began　to　quiet　down；　and　some　scattering
applause　gave　assurance　that　the　excitement　was　abating。

〃The　Star…Spangled　Banner〃　still　further　restored　confidence；　and
when　we　played　〃Oh　Dear；　What　Can　the　Matter　Be？〃　and　〃Wait　Till
The　Clouds　Roll　By；〃　every　one　was　laughing　and　making　the　best　of
the　gloom。　　In　a　short　time　the　gas　was　turned　on；　and　the　concert
proceeded　with　adequate　lighting。


In　the　desire　to　do　especial　honor　to　a　certain　foreign
representative　during　the　World's　Fair；　I　had　a　particular　piece　of
music　in　which　he　was　interested　arranged　for　my　band；　and　agreed
to　play　it　at　a　specified　concert。　　The　music　was　given　to　a　member
of　the　band　with　instructions　to　copy　the　parts　and　deliver　them　at
the　band…stand。

The　foreign　gentleman　was　present　at　the　concert　with　a　large　party
of　friends；　whom　he　had　invited　to　hear　this　particular　piece　of
music。　　When　the　librarian　asked　the　musician　for　the　parts；　he
could　not　find　them；　and　a　search　high　and　low　for　the　missing
music　was　without　avail。　　Much　to　my　chagrin；　it　was　necessary　to
omit　the　number　and　send　explanations　and　regrets　to　the　dignitary　
whom　it　was　designed　to　honor。

At　the　end　of　the　concert；　when　the　men　were　packing　to　go　home；　the
player　found　the　missing　band　parts　stuck　in　the　bell　of　his
instrument；　where　he　had　placed　them　for　safe…keeping。


In　a　little　Michigan　town　my　band　was　booked　for　an　afternoon
concert；　and　on　our　arrival　the　local　manager　assured　us　that　we
should　have　a　good　house；　although　there　was　no　advance　sale。　　He
explained　this　by　saying　that　the　townspeople　did　not　like　to　buy
their　tickets　until　the　last　minute。

The　theatre　was　on　the　second　floor　of　the　town　hall；　the　ground
floor　being　given　over　to　the　fire　department；　the　especial　pride
of　the　community。　　Twenty　minutes　before　the　concert　a　large　crowd
had　gathered　round　the　box…office　to　buy　tickets　when　the
fire…alarm　sounded；　and　the　entire　population　promptly　deserted　the
muse　of　music　and　escorted　the　engine　and　hose…cart　to　the　scene　of
action；　leaving　the　band　absolutely　without　an　audience。



A　Tuneful　Locomotive。

Once　when　we　were　playing　during　warm　weather　in　a　theatre　situated
near　a　railroad；　the　windows　were　left　open　for　ventilation。　　The
band　was　rendering　a　Wagner　selection；　and　at　the　climax　was
playing　with　increasing　force。　　The　last　note　to　be　played　was　a
unison　B　flat；　and　as　I　gave　the　sign　to　the　musicians　to　play　as
strong　as　possible　the　volume　of　sound　that　followed　fairly　
astonished　me。　　I　had　never　heard　fifty　men　play　with　such　force
before　and　could　not　account　for　it；　but　the　explanation　soon
became　manifest。　　As　the　band　ceased　playing；　the　same　note
continued　in　the　blast　of　a　passing　locomotive　that　had　opportunely
chimed　in　with　us　in　unison。


The　Marine　Band　was　once　doing　escort　duty　on　Pennsylvania　Avenue　in
Washington　to　a　body　of　citizen　soldiery　returning　from　camp。　　It
was　at　night　and　the　parade　was　preceded　by　a　wagon…load　of
fireworks　which　were　to　be　discharged　at　appropriate　intervals
along　the　line　of　march。

By　some　accident　or　design　the　entire　load　of　pyrotechnics　was
simultaneously　ignited；　and　the　street　immediately　filled　with　a
perfect　fusillade　of　rockets　and　Roman　candles。

A　stampede　followed　and　the　parade　faded　away。　　I　stood　my　ground
until　my　eye…glasses　were　knocked　off；　and　then　I　groped　my　way　to
the　sidewalk。　　When　the　confusion　had　subsided；　all　that　could　be
discovered　of　my　band　was　the　drum…major　in　front　and　the
bass…drummer　in　the　rear　rank。　　Their　comrades　had　fled；　but　these
men　were　good　soldiers；　and　having　received　no　orders　to　disperse
had　stood　their　ground　manfully。



A　Tale　of　the　White　House

One　more　story　of　the　White　House。　　At　the　time　of　the　unveiling　of
the　statue　of　Admiral　Farragut　in　Washington；　it　was　suddenly
proposed　to　have　a　reception　at　the　Executive　Mansion　in　honor　of
the　many　distinguished　visitors。　　The　informal　invitations　were
issued　while　I　was　participating　in　the　parade　that　was　part　of　the
ceremonies。

At　seven　o…clock　in　the　evening；　when　I　was　at　home；　tired　out　after
the　long　march；　word　came　to　me　to　report　at　the　Marine　Barracks。　I
went　there　and　was　ordered　to　take　the　band　to　the　White　House　at
eight　o'clock　p。m。

The　bandmen　did　not　live　in　barracks；　and　it　was　practically
impossible　to　get　them　together　at　that　time　of　night；　as　they　were
scattered　all　over　the　city。

〃Well；　those　are　my　instructions　and　those　are　your　orders；〃　said
the　commanding　officer。

So　we　sent　the　band…messengers　out　to　the　men's　lodgings；　and　they
found　just　one　musician　at　home；　and　he　was　the　bass…drummer。

At　eight　o'clock；　arrayed　in　all　the　gorgeousness　of　my　scarlet　and
gold　uniform；　I　sat　in　front　of　the　band　platform　in　the　White
House　lobby；　and　the　bass…drummer　stationed　himself　back　in　the
semi…obscurity　of　his　corner。　　There　was　a　dazzling　array　of
music…stands　and　empty　chairs；　but　no　musicians！　　The　President
evidently　saw　the　humorous　side　of　it；　and　when　I　explained　the　
situation　he　said　it　could　not　be　helped。　　All　the　evening　we　sat
there　and　listened　to　humorous　remarks　from　the　guests。　We　had
〃reported　for　duty；〃　though；　and　the　drummer　and　I　stayed　till　the
reception　was　over。






End