The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-04-08
A Renaissance of Ned Kendall.

News has been received of the death o
James r. Kendall, the once celebrated
Boston musician, in San Francisco. jim
and Ned Kendall will be well remembered
by old Bostonians as the founders of thu
old Boston Brigade band, the rival of tht
no less celebrated Boston Brass band.
James Kendall was noted as clarionettt
player, while Ned was celebrated as per
former on the bugle. His execution Of
favorite airs, with extra touches, yaria
tons, delicate shades and sweet tones was
something marvellous in those days, and
on the occasion of the visit of the Prince
de Joinville to Boston and the grand bal
given to that cion of nobility at Faneui
Hall, one of the great features announced
was the grand orchestra which would dis
course sweet harmony, with notes from
"KendaIl's bugle floating over ALL"
as poet of the day expresses it.
An old story told of Ned Kendall when
at the height of his popularity, nearly for
ty years ago. will be new to many at this
time. 1t appears that a celebrated New
York bugle player had heard so much OF
Kendall's playing, and had had compari-
son of his own execution so frequently
made with that of the Bostonian, and to
Lilt ldNOI VI Tic ldllCI, blldb uO hdluA dAi y
had great desire to meet the rival per-
former, and accordingly visited Boston for
that purpose, On the very first day of his
arrival, which was at the height of the
sleighing season, he was invited to join a
sleighing party, which he did.
Arriving, after glorious ride, at one OF
the then popular out of town resorts,
1.-The Punch Bowl" old "Phenix," or
Brighton, ;" the party found that the ball
room of the place was lighted up, and a
grand dance was to take place by large
party who had arrived from Boston. Our
New York musician, finding the bar-room
crammed with gentlemen partaking of
various warm and stimulating fluids,
stepped into a side parlOr to wait better
chance to do likewise, and to warm him.
self at the fire, before which sat three indi-
viduals, who courteously made room for
him. On the table near by lay a bugle,
evidently Just taken from its case which
lay near.
t'Ah!" said the New Yorker, having
warmed his fingers into flexibility as he
leaned his hand upon the table and toyed
with the keys of the instrument. Amy
one of you play on this?"
"Yes, lido a little" said somewhat
thick set, dark compiexioned man at the
fire.
"Play for parties, suppose?"
Snow and then, when get job" said
the other, his eyes twinkling, "do you? ?"
"Oh, do little in my way" said the
New Yorker, with assumed Indifference,
and seizing the bugle he ran over the scale,
gave half a dozen strains and pretty
snatches of melody that brought dozen
or two listeners to the halfopen door.
The dark man opened his eyes wider.
60 You are an excellent player" said he.
"Oh. only so, so.'' was the gratified and
pompOus reply; 81 suppose
you don't go into much except dance
music?"
"Well, yes little; I'm pretty good at
initiating a thing | hear played once or
twice )" and he took up the instrument,
and played the same strains the other had
performed, awkwardly and with half
dozen bitches and omissions.
pretty good" said the New York
bugler, "but you want practice and &C
cent, especially in solo playing"
"No doubt of it." said the dark man.
Snow even in dance music there can be
4 vast deal of ornamentatioD, said the
New Yorker, warming up with desire to
show off his skill before what he thought
IN inferior player, and the gathering
group that the notes of the instrument had
already attracted. "NOw the Fishers
Hornpipe' is a lively tune, but see what
can be done with it; :" and he took up the
Dugle and put the country dance through
1 series of variations that made the nerves
Of every foot, whose owner was within
hearing, tingle with electric thrills.
" YOu can hardly follow that as well as
he scales, suppose" said the performer,
aging down the instrument amid a buzz
IF applause from his now augmented au-
lience.
"Well, don't know about following
my body, but may give you my idea OF
t." said the dark-cOmpleXioned man, as
ne took up the instrument.
If the first bar made the other player
start, the succeeding ones transfiXed him
is the performer executed strains with
,orrectress, skill, and beauty that he never
heard extracted from bugle before. The
trills, tones, and melody of the
amiliar old dance was rendered into cleo
ric poetry as never before dreamed of, as
hey flowed from the bell of the instru-
nent, and beneath the skillful manipula-
ions and never-failing wind of the per-
ormer, who, at the conclusion of his per-
ormance, amid roar OF applause, re-
marked, with the same sly twinkle in his
lark eye,
What do you think now?'
"Think - said the other, as he stood
With his eyes distended with astonishment.
Think Why, that no living man
Gould have done that; you must be either
he devil or Ned Kendall"
" Ned Kendall, and no devil" said the