The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-05-06

1
spurt them out, pretending that, ike
Mickey Frees emetics, "they wouldn't lie
on his stomach
The Inoiasntssf One Days Training with
the Eagleville OOrnet Band.
In the boarding house last night, after
Mr.. Magufhn had told particularly long
winded story, Magruder yawned aMa-
gufin, I should think you would be val
liable man in brass band"
"Mr Magruder," said Mngufin sternly,
"you little realize the unpleasant memory
revived by your aippant remark. did
belong TO brass band once, but my stay
10 the organization was characterized chief.
ly by brevity and violence. That was be-
fore | came to New York-when l lived in
Eagleyille. Some of the boys formed a
band, the Eagleville North American
Cornet Band, and they asked me to join,
but ! had other business, and they went
on without me-"
"ln the course Of time member Of the
Eagleville Blues died, and the band re-
solved TO attend the funeral. It so hap
pened that the bass drummer fell sick on
the day prior to the obsequies, and the
leader sent for me to take his place. Of
course couldn't refuse, and / went to
the headquarters, had the big drum strap
ped on me, and marched with the band
down to the house. There we executed
a little preliminary dirge, whose good
points | emphasized strongly on the drum.
The leader took his Z fat from his lips
and staredat me Indignantly, as supposed,
because | didn't get in heavy enough. |
said to myself, Patience, my friend, I'll
be on deck when the procession moves z
aud / was
IL have since learned that the entire
subsequent misunderstanding arose from
my Misrepresentation of the bass-drum part
at funeral celebration. 1t seems that on
such occasions the drum should not be
pounded vigorously, but subjected to a
soft and continuous irritation, which pro-
duces sort of rumbling, muffied monotone
that is supposed to represent grief Of a
strictly prime A ] brand Now as | had
seen the science Of bass drumming illus
trated on festal occasions only, when it
seemed to be merely personal question
between the drummer and the drum-head.
| governed myself accordingly; and I flung
myself with vehemence that believe
has no parallel in the annals Of that noble
but bulky instrument. I rose right up on
it and let myself loose, resolved that what
ever my sacrifice Of personal comfort might
be, there should be no just ground Of
complaint against my part of the music.
"We hadn't gone ten blocks before the
perspiration began to slop over the tops Of
my boots but I never let up, and two or
three times, when the leader shook his
cornet at me, / answered with series Of
double efforts that attracted very general
attention. The crowds on the sidewalk
seemed dumbfounded, and the people in
the carriages stuck their heads out Of the
windows and stared at me. There was
one curious feature Of the general attcn.
tion that ! didn't understand at the time,
and that was the behavior Of the hearse
driver. In front Of the house I had
thought him the most solemn-faced mani
ever saw, but now he laughed and shook
until | thought he would fall on the box.
swell, we got to the cemetery, and the
last sad rites were over. Then the band
began final dirge, and 1 gathered myself
together for one grand finishing effort.
The leader was blowing his widest vail
on the cornet, and the bass.horn man was
decorating all the corners and angles Of
music with enormous patches Of sound.
Then ! shifted the strap down from whore
1t had crawled up around my neck, and
spit on my hands. ! braced up and -FOUR
ished the drumstick in the air for one
great, terrific, eclipsing boom, and at the
same time the sexton raised his shovel as
| at that moment supposed inyoluntarily,
from an Infectious enthusiasm caught
from my drumming.
'Drumstick and shovel descending to-
gether, and realized in an instant that
the sexton had mistaken his calling. As
q bass drummer he would have been the
unchallenged champion Of the world. I
was 50 impressed by his power that /
stopped drumming at once and lay down,
and didn't come too until some time
after they had carried me home never
in all my life have had anything exercise
over me such an overpowering narcotiziog
effect as thai shovel did, and firmly be-
lieve i WAS dragged
Magruder stretched himself, ard said.
sleepily ''Maguf6n. when / zhut my
eyes can't realize the difference IN eject
between your story and that shovel. 2
ponar hox.,. -. ~....I, I:...4l.. a.. ~ "