Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-07-01

pleasure to observe kncXVlIle Is 10
have a All of July-the more, as I
have INDUCED the patriotic fever, until
taxed with acknowledgement by men,
who have no more idea OF a nationality
than a monkey has OF metaphysics-a
little 10 ore hail Columbia, aud less Of
Congressional blather,-would be bet
ter for the country at large. Il notice
but one sensible remark was made
during the whole august cOnclavt-by
a man named McCook-who had 10
apologize therefor. The fact is, were
not Congress the ely SUM of knaves,
'twouid be the paradise ofsfools. Bnt
touching your festival.
I presume you will have CONT
mental squad. This continental cos
tune was always puzzle to me al
though [ profess to be an expert on
the question of military toilette; past
and present. know il Was blue and
buff, cooked hat and buckled shoe.
also that the musters were of inordi-
nate weight and length, that the ser--
gealts carried halberds. and all that
sort of thing, but concerning the ira
ditional dress, 1 always bad my
doubts. There are several existing or
CARNATIONS; preserving the traditions,
costumes, &c. of days of yOre-among
the rest the ancient and honorable ar
tillery of Boston, AmOskeag veterans,
Albany Burgess corps. and the first
city troop of PhIladelphia--as the
most unique, [ will endeavor to sketch
that of the" veterans "a long tailed
y low ayrf
buff vest, while the neither integu-
ments are hidden in buff knee breech-
es, white silk stockings, and low quail
te red, buckled shoes-as a head piece,
a cresce1tic cbapeau, worn broadside
to the. front, and surmounted b.
haekIe, white and red plume. The
bayonet, and cumbrOus cartIidge box
are sustained by separate cross belis,
unembraced by a waist belt. Their
music was invariably drums and fif.F,
the drums long in the barrel aud vi h
braces eversed-cOucerning music
Few persons though familiar with
| the present perfect appointments of
first lsss military band, have any
idea that the improvement is compar~
atively rcent-withiu my mt m0ry,
and l am not very old mau-tne
change has been very marked. a
band, as l first knew il, was con
structed of odds and ends. Twas led
by copper key bugies lEb), and sus
tanned by French hCrnF, obees, trom
zones, ophcleides. frequently car
iOnettes were used to lead and believe
even now the West Point baud ust
the &C" Instead Of the disc of .
| cymbal, now adOp:ei, chime Of bells
was used. One. 1 TT collect, Was bull
on an ebony staff iniaid with silver, and
surmounted by a silver crescent. The
bells, OF silver aud two hundred in
number, y ere arranged in pyramidat
form. These chimes were exceedingly
sweet and effective. Then we hau
drums and fifee, led by bugles. These
pavades and torchlight professions.
The F horns, claIiouel ties, etc, grad
uany disappeared, AMI we had "aitGs
and tenors." Finally a sax horn, as
it was called, was brought into notice
by the Distin family. Then the fam
Gus Dodworths took the thing up, ard
bands and instruments became licked
into shape. The bugle, the sweete +
instrument that ever led band or
Fingered over solo, disappeared, and
comapeans and trumpet-shapedt tricks
J began 10 pat in al appearance. One
lday some Edison got an idea that {
regimental band should throw thei
, music to the marching body, not from
81 it. The piston working horns, th'
horns with bells turned vertically
and the cumbrous ophicleide, will
/ keys like soup ladies. passed from gu
E gaze, and instruments of silver, uni
form in pattern, and with bells pass
!. ing over the shoulder, delighted tn
hearts of our crack military orgauiza
I tions. The venerable trombone sti
| survives although modernized wit
valves, as nothing has been cor
structed that can take its place. Tt
last dodge with regimental organic
l. tons is drum corps to alternate Wit
the band.
The oldest thing I have ever see
It however, was not long since, in Ola
= borne county marching body, headt
u by band, composed of two iddles.
q violincello, flute and bass drum
all cooked up in twO-horse Wagon
A. and playing he"PIima Donna Waltz
- L laughed. I did.
y / have thrown together few remi
er iscences, suggested by your 4th
July, but can not close without e
al pressing regret that you have no got
te military corps in Knoxville. u
the more strange as under the shade
~ OF the University of Tennessee, fro
"a whence you could draw drill sergeau
- and instructors, while the cadet cor
IN could show "how things ought TO
bo done.h Surely the material exists, a.
~ you have young Norvel who COT
at utilize it. BRICA-BRAC