The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-07-03
Exit the Drum

Drummers and their drums are to be ellml-
mated from the French army by the reforming
zeal of Gen Fare, and that the infantry sol
dier will not march better in consequence of
this latest innovation may be safely predicted,
tor any attempt he may have made hitherto to
keep step has been mainly due to the rataplan,
Comparatively little importance however, is
attached in France to regularity ofstep, though
a regiment which makes any show OF it is in
variably the most cheered at reviews, this be.
ing one of the inconsistencies prevalent there
which it would be vain to attempt explaining.
The minister of war explained before the budg.
ct committee that his reason tor adopting the
change Is because drummers are not combat
ants, SO he proposes to replace them by trum.
peters, who do not come under any category.
| Like the white leather aprons of the sappers,
which have disappeared for some time, the
! little parchmentcOvered cylinders are hence
forth doomed. | do not know whether the
origin of the dram has ever been traced by
some patient inquirer, We have been told
that it comes to us from the East and that the
Moors first brought il INTO Europe Certain is
the fact that the most savage races have always
rejoced in their tamtams, and AS the pleasure
of making noise Is inherent in human nature
perhaps this most effective way OF creating a
din was invented by Adams sons or grand
sons. But the drum does not appear to have
been used in the French army until towards
the close of the fourteenth century, and its in.
production is attributed to the English invasion
under Edward Ill; its general adoption by
the infantry dates back to the time OF LOUIS
| Nj, when the Swiss element was largely in
fused into the royal forces. The drum at that
epoch was "A shapccss instrument, and served
more for rallying the troops or Tor the convey
ance of the word Of command than for regu
| L., FIR h..tn
measured as ii is now. Each captain had u
drummer in his private livery, and he employ
ed HIM to carry his orders or his instructions
as much as for beating the word of command
the drummer in those days appeared to have
| been a kind OF aldedc-camp. The covering
was usually made from the hide of some ami
mal-gencrally of an ass-thOugh if il he true
! that John Zisca, the avengcr OF 1uss, bcqueath
ed his skin TO his gallant companions IN arms
| to form the covering of drum which was t.
summon them in case of danger, material
more noble was at least once made to serve the
purpose The drum was not used for drilling
infantry to keep step until the middle OF The
eighteenth century, and TIE roll such as VT
now know 1t was only regulated some hundred
years ago. The drummer's art then became
more difficult and to perfect it regimenta
schools were established, the master of which
was the drum. major, who in recent times Wa
still such a prominent and popular parsonage
In each French regiment The period of hi,
greatest glory was the first empire, when tn,
drum major of the Grenadiers of the Guart
had rank as captain and wore uniform
which cost Napoleon el20. Under the restor
alton and the monarchy Of July drum-majOr:
were given 10 the regiments of firemen, ant
even 10 those ofthe National Guard, but of latI
years their prestige has diminished IN grea
extent and also their stature; they are no long
er such imposing clothes-horses, all lace anC
feathers, towering above ordinary mortals; thu
race has, in fact been vIsibly deteriorating
Such as they are however, they will now dis
appear from the head of French regiment
with their drums.-LondOH Morning Post.