Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1894-08-20

the statf, rest. knnekles up, on the htp Thus the drum-major's pose, when not marching or giving command, is to stand with his left hand on his hip his right hand grasping his stick just below the head, the point of the stick resting on the ground. He presents fine. inn posing figure as he stands there, erect and tall, two paces in front of the band. Now comes the moment, so glorious to the small boy, when the commands Play" and Forward-March, are to be given. Facing the band the drum major, with quick turn of the wrist, points the ferule upward, letting it slant little to the right. Then, rais- ing his staff to the height of his chin, he thrusts it the full length of his arm to the right, and draws it back again. This is the signal to play. Then turn ing, he points the staff to the front, thrusts it the full length of his arm forward, and music and march begin. In the old days the drum-major then brought the ''eane,e as the staff was called in the tactics, to the position of "earry sword Now the drum major beats time, setting the cadence the number of steps to minute of the march. As rule he simply re- peats again and again the thrust and recover, through which he gives the command to play. Expert drum majors, however, introduce some fancy movement here. Jorgensen, for in stance, has pretty way of describing circle from the front to the back of his right shoulder, grasping the staff in the middle and twirling it so that the head points downward at the mo- ment the left foot is to advance. In unslxilful hands this movement is apt to end in disaster, the ferule striking the drum-major's back or nose-which puts the nose out of joint and the band out of time.
 It is important that the drum-major should mark the cadence correctly, as otherwise, not only his own, but all other regiments following will march too slowly or too rapidly. The regular cadence is 12o steps to the minute, but in. Memorial day parades, when there are many veterans in the procession, the drum-majors quietly reduce it to ninety Another clever trick of the drum major is to seize the ferule be- tween the fore and middle fingers, swing full circle with it four or five times, and let go, giving it slight twist as it leaves his fingers,
 The drum-major who gets the knack of the twist, and knows enough to al low for the number of steps he will ad- vance, can make his staff circle high up in front of him and sail down into his hand again.
 When the band is to execute an oblique movement, the drum-major holds his staff in horizontal position at the heig ht of his neck, and pointing the ferule in the direction of the oblique, extends his arm to it's full length. The prettiest evolution of the band is the countermarch. The drum major faces the music and gives the signal to march, but instead of turning remains standing with his face toward 1 the band. The band marches upon the 1 drum-major, but on reaching him the l file leaders to the right of him wheel i to the right those on the left to the left. the drum-maior marching down through the center. To signal for halt 1 the tall man in the bearskin cap raises i the staff with both hands in horizon tai position above his head. and with arms extended drops it to horizontal position at the height of his hips, With the staff he also indicates to the field music what signal it is to play, and puts the drum-corps through the manual for instance, Put up the drum-sticlxs.n s'Detach the drums, ' "Ground the drums. "-Gustav Kobbe, in St. Nicholas.