The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-07-22

belt, ssbsr. top-booss and spurs-svsrytAh
permitted 10 regulations Solomon and ~
lilies of the fields could not vie with hin.
He marched seds:ely to his position opposite
the center Of the guard. Striking herose ~
titude, he looked at che Adjutsns, vho 80
nounced: 4" The guard 10 formed" The GsnerI
nodded majssticsily for the action to begin. !
The band was directed to beat Cd" -
marched to the extreme left of the guard, Dasys
inx lively air on the bugles. As they reached
the left. dropping the buzles to their sides sn6
wheeling about, they rsappeared with the afat
marching towards the right n
Suddenly upon the mellow morning Al
bursts forth the ravishing strains We all ysrs
there to hear. Every ffsr blew his shrillsso
note. As the beuitching strains permea.sd th1
still air. memory recalled the long -forgcstea
words:
"The fairest of the howersts rare
That in our kitchen garden grows
IL pumpkins, but none can compare
In angel form with my Mary Ann.
Chorus.
Then fare re we'll my own .rus love,
Fare ye well for while.
For the ship is ready aud the wind Is fair.
Aud am bound TO sea. Mary Ann.
"a lobster in lobster pot,
A b'uedsh wriRgling on hook.
May suffer some. but. oh, not half
What do feel for my Mary Ann"
The band had covered about half the die
lance back to the right, when noticed a move
ment in the audience and q smile spreading
itself on their faces. Turning, witnessed 8
transform alton in the Commanding General.
He had dropped both hands TO his sides with .
snort like bsited bull, and darted from bic
place on the sidewalk into the middle Of the
street. Selling the Professor by both lapes Of
his coat, he shook him until the musicisn'S
teeth ratified like csstanets and his mustach
lost its curl.
lyon scoundrel," yelled the enraged Briza-
der; "Pll teach you 10 play such music before
my Headquarters" and he renewed tho shak.
ing so violently that his own hat and feathers
fell to the ground.
Poor Beaumont was thunderstruck. The
band stood still, the squelched notes Of I" NJ
Mary Ann" fingered in quiysring fright upoA
the Summer breeze.
Few but stout were the words he said
For he spoke more in anger than sorrow;
While the band stood still ia mortal dread,
And postponed the refrain till the morrow.
CHANGING to glance at Col. Bacon, I saw him,
and all around him holding their sides and
laughing as il at play. Gen. B. released
Beaumont, and taking his hat from musician
who had picked it up, hastily ordered tbs
guard off about their business, and stalksd
haughtily away into Headquarters with hIs
spurs and his saber clanking and jingling after
him. Even tho feathers in his hat seemed 70
bristle with disgust.
1t developed that while in command at Cairo,
after Gen. Grants army left for Fort Henry,
Gen. B had issued orders forbidding tbs
tune called Ny Mary Ann to be sung, whistled
or played in Cairo. under penalty of death or
imprisonment at Dry Tortugas. It was said
the old General never could hear it without
becoming raving maniac. Col. Bacon muss
have known this, and had played q very
practical joke on our musical Professor.
thought it pretty hard on Us that . tune
that awakened only pleasant "reminiscences
respective Of our Mary Ann should have such
an unhappy effect on the commanding officer.
Our band never could play it again. Every
time they essayed to do it. the scene nc thai
guard-mount would present itself. and listeners
could trace q smothered laugh in every note.
So it had to be abandoned for something less
exhilsratiDg.
Col Bacon seemed to lose all interest in
music from that day, and never afterwards
asked the Professor to play one of his fayoriteA
EDMUND MARSH, st. Louis, No.