Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-03
PASSING OF THE DRUM.
1t Will Soon Disappear in COnnectft
With Army Life.

With Army Life.
Lieut.. Con Marrast Perkins of the United
States Marine Corps writes an article en-
titled 1.-The Last of the Drums for ST.
Nicholas. Lieut.. Perkins says:
1 think few know that of all the time
honored equipments of war which these
days OF military progress have left US, the
drum is the Oldest. but. like the sword and
the bayonet, the drum Is fast disappear
lEg. Its companion, the fife, hallowed by
traditions of vaior even in our own history,
from Lexington to Gettysburg, is already
the inspiring martial music of the drum.
What boy has not felt his pulses thrill
and his heart swell with patriotic pride and
martial ardor while gazing upon the we'll
known picture of the revolution, the Min
ute Men Of &C." forsaking the ploughshare
and flying to take down the old fintlock
at the tocsin Of war-the throbbing of the
drum and the Shril screaming of the fife
sounded by two SCARED veterans, bare
headed. white-haired and in their shirt
sleeves, marching through fields and along
the roads, calling the patriots to arms!
Every New England schoolboy has read
the story of Abigail and Elizabeth, the sis
tiers of Newburyport, who. during the revo-
luton, repelled alone an attack of the
and blowing a fife. The British troops,
who were about to land, hurried back to
their ships, thinking a whole army lay in
ambush to repulse them!
envy and save town from pillage and
ruin.
The military drum is supposed to have
been introduced in Europe by the Moors
and Saracens, during the middle ages, and
was quickly adopted by armies. The drum
of today differs little. and in appearance
only, from the earliest form. 1t consists
as every boy knows, of two pieces of parch-
ment, or batter-heads, stretched over the
ends Of a hollow cylinder, and struck with
sticks. For ages this instrument has been
known among savage tribes and barbaric
nations. who use it's weird music to accom-
pany their religious rites. as we'll as for
war purposes.
The tom-tom of the Sioux Indian is a
good example Of primitive drum
In civilized warfare the drum has ever
been connected with deeds of martial valor
and its voice is dear to the heart of the
soldier who has followed its pulsing into
the deadly fire of battle or even in reviews
and military parades, when rank upon
rank sweep up a street keeping perfect
alignment and step to the drums inspiring
beat.
1t has found a place in history through
the daring bravery Of more than one
beardless boy who has sounded at the
rally" just in time to turn the tide Of
battle
Johnny Glen, the drummer boy of
Shiloh" who beat the rally without orders
when his regiment had broken, panic
stricken. and thus helped to save the day.
was made an officer for his heroism, and
is now a major in the United States army.
In fable, song and story the drum has
ever kept pace with the most valiant deeds
Of men. Rudyard Kipling's pathetic little
story of 1.-THE Drums of the Fore and Aft"
two courageous drummer boys. who at the
cost of their own lives, led the charge and
saved the honor of their regiment when
routed by the Afghans. tells of a deed such
as is to be found in history as well as in
fiction. More than once has the drum
claimed a place In the front rank of storm
ing battalions, or led desperate charges in
the van of victorious army.
What wonder. then, that we look sorrow
fully into the future. when battling will no
longer be inspired by the "war-drum's
tkrob.' for We know that the advance OF
military science, with all its death-dealing
machine-guns. magazine rifles and its
smokeless powder, will surely sound the
knell of the drum.