Mesa free press. [volume] (Mesa, Ariz.) 1892-1901, 1897-08-13
PASSING OF THE DRUM.
It Will Soon Disappear in Connection
with Army Life.


Lieutenant Con Marrast Perkins of
the United States Marine Corps writes
an article entitled 'The Last Of the
Drums,'' for st. Nicholas. Lieut.. Per
kins SAYS:
1 think few know that of all the time
honoyed 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 disappearing. Its companion, the
fife. hallowed by traditions of valor
even in our own history, from Lex.
ington 10 Gettysburg, IS already gone,
and another decade will still forever
the nspiriting martial music Of the
drum.
What boy has not felt his pulses
thrill ard his heart swell with patriotic
pride and martial ardor while gazing
upon the well-known picture of the
Revolution, the 'Minnte Men of '76''
forsakirg the ploughshare and flying
TO take down the oil! fiintlock at the
tocsin Of war-the throbbing Of the
drum and the shrill 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 Eliza
beth, tile sisters Of Newburyport, who
during the Revolution repealed alone
an attack of the British by beating
furious!y an old drum and blowing
fife, The British troops, who We're
about to land, hurried back to their
ships, thinking a whole army lay in
ambush to repulse item.
Thus did fife anG drum drive off
the enemy, 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 arm
les, Tie drum Of today differs little,
and in appearance only, from the earl
knows. of two pieces of parchment, OF
batter-heads. stretched over the ends
of 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 accompany their religious
rites, as well as for war purposes.
The tom-tom of the Sioux Indian is
q 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 fol
low it's pulsing into the deadly fire OF
battle. or even IN reviews and military
parades. when rank upon rank sweep
up street keeping perfect alignment
and step to the drums inspiring beat.
1t has found place in history
through the daring bravery Of more
than one heardless boy who has sound
ed a: the critical moment the pas de
charge or "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-stricEen 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 val.
liant deeds of men. Rudpard Kipling's
pathetic little story of '"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 Lfghals, tells of a deed
such as Is to be found sn history as
well as in fiction. More than once has
the drum claimed place in the front
ranks of storming battalons, or led DIES.
perate charges i'm the van of a vic.
torious army.
What wonder, then, that we look
sorrowfully into the future, when bat.
thing will no longer be inspired by the
''war-Grum's throb"; for we know that
the advance OF Military science, with
FL it's death-dealirtg machine guns,
nagazine-rifes, and its smokeless pow.
der, will surely sound the knen of the
drum.