Evening star., 1897-03-04

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"Gaily caparisoned as charger ready for
the joust
He walks with making pomp; sweet music
sounds,
And the drum majors oaths, of bulk un-
ruly.
May dwindle to a feeble"
So wrote John cleveland, an English
poet of the seventeenth century, In evident
appr eciation of what was then the oath
provoking occupation of the drum major.
IT is true that his responsibilities two CEN
turies ago were not as onereus as they are
at present but he was less restricted by
military discipline and was accustomed,
and indeed. 1t was his privilege. accord
irg to the only writer who mentions his
existence In those days, to give vent to
his feelings on all trying occasions. Even
among barbarians, who have made use OF
tom-toms and crudely made drums for
hundreds of years, the individual who dis
played the greatest ability in the use OF
his instrument was held IN high esteem by
his tribesmen and regarded with envy
by his less skillful fellows; and 1t has
come about at the present time that the
head drummer of band or a drum corps
takes a place IN military and musical
ranks commensurate with his accomplish
ments To the average youth at some time
In his life there can be no higher earthly
attainment than to WELD the staff of the
pompous, arrogant and gorgeously attired
parsonage who stalks majestically at the
head of a band on parade. He apparently
leads the column to the right or the left
at will. and one imperious gesture causes
the trumpets to blare. the drums to roll
or the horns TO give forth their melody in
Ftentorian martial music Zephyr-like
notes. whose soft and gentle tones WOO the
ear and delight the hearer. The small
boy. omniscient well as omnipresent in
respect to marching bands. singles out the
drum major and mentally photographs
him for future description TO the unfortu-
mates who cannot sun themselves in his
dazzling presence. with possibly a selfish
thought that he may be able to dream of
him at night II he can only retain his place
of vantage in the moving throng long
enough to seek out every lineament and
button. Generals. colonels captains all
sink into insignifcance beside the drum
life that many things that glitter are mere
dross is he able to relegate to the past his
consuming ambition to be drum major
In Detaille's lie Regiment oui Passe''
the artist has placed the drum major in
the immediate foreground, and the frs.
figure that catches the eye is the red
frousered. blue-coated giant holding his
stan poised In air preparatory to giving a
signal to the band and drum CORPS in his
rear. Observe the other faces in the pic
ture and you will see that every youthful
eouhtehanee Is fastened on him. anxiously
awaiting the first stroke of his magic wand
Surely the drum major In his active reality
and circumstances is as much of a hero TO
the French youth as is the first Napoleon
encompasssed In the passive and hazy OH
scurity OF eighty years Of the tomb The
Russians invest the drum major of their
military bands with powers far exceeding
those OF other nations. In addition TO re-
ing alr Ior-
certain exemptions and privileges which
are granted ordinarily to commissioned
officers They are selected almost entirely
for their physical proportions and ii is an
uncommon sight to see Russian drum
major who does not tower head and shoul-
ders above his followers. Austria, Italy
and Spain follow this custom also. though
In the two latter countries very tall men
are scarce
There was time when the drum jor's
tricks OF 1ugglery with his staff proved ole
OF his chief accomplishments. We have all
seen him twfrl his staff with lightning like
rapidity, first In one hand, then in the
other, then around the body under the
arms, across the chest, then high in air.
catching IT dexterously as 1t fell: and we
have trembled in anticipation Of his failure
to grasp 1t at the critical moment. There
was time when his chief duty was to
march at the head of band and to signal
TO its members when to begin and when to
stop playing, and TO gesticulate and to
pose for the admiration and bewilderment
of the onlookers. Now IL is different He
must keep pace with the more serious busi-
hess of studying tactics. in order that he
may properly lead the way through crowd
ed thoroughfares and over difficult ground,
he must be fair musician, not less versed
In this regard than many of the players
and he must set the step for ali.
a cool head Is essential; superabun-
dance OF mock dignity pomposity and
at the same time vivacity. and good ply
sique are useful All these requisites nat
urauy demand superior man. and that
this is recognized by the military authori-
ties Is indicated by the fact that the drum
major, not only in this country but In
England and on the continent, is usually
given the rank of a sergeant major. with the
same pay and emoluments. on parade the
drum major is subordinate only to the ofil-
Ger In command Of the troops which follow
the band or drum corps Before the first
note has sounded he receives his instruc-
tons as to what style or class of music is
desired, when 10 play and at what inter-
vaIs. and but little Is left to his discretion
II the leader or bandmaster accompanies
the band in person it is the custom for the
drum major TO receive his orders from this
source. and these generally conmuni-
Gated 10 MIN by means of a few taps on
the small drums. The drum major in turn
repeats the orders to the musicians by a
wave OF his staff through space which
only they able to interpret In the
event Of the bandmaster's presence on pa.
rade. the drum major is relieved of much
OF the difficult part Of his work and he
nnds more time In wtich TO show his skill
with h!S STAN He brushes aside the tat.
tered and begrimed gamin who block his
path IN hordes. and struts as proudly as a
peacock. assuming himself to be the cyno
sure OF every eye Nor is he mistaken jr
This c0nceit- No heart In which the emo
tions are not altoget her dead can fail Il
beat little more rapidly at the spectacl.
OF inns splendid being. arrayed in his vari
hued uniform. the huge bearskin shak,
surmounted by tassel of gold or silver
neFce nusta chios, arranged most CAREFUL,
Tor The occasion, the whole completed b,
a stan OF ebony rosewood with IL,
SHINING knob and ornamental tracery
The bandmaster or leader has, OF course