New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-02
ROMANCE OF FIFE AND DRUM.
AN INCIDENT THAT ENLIvENED THINGS
IN MAINE ARMORY.

From The Lewiston Journal
The Auburn Armory was the scene OF very IN
terssting incident on Monday syea1 fSr drill and
couple Of hundred citizens were on mana 10 "a'O'
them The armory was wide open - -
gagged with business In his private apartments ol'
coneregated in the small armory close BY Wn'ie h a
hundr ID more people watched the drlII IN az az
drill hall on the floor above The music or the NE
and drum could be heard above the noise mace ny
tn" marching Of half hundred men an" the "'
Finally at about o'clock. the drummer entered
the small armory with the intention Of putting ms :
drum and hfe into the locker. lie WAS loioWe"
into the room. by midde-aged man wearing a
light slouch hat and a cape ulster lie was "
"Bcfore you put that fife into the locker said he
TO the drummer "let me try it. ! used to play
The drummer consenting the stranger took the
ffe and placed to his lips. He took TO II IKE a
ran his fingers over the notes. Everybody was all
attention. for 1t was seen at once that me e.
fantIy's drummer and away they went. heeP ,
time with his foot. the ifer selecting palIiouJj
though difficult piece. played II through severa,
times When the ffer dropped his arms the crowd
4 used TO play boys but I'm t,c rusty now.
said he but like II all the same" l.,
You're all right, strange, shouted n ma" III
At this the crowd announces rs aPp apr DooaIe
the er Paysa on geb Hs &ayea ard aft sorts OF pop
ular airs The peoplc came down from the drill hall
and crowded around the the s st1s5 hfer'
As he played it was noticed that another middle
aged man stood close by and was taking deep IN,
erest in the performance. He wore st'H hat aho
a winter overcoat, with collar turned up, LIKE ,hs
nfcr he was a stranger to every man IN the
M Drummer" said he. as the drummer was
about TO put away the drum, before you Jay we
drum aside let me try It. used to handle me
Silks tc but havent had pair in my hands for
The oqk the drum 4. s hfsr stTgck ev vs
/ bca he
had been good with the stranger hter ana me 'esu
and me stranger drummer Il was perfection itself.
What NOR or , inspiring pr Sd n dr ,hese Gays o'
~ The 6fer and drummer were veretans at this
music Thirty years ago they had paHed ,psTs 1
the face to face strangers II was no'i Te
that their playing was IN pertect hsr INC u ns
extremely lively and hard follow. Great enthu,
sasm was awakened by the wopdeTrS pehsd tbey
given tiger and an invitation IN chorus 10
"cientemen" said Captain Barney. step into . my
room and have cigar have pen nr te re nIeas
sPra@s ana Jcgrps IsPG s5s Names Tses
OF the strangers and when he aid so he uncon-
sciously opened up the romance ..-cx.,...
my name. spoke up the drummer. is Chr''''o-
%Ghriste calculated the nter 'sepPlns tcrwa5d
u.s. 70 play the SNARE drum with me 'hif's year
ago" , .,,.,.d" r.nr.d IN.
stranger tnlnBs neNe
drummer What's your name? .
"Wadron-Eben Waldron. As told the boys out
N the arn1orv tust now | used TO play the NE
The recognition was mutual. II guess vow couIo
nlay the fife old fellow" replied Christie ! never
got in with a 1fer so hard to follow with snare
drum as you But didn't We used TO give II 70 en-
though" .,- MN :.
sper, in Captain Barney's cosey apartments,
Mr. Christie comes from St Aoans ite - 80 ~
ehoenoa ker and about going TO Work N the shoP
in Auburn Mr. Waldron comes from f1t'sHelu'
and has been in Auburn only snort tline g.. ~
lie works FOR J +. Ttbbetts Co. TWenty,,hVc OF
thirty years ago they used TO play the hfe ana drum
together and were prominent in many OF tse pu,p-
iic qa,herirgs OF the day in Central Maine. Mr..
Waidron enlisted az private IN the 9th Reglment.
and was detailed TO the drum corps. Inc ceh,ir
mon have not met for over twenty years Monoay
evening they were attracted to the armory ny ,ne
sound Of the drum and nfe. They went IN AZ on.
rerent times and were rot together III theN met
as strangers in the small armory a..
/; is one 81 the prettest little romances OF inc