The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-18
GENERAL LAWTON'S JOKE
THAT WAS NOT SUCH A JOKE, AFTER
ALL, TO a REGuMENTAL BAND.
Why II Occurred to Him to Crafty
an Early Hour in the Morning.
Florida Times Union.


and the high-ranking officers of the navy
whose movements hither and yon on field
and flood have of late months been filling
the American eye-not to say, indeed. the
vision of the world-are men possessed of
an essential American endowment. the
sense Of humor, says the Washington Star.
They are, for the greater part. men into
whom long years of service in command
of men who are nothing If not human have
instilled the strongest sense Of humanity.
which necessarily means that their minds
and hearts are as tremendously attuned to
the humorous phases of their military lives
as they are susceptible TO be wrought upon
by the darker and more pathetic features
in the lives of common soldiers and sailors.
The huge, courageous, and vastly expe-
Tienced General Lawton, for example. is a
man for whom old soldiers of the regular
army have possessed an ineradicable af-
lection for much more than quarter of a
century. General L.awton's Indian fighting
experiences have often been told about
since the beginning of the present war, but
these variations present the man simply
from the point Of view of care-weighted.
stern. hard-campaigning officer. They do
not reveal much of his human, everyday
nature and it is from this view point that
enlisted men--whose estimate of an officer
is, after all. perhaps the most to be relied
upon-fgure out the merits or dement's of
their superiors.
The passing generation of regular army
soldiers still tell Of how Lawton once had
his regimental band spend a day playing
high-grade music for the delectation of the
regimental mules in the corral.
Lawton was in command of of the
far Western regimental posts. 1t was a
post that was very much visited by the So
Clely people OF an adjoining city, and post
hops were given on Two or three nights a
week. The reglmental band furnished the
music Tor these hops. The band was under
the direction OF a foreign bandmaster, who
possessed a considerable contempt for en-
listed men, although his knuckiing affec-
tion for the man with the shoulder straps
Was notorious. In the army a man pos
sessed of these characteristics is called a
dog robber. General Lawton had de-
testation for dog robber." He endured
his bandmaster but he never gave him any
OF the best of it over any of the members
OF the band: The bandmaster was OBJ
demands of the posts officers
HIGH-PRIcED MUSIC.
One day the enlisted men of the post de-
cided to give hop themselves commit
tee OF the soldiers approached the bandmas-
ter to ascertain If he would be willing to
furnish the music. The bandmaster at first
declined to listen to any sort of PROPOSE
ton, but finally consented to give the serv-
ices of the band for a nights dancing for
the sum of $40.
That's a whole lot o. money. my wind
Jamming friend" said the soldier who was
at the head of the music committee II
am free to say that think you could take
heap Of a reef in that figure. What 5
your idea, anyhow, in soaking it to us fell
lows SO hard when YOU play all night Tor
the oincers couple o. times week for
But you ain'd officers. alretty," replied
Incl tne oandmaster Tou are nothing but
What please. Fordy tollars."
All right bunkie, replied the soldier,
If you think you can make a hit in this
up to you 10 make it stick Wen pay you
the forty, because we've got to, seem that
there's no juniper (eiyiiian) band around
this camp. But ! think you're maxim a
bad break, all the same"
Fordy tollars,' answered the bandmas-
the bulge, and he worked it. " - ~ A'1
The soldier who had done the interview
Ing with the bandmaster was an old-tiIle
noncommissioned officer, who had soldiered
alongside Lawton on a number of critical
occasions. He went up to Lawtons quar-
tiers to have a word with the beak,'' other
wise the old man. about this music BUSH
ness
''The boss wind jammer," said the soldier
to Lawton, surely is rubin 1t in onto us
some, and he told the commanding officer
OF the only terms the bandmaster would
accept.
Lawton. rubbing his chin retiectively.
He's got it in his pants pocket now"
replied the soldier. I'VE had to give up on
All right" said Lawton. Let it go at
The old noncom. left Lawton's presence
somewhat surprised and aggrleved at the
matter-of-fact fashion with which the COM
manding officer took his report on the
slEallness Of the bandmaster.
The enlisted mems hop came off all right.
1t was largely attended by the sweethearts
OF the soldiers in the adjoining city. and it
was a bowling success. The bands music
was only fairish, however, and the band
master, from his platform perch, regarded
the uniformed dancers on the floor with
contempt slumbering in his ewes Along
toward o'clock in the morning Colonel
lawton made his appearance on the floor.
Fe enjoyed the spectacle of his men having
a good time, and he told the boys to go
ahead and keep the dance going until
reyeiale If they wanted to. Then he left the
The hop broke up about half an hour be-
fore reveille, and the soldiers made for their
quarters to get ready TO stand the first roll
call of the day The bandmaster and his
musicians. sleepy and very ugly over the
proongation of the dance. repaired to their
quarters to turn in for a few hours rest.
First call for reveile went in the gray dawn
of the morning. and then assembly. When
the tired soldiers got into line outside their
quarters they were surprised to see their
commanding officer. who was ordinarily
late sleeper. standing in the middle of the
Parade ground in full uniform, and that
The company officers made their report
to the officer of the dav. who wheeled and
reported to the commanding officer.
Officer of the day" ordered Colonel Law
ten. quietly, have the trumpeter sound the
call TO arms -
The officer of the day gave the command.
and in less than a minute all of the men
permitted to lie in for revelle including
the bandsmen came running out on the pa
rade ground, only partially dressed. The OBJ
SequiouS bandmaSter Hoped up to the COM
manding officer, ,saluted and stood to at
tention.
MUSIC-LOVING MULES.
'Bandmaster," said Lawton, lone of the
characteristics of this outfit of mine that
delights me is that most of the men are
very fond of music. There's not a man of
EN-. | believe. that wouldn't walk through
nine miles of knee-deep snow to hear a bit
of really good music. Have you ever OBJ
served this fact?"
We'll. ! don'd so much know, sir" replied
the sleepy bandmaster, rubbing his eyes.
and, apparently. wondering what this queer
line of talk was about at such an early
hour in tine morning
well. I know" went on Lawton TITS
about as musical a body Of soldiers as ever
] had the honor TO command. But. musical
as these men are" continued the command
ing officer. sweeping his arms around the
quadrangle formed by the barracks, I'm
In command of another outfit In this post
an auxiliary outfit, 1t is trne-the COM
ponent members of which are also very
often taken note OF the fondness of those
mules of mine for music. Bandmaster, you
are to at once assemble your band, in heavy
marching order, taking not more than fif-
teen minutes fol- this purpose, and then you
are to march the band down TO the corral
NO ava - h..rr -, Il