The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-26
RlFED IN TIE LnTES.
Story of Silent Sand and a Discounted
Purser


One of the features of long ocean
journeys on the big passenger boats is
the ships band. IL sOothes the channel
sea sickness with a sympathetic waltz
and browns the noise Of the stormy Bay
of Biscay with the equally stormy over
ture
And when the passengers have recov-
cred their spirits just in time to enjoy
the delights of the lovely Mediterran-
can, the band makes that even more
delightful by providing dSuce music for
the ships balls.
The bandsman himself has nothing To
do but enjoy the voyage and play for
couple of hours day, and he thinks
himself a mighty fine fellow-a kind Of
passenger. BY the ships officers, how
ever, he is locked upon as somewhat be-
low the crew-a sort of steward. In con-
sequence of these diametrically oppo-
site notions of a bandsmans status
'ructions' occasionally arise.
Upon a recent voyage to Australia
the purser of a certain Liner posted
notice in the band room to the effect
that any musician going ashore would
be logged" in fines, The band, as a
body of Independent gentlemen travel
ing for their health naturally resented
such an interference with their liber-
ties.
They altered the notice SO that it
/ threatened them with all the torrents
on board if they iidn't go ashore-and
went ashore as usual Most of them
| disappeared as quietly as possible, but
certain three, INDUCING rather freely
in refreshments, marched bodily up the
| gangway upon their re.urn, and seeing
| the purser, asked him how he did.
| They We're promptly taken before the
captain and logged" IS. But worse
| than that, upon arrival at Sydney, the
| purser refused to disburse certain funds
subscribed by the passengers, and
amounting to about G. to each bands
man.
/ So the musicians found themselves in
/ for fortnights stay in port with no
/ money to spend This was terrible.
/ A council of war was held and a plan
/ formed, AS soon as the ship was safe
/ " moored in Sydney harbor, the band
went ashore in body and paWned their
/ Instruments, making merry with the
! proceeds.
Next day they were to play for an
| hour on the upper deck to the officers
and their friends, and also to the prom
enaders who congregate on the quay.
/ The band certainly assembled as usual
/ but there resulted no music.
w hat is the matter with the band?
| Why don't they play" was asked.
Then it was seen they had no instru-
ments, and when these We're asked for,
they produced pawn tickets.
: Result-gra tableau, triumph of
/ bandsmeu and confusion of officers.
There was nothing TO do but to give
( the band the WhereWithal to redeem
their highly necessary instruments. Gu
4 IiOusly. the sums asked by the players
, We're Incredibly large.
Moreover they wanted most eXtraor-
/ binary amounts extra for strings, etc.
The cornet player had unfortunately
lost his moutEpiece The Hutst want
ed pads. The purser knew there was
something wrong about this. but not
understanding musical instruments
couldn't tell exactly how, and as a re-
suit had to pay out considerably more
money than he really owed the band.
So again the band went ashore an6
with a small portion of the cash il
hama redeemed their instruments
which lacked neither strings, mouth
pieces, nor pads, and made merry ovel
A the surplus.
For this little eseapade they were
again arraigned before the captain
fined a great many 5s., and for fur
Their punishment given several days
''WOrk'-the work consisting chiefly o.
polishing the brass handle of one door
an operation to which ten able bodice
, bandsmen devoted three days, Will,
, two stewards were kept constantly EN-
, ployed in keeping them on the spot ant
seeing they didn't idle.