Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-11-10

this snare drum had to come out when
"Mad" handled the sticks. James M.
was an OPEN hearted, free, generous kind
OF man that made him too popular as
Jack. No man, however burdened with
sorrow, but would get some relief from q
visit with Mad Ashley.
Next to Mad marched Cape with the
fife, and it is OF him that l would partic-
ularly write. He could fiddle with the
best, and played for all the juukets for
miles around, but as fifer he was not sur
passed in Vermont, so all acknowledged.
At great muster in Royalton where the
drum corps had 20 ffers they all played
together, Cape was not appointed leader,
yet as soon as the play began Cape's soul
entered into the music and, like a bird,
his music scared above them all. II was
so clear and powerful he seemed to be
alone. No other was needed. Again at
middlebury one commencement time
they played, mixed with several other
bands, and here be was at once in the
lead. All other Instruments were COM
PEELED to follow the splendid notes of
that remarkable fifer from Barnard.
All of that fair band have gone over the
river, with the possible exception of Cape
Ashley, who, at last accounts, was living
with one OF his sons In Tunbridge or
STAFFORD. His teeth gone and lips dried.
be flies no more; but could he hear Jack,
Alden and Mad his soul would still GO
marching on.
Behind Mad and Cape marched Tom
Wright, with the big hass drum. Tom
had good ear for music, but made no
great pretensions or fiourishes, vet his
perfect time pleased Jack Msnv an
evening on Ashley hill this band, plav-
ing for practice and its own amusement.
could be distinctly heard in Barnard viii
lage four miles away.
1t is often said, and in this case perhaps
with some truth, that what man sees
and hears when boy, lasts him through
life as the best. IL was my fortune to
hear the celebrated German band that
played sat the, Worlds far in Chicago,
where they charged a thousand dollars
per day and all expenses for the music.
also the N. Y. 7th regiment band and
another German company at Detroit's
great exposition, and again 1 have heard
hall and Gilmore's bands at Boston and
st1ll later the Green Mountain band OF
Randolph as they played at Woodstock
fair last fall, but the boyish memory OF
Ashley's band can never be effaced. How
vivid the picture of the returning com.
pany from the parade ground on the com
mon as they marched down the street at
the close OF June training day to be dis
missed in front of the big hotel Five or
six marshals in front, generally riding
those old Morgan horses, now extinct,
and then Jack and Alden with bugles
high in the air sending out blasts that
would bring everybody to the sides of
be street and almost wake the dead.
They usually played at the close a piece
called sAshley's Grand March ;'7this tune
was as familiar to MS boys as cold Hun
dred." In this there Is a solo for Cape, on
the fife, and Of course all eyes were turn
ed upon that great fifer when his turn
came. With head thrown back and gag
ing into the sky, looking to be ten feet
high, be sent the screams of that fife
away and above as all, hitting every note
so clearly that he seemed to be PLAYING
for the edification of Heaven itself. The
command was soon given to halt. the
music ceased, and we all returned to
earth. When Cape showed the ife into
his pocket was surprised to see he was
only common man.
The Ashleys were typical Green Noun
tain boys as pictured in the history OF
Vermont. Tall, robust and athletic. thew
we're ready for any emergency. Being
great fox hunters they knew all the runs
and byways Of wild game. No tramp
was too long for dogs or men. In the
fall and first Of the winter their houn5s
could be heard almost every day, and the
number OF skins gave proof OF their