The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-02
TIE MUSICIAN SLEPT.
nAmuYfng incident In Ore Of James
G. Blaine'x Campaigns.

G, BIaine'x Campaigns.
Zone of the most miserable moments
Of my life said Maine bandmaster,
was ut q county convention, where
my band unintcntionally broke into a
speech made by the late James G.
Blaine. Mr. Blaine was the speaker Of
the day. The stage also held Hon. Seth
L. Alilliken, q congressman from Ohio
whose name 1 have forgotten and
many prominent Republicans of the
county. Two other bands were present,
and the three put in their best licks.
Our band was asked to furnish one or
two selections during the speeches. AS
leader I gave out the next number and
charged every man to be on the alert
for the signal aud to do his level best.
"All know how political conventions
drag along. The preliminarles wore
everybody out before the speaker of
the day was introduced. Our boys had
ridden 20 miles in the early morning
over rough country road, had march
ed for two sole. hours in the forenoon.
to say nothing Of pumping wind enough
into 20 OF more brass instruments to
run all the windmills in the state. By
the time Mr.. Blaine stepped down to
the footlights the men who carried the
big brass horns were dog tired.
"Thc selection 1 had made opened
with solo by the + fat bass, and
cautioned the player to be ready, the
moment Mr.. Blaine took his seat, to
play at glance from me. The great
statesman spoke with his usual impress
eivcness, and after getting warmed up
he began to lay down an array of facts
and figures which should furnish the
local orators with timber for many q
triumphant argument during the cam
paign. He was laying the foundation
for his address-one Of those lengthy
texts which meant so much to the
hearcr before his argument was COM
plcte. 1t was dry to tired, nonpolitical
bandmen. Cheers were not yet in or
der.
words to take root while he took a
swallow Of water 1 glanced around
at the boys and noticed that the big
bass was slowly slipping from the
knees Of it's operator. Pat was asleep.
I winked at the B fiat to punch him
before that $50 instrument got dent.
That poke in the ribs was fatal: Pat
opened his eyes, and was looking at
him. The speaker was quiet. There
was only one conclusion for Pat. Like
Il flash up came the horn, and before l
could give a warning shake Of the
head the big bass beloved out the
first measure Of the solo, C + 6 G
ECF.
Every person in the hall started and
stared. There were interrogat ton
points in Mr.. Blaine's eyes. The rival
bands snickered and snorted. nearly
tainted. but gave the signal for banC
cheers instead. and the boys responded
without a. break. Mr.. Blaine may or
may not have appreciated the situation
to musician do not know what his
musical jncliliatiOnS were, but he came
to the rescue in way that won the
solid vote Of our band then and there
He smiled broadly and said:
THAT is right, boys; give us anotli-
er and wake us up!'
81 waved my hand at the other
bands, and we joined in such band
cheer as that old hall will never hear
again.
"Next day l wrote letter Of expia-
nation and apology to Mr.. Blaine and
received characteristic letter from
the. statesman as follows:
"Mv congratulations to the boys. They d'd no.
blv. wish political speakers could do no worse
than the break yol mention nope TO meet
YOUR band at other places where the good WORK Is
conc nm Sincerely. .JANEs G, BLAINE"
New York Mail and Express.