Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-01-08

DAMlON AM ilh '@fN
ordinarily a late sleeper, standing in
the middle of the parade ground in full
uniform, aud that at half after hve
n. m.
The company officers made their re-
port 10 The officer OF the day, who
wheeled and reported 10 the command
ing officer.
"oGicer of the day." ordered Col.
Lnwton, quietly, have the trrmpeter
sound the call TO arms
The officer of the day gave the com
mand, and in less than n minnie all OF
the men permitted to lie in" for rev
lille, including the bandsmen, came run
ming out on the parade ground, only
partially dressed. The obsequious band
master loped up TO the commanding
officer, saluted, and stood TO attention.
"Bandmaster," said Lawton, zone 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 'em, believe, that would
not walk through nine miles of knee
deep snow to hear a bit of really good
music. Have you ever observed this
fact?" ...
well, don'd so much know, sir,"
replied the sleepy bandmaster, rubbing
his eyes. and apparently wondering
what this queer line of talk was alI
about at such an early hour in the
morning.
"Well, l know" went on Lawton.
It's about as musical body of soldiers
as ever | had the honor to command.
But, musical rs these men are" contin-
ued the commanding officer, sweeping
| his arms around the quadrangle
| formed by the barracks, I'm in
| command of another outfit in
| this post-an auxiliary outfit, ii
| is true-the component members of
| which are also very fond of music. |
refer to my mules. I've often taken no.
| tice of the fondness of those mules OF
mine for music. Bandmaster, you are
10 ut once assemble your band, in
heavy marching order, taking not more
than Is minutes for this purpose, and
| then YOU are to march the band down
| to the corral. Arriving there, you are
| TO begin n varied programme of select
music, and you are TO play with spirit
and precision, and not lag in your en-
| thusiasm. I'll be around from time to
time to see that you attend TO these or
ders. See that you do attendto them
The soldiers We're dismissed from
quarters. They bolted their breakfast,
and repaired to the corral In body.
Then they stretched themselves out on
the grass in easy attitudes, chewing
straws and watching the performance
| The perspiring members of the band
turned up promptly at the end of the
IS minutes, and began TO play for the
| mules; and the mules cooked Ip their
ears lazily and ke-hawed and ke-hunked
appreciatively for some time. The sun
rose high in the heavens, and yet the
| bandsmen played on. Shortly before
noon the commanding officer arrived,
"Give those mules the overture from
| Tannhauser," he ordered, "and guess
that will do for the present"
When that was done, he beckoned
the bandmaster to him and said: 81
to netthink that you have treated your
comrades generously and believe that
you should readjust the price of the
hop music. You may now march the
band to quarters" Half an hour later
the bandmaster called on the chairman
of the music committee, and handed
him a 500 gold piece, saying;
I'D vos a mishtake, was only foolin'
nit you fellers." SMITH d, FRY