The Republican journal., 1899-07-13
Blaine Campaign Story.
| Musicians of a Tired Country Band Wake
Up and Play at the Wrong Time.

Musicians of Tired Country Band Wake
Up and Play at the Wrong Time.
cone of the most miserable moments
of my life," said Maine bandmaster,
twas at a county convention, where my
band unintentionally 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. NIilliken,
Congressman from Ohio whose name l
have forgotten, and many prominent Re-
publicans of the county. Two other
bands were present, and the three put in
their best ticks. Our band was asked to
furnish one or two selections between the
speeches. AS leader, | gave out the next
number and charged every man to be on
the alert for the signal and to do his level
best
CAN know how political conventions
drag along. The prelimiparies wore
everybody out before the speaker of the
day was introduced. Our boys had rid
den twenty miles in the early morning
over rough country road, had marched
for two solid hours in the forenoon, to
say nothing of pumping wind enough into
twenty OF more brass instruments to run
all the wind mills in the State By the
time Mr.. Blaine stepped down to the
footlights the men who carried the big
brass horns were dog tired.
THE selection had made opened with
a solo by the E-tlat 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 impressiveness, and,
after getting warmed up, he began to lay
down an array of facts and figures which
should furnish the local orators with tim
hnr +,,i,. Il
ing the campaign. He was laying the
lengthy texts which meant SO much to the
nearer before the argument was complete.
1t was dry to tired, nonpolitical band
men. Cheers were not vet in order.
'Presently Mr.. Blaine paused for his
words to take root while he took a swal-
low of water. | glanced around at the
boys and noticed that the big bass was
slipping from the knees of the operator.
Pat was asleep. | wiuked at the B-tiat
to pinch him before that $50 instrument
got dent. The poke in the ribs was
fatal. Pat opened his eyes and l was
looking at him. The speaker was quiet.
There was only one conclusion for Pat.
Like flash up came the horn, and be-
fore | could give a warning shake of the
head the beg bass beloved out the first
measures on lne SOLO, Y t u \ IN + I +.
every person in the hall started and
stared. There We're interrogation points
in Mr.. Blaine's eyes. The rival band
snickered and snorted. | nearly tainted,
but gave the signal for band cheers in
stead. and the boys responded without a
break. Mr., Blaine may on may not have
appreciated the situation to A musician; |
do not know what his musical iuclinations
We're, but he came to the rescue in a way
that won the solid vote of our band then
and there. He smiled broadly and said
That is right, boys; give us another
to wake us up"
Il waved my hand at the other bands,
and we joined in such a band cheer as
that old hall will never hear again.
Next day | wrote letter of explana-
ton and apology to MI, Blaine and re-
ceiyed characteristic letter from the
statesman, as follows:
My congratulations to the boys.
They did nobly.
4 wish political speakers could do no
worse than the ''break' you mention. l
hope to meet your band at other places
where the good work is going on.
Sincerely,
"'JAMES G. BLAINE''