Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-03-12
A sucKFIELp BOY
WHOM PATTI HoNoRED.

A few weeks ago many of the papers
throughout the state announced the
death of A. D. Harlow at Winterport,
and few of them contained brief notices
of his musical career. That career was
most interesting and notable, and his
life as son, husband, father and friend
one which it Ia good to recall.
When Buckfield boosted Of band con-
tanning such players as the McDonalds,
Henry Long, etc., Delphinus Harlow
was lad of fourteen, consumed with a
desire to learn to play the cornet.
Somehow he obtained one, and from
that time spent hours every day, In the
attic of his fathers house on River
Street, In patient practice.
He received no encouragement from
any one. To his parents 1t seemed that
he was wasting his time, snd the village
folk did not hesitate to say with . good
deal of emphasis, "Phine Harlow better
be at work." He kept on "blowing"
however, and at eighteen was organizing
and teaching bands, that at Dixfield be-
ing The first, l think. Afterward h"
went to Saco, where he led the band
with an E fat bugle made famous by
Ned Kendall.
In 1859 Harlow went to Bangor where
he was elected leader Of the Bangor
Cornet Band, and at the outbreak OF the
civil war he, with the whole band, er-
listed and served with the famous 2:
Maine Regiment until it was mustered
out. He then returned to Bangor and
re- organized the band which did service
in the state until the spring of 1865,
when he and all the men enlisted in the
company which was formed by Capt.
Spencer to make up the city's quota.
The quick action of the band precluded
draft.
After the war he again returned to
Bangor and led the band until 1876 when,
having established a reputation as a
musician Of the best kind, he went to
Pawtucket, R. l., where he remained
two years.
From Pawtucket Mr.. Harlow went to
Elgin, ILL.,, as leader Of the Elgin Watch
Co.'s band, and where his elder daugh-
ter Hattie, who was his accompanist 10
his solo playing, shared the honors:
During his leadership the Elgin band
received the "blue ribbon" repeatedly
and won the prize at Minneapolis in 1884
when the Chicago Commandery met
there with many bands.
After several years at Elgin MIR. Har-
low was asked to come to Chicago to
take charge Of the band Of the I'd Regi- |
ment. He accepted the call, and, under
his direction, the organization became a
magnificent band Of nearly eighty pieces
ard containing many fine soloists.
In Washington, d. c., the band re-
ceived an ovation in 1889, the occasion |
being the meeting of the Apollo Com
mandery.
Before me lie score of clippings from
various papers containing reports OF
great parades, receptions, concerts, etc.,
and all accord to the I'd Regiment Band
and its director the highest need of
praise.
One says: "The auditors wish they
were made of ears"; another tells OF
"the undoubted superiority of the I'd
Regiment Band over any of the other
sixty-five in the PARADE" and another
calls it ia perfect musical accompani-
ment" to the dancing at great social
function.
Another says that "under the compe-
tent management of Mr.. A. D. Harlow
it has been trained to degree little
shortof perfection )" and "New Yorker"
writes, 81 have tramped with nearly all
the crack bands of the East, and say
that for vim, dash and tuneful melody,
the I'd Regiment Band will compare
favOrably with any band in New York,
not excepting the famous Gilmore's.
When Patti was singing In Chicago
Mr.. Harlow's orchestra accompanied
her, and one night, as the curtain was
about to fall the diva sprang to the
front of the stage and showered the
modest director with flowers. The next
day the papers published paragraph
over PATHS signature, containing high
est praise of Mr.. Harlow's musical
ability.
While in Chicago Mr.. Harlow had a
fall in which his lip was injured so that
he did no more solo playing; and 1t was
here that he met with the great and
lasting sorrow of his life. His daughter
Hattie, brilliant girl of musical tastes,
died in the full bloom Of early woman
hood.
In 1890 Mr.. Harlow returned to Ban
yor and for three years directed the
band, improving it until it became the
leading musical organization in the
state. In 1897 he again became its lead
or, directing it for year, when he re-
signed and went to Winterport, where
he lived until his death.
Socially Mr.. Harlow was one of the
most lovable of men. "Kind," "genial,"
honest" are the words most frequently
applied to him. One man writes from
Chicago, 81 feel personal sorrow in the
loss of that great, honest soul, and am
the better for knowing him.; and an
other, 81 never saw him angered-with
him it was the being, rather than the
good"
Americus Delphinus Harlow was born
in October, 1886, and died on Jan. rs,
1901.
He was the son Of Columbus and
Merriam Farrar Harlow.
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