The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-12
AMERICAN BAND VETERANS
HOLD THEIR ANNUAL MEETING,

Once a year the old American Brass
Band Veteran association meet together
around the festive board to renew "auld
acquaintance" and to talk over bygone
days. These annual occasions have oa-
Cured for the past eleven years and have
become veritable GASES in the lives OF the
members who look forward TO these year
ly functions for months before they occur
and talk of them for months afterward
with the zest and enthusiasm OF school
boys.
The reason for this perhaps, his In the
fact that, as the years go by the ranks
OF the old veterans of the famous Amer
lean Band are thinning and to those who
remain the associations of other days be-
come inexpressibly dear.
Last evening at Mrs. Spinks dancing
academy, on Weybosset street, occurred
the 1lth reunion OF the "old vets" and
the occasion, in many respects, was the
most significant and the most enjoyable
of any which have preceded 1t.
Aside from the members of the associa-
ton there were a number OF guests, Mr..
Herbert T.. Clarke, leader OF the Ameri-
can Band, and Mrs. Clarke being among
them. 6S were present In all
From $3.50 until s o'clock a reunion was
held I'm the parlors OF the academy and at
shortly after S o'clock the dinner was
served In the ball room.
At the close of the dinner. Mr. Thomas
Thorpe. the president of the association.
called the meeting to order and announced
that speeches We're In order. He then in
troduced. as the chief speaker OF the
evening, one OF the old members OF the
association, Mr.. william f.. whiting Mr..
Writings address. which was in a remin-
iscent strain was as follows.
"Mr. President, Ladies, Comrades and
I'finndQ--lt "A IN
be present with you this evening at our
annual reunion, to again renew old
friendships which remind us of bygone
days. from which we catch glmpses OF
the familiar forms and faces OF those we
once held dear-out of "a men with us az
Camp Sprague. Washington. ID. c., and
at the first battle of Bull Run. l can
count but nine living at the present time
we were once young. but now we style
ourselves as veterans, and there are no
very young vets.
This is a sort OF family gathering. and
We are excusable If we take great liberty
I'm speaking OF ourselves and the work In
which we were engaged for so many
years. We feel a sense OF justihable pride
I'm having belonged 10 the old American
In its palmest days; when as an organi-
zation II was seemingly go popular at
home and known from Maine 10 Califor-
MIA; having travelled through nearly ev-
pleasure TO some of the very many occa-
slons In which we have partlcipat ted--the
first Jenny Lind concert In Howard
hall I'm 1853 or "a
The trip TO Richmond. Va. May 18th.
1859. The laying OF the corner stone OF
the monument TO the Forefathcrs at Ply
mouth. Mass. Aug 2d. 1853. on the rock
whereon the Pilgrim Fathers OF 1920 land
cd. The inauguration Of the Perry statue,
I'm commemoration Of the naval battle on
Lake Eric-the celebration taking place
Sept. 10th. 1850. at Cleveland. O., and on
the lake. | would like 10 cell your at
tention for n monument 20 little article
which appeared I'm one OF the Cleveland
papers while we were there: which. OF
course was very pleasing to ne all
ut reads as follows: The American
Brass band. which accompanied the
Providence Light Infantry. is a ntting
escort for 50 noble a corps. II is one OF
the oldest musical associations OF this
character I'm the country: r. attached To
the Second Brigade. Rhode Island Militia.
and r. led by the celebrated Joe Greene.
whose fame IL familiar I'm all the eastern
cities. Indeed. 80 highly are theservices
OF this veteran musician appreciated I'm
the city OF his residence, that few days
aimee the ladies OF Providence publicly