Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-07-07

l1ST-TTN1H and drum corps? OF
NN(NIUV course not. AS soon
NNlIIN suggest Easter without
SHA eggs, Decoration day
So without flags. or
Thanksgiving without
a turkey. Why, we could better dis
pense with the ~irecrackers and other
nOise-makers on the glorious Fourth
than to worry through the day with
out the inspiring strains of martial
music. Indeed, as a matter of fact,
the crusaders for a safe and sane
Fourth are trying to each all the
people that 1t is the better part OF
wisdom and patriotism to go short on
explosives and to increase the Fourth's
always generous menu Of band music.
This may serve to explain in part
how 1T is that the brass band-Or the
Wanted silver cornet band" if you
please-is coming to play a more
prominent part than ever in our In
dependence day festivities. But, Of
course, 1t did not await this awaken
ing to the charms of the music Of the
horns and drums to render the band
indispensable on Fourth of July.
The Oldest citizen will testify that it
was so In the days of his youth. Like
as not he fell into a feverish, ftful
sleep on the night before the Fourth
to the lullaby Of the village band
"practicing" for the morrow. 1t is an
even chance that 1t was the crash OF
the band and not the rOar Of art1l-
lery that awakened him on the event
full day. And thereafter he heard It's
inspiring tunes" at short intervals
all through the day until the last sky
rocket had winked out its brief glory
a few minutes before July Fourth
gave way to July fifth.
And pity the poor bandman-per-
haps. That is you would be prone
to pity him If o did not wildly re
call what an object of envy he Is
to all the rising generation. Even the
fat man who Municipalities the bass
drum-he is nearly always, you know.
the most portly Of the massachusetts u
hero in the eyes of the yOungstC-5
who march in tn course of the dag
Just as far as the band for the simple
reason that they follow it faithfully IL
all it's migrations up and down til
town. And as for the drum majO~
.sweltering in the lofty fur hat al I
torrid red coat, literally ~bespattero l
with gold lace, why, not the ball play-
er of renown nor yet the president Of
the United States could command
such worship as he receives from
barefooted admirers at his heels.
But, all joking aside, the Fourth Of
July is pretty certain to prove the
busiest day of the year for the men,
bers of the average military band
they are military bands" you know,
If we are to believe the posters that
herald the Fourth of July celebration.
AS has been limited above, the band
is likely to be called out early in the
morning for a street concert or more
likely TO welcome n escort to his
hotel the orator of the day, who ar
rives on an early train. Then. not
later than ten o'clock. the music
makers must be in their places at the
head of the parade then forming. and
for the next couple Of hours they will
be tramping up and down streets and
roads hat may be dusty enough to
spell discomfort even for the head Of
the procession.
At noon there is a brief respite for
AIN AANAy AoP NAS A.
they are lucky, are treated to ice
cream by the local bellies who are,
for this day at least, enrolled in the
service of the aid society or the
patriotic organization that has things
in charge. The lull Is brief, however,
for one o'clock is q ~favorite our for
a band concert, according to the ideas
OF those conscientious committeeman.
who feel that something must be hap
pening every moment. In the after
noon the band is equally busy. and the
only difference from the morning is
that the players get to sit downfall
is they are called upon to play IN
connection with the speech-maktng
and the singing in b local park or
h races at the fair ground or other
set program. In the evening there is
more band music as an accompani-
1nent for the fireworks, and then the
bandman, who does not work at 1t
regularly" can go home convinced
tina though he has been earning