Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21

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band and it's next of
- kin, the rollicking fife
IITSST1i and drum corps? OF
uWNullUUll course not. AS soon
II WWllIIW suggest Easter without
II r&Z, eggs, Decoration day
without flags. or
Thanksgiving without
a turkey. Why, we could better dis
pense with the firecraekers 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 teach all the
people that It is the better part oil
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 III part
how II is that the brass band-or the
Wanted silver cornet band" II you
please-is coming to play more
prominent part than ever In our In
dependence day festivities. But. OF
course, II 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 feverish. fitful
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 artil-
lery that awakened him on the event
full day. And thereafter he heard its
inspiring tunes" at short intervals
all through the day until the last sky
rocket had winked out its brief glory
q 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 II you did not wildly re-
call what an object OF envy he is
to all the rising generation Even the
fat man who manipulates the bass
drum-he is nearly always. you know.
the most portly Of the musicians-is a
hero In the eyes of the youngsters
who march in tn course Of the day
tust as far as the band for the simple
reason that they follow II faithfully In
all its migrations up and down the
town. And as for the drum major
sweltering In the lofty fur hat and
torrid red coat, literally despatched
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 mem
bers Of the average military band
they are military bands" you know,
II 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 and 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 viii
be tramping up and down streets and
roads that may be dusty enough tC
spell discomfort even for the head o.
the procession.
At noon there Is hrief respite fol
luncheon and mayhap the bandmen. 4
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 favorite hour fo
a band concert. according to the ideai