Connecticut western news., 1911-07-13
John Shields Band Poem
BIacksmith-Poets Epic to First Canaan
 Band. 30 Years Ago.

OaHdS OO SdIS rNBOs Reference to the following "poem" | by John P. Shields, the "blacksmith poet" was made in this column three weeks ago. The verses were written some time after the first Canaan band was organized in 1880-thirty one years ago. It is bit Of good-natured raillery that made lot of sport at the time it was written, and nobody enjoyed the humor of it with 8 keener relish than the band boys, themselves. The present copy is loaned by Mrs. Corbit, who has preserved it among her archives We're the smartest looking fellows that
 ever yet was seen, But people that know better say we
 look most mighty green; But such lots of admiration from the
 ladies we command, We are all so handsome looking in the
 Canaan Cornet Band. We play the latest music; our horns
 they almost speak, Because up i'll our big Town Hall we
 practice once a week. When we play Yankee Doodle" you
 "Oulu SuT6ly uO1u your DEeAE0t And Marching Down Through Georgia"
 it has sadly met it's death. We went way up to Ashley Falls, and
 gave a concert there Such lovely strains of music as were
 waited through the air. Our big Bass Drum just sounded like
 men at work with fails, Or carpenter with hammer on the
 roof adriving nails. Our music they applauded it filled
 them with delight, And they said they'd hear our concert
 in East Canaan Wednesday night. We were artists of the finest, and
 handsome lot of boys; Our bass drummer's the best musician,
 as he makes the biggest noise. Wednesday night we went to East Can-
 aan arriving just at dark, And we played them Down Through
 Georgia" in their large and hand
 some park.
 The people all enjoyed 1t, it was such
 handsome treat, And for harmony and sweetness, said 1t
 couldn't we'll be beat. Such compliments they pleased us. and
 puffed us up with pride We thought that we beat any band in
 the country, far and wide. Theodore Thomas orchestra, we could
 leave it far behind And Wheeler & Wilson's too, we could
 beat it, Gin our mind) Our opinions kept on rising on ex-
 members we would frown The state would hardly hold us-there
 warn't room enough ill town And our music and our playing were so
 grand and superfine- When we played them Down Through
 Georgia" twas like throwing pearls N to swine
 So we thought we'd go to Bridgeport,
 and be sure to rank A, l. It was one day in the summer. when the
 having was all done. We weren't so we'll acquainted there we thought twas like out West, And so we took our horns along, ito
 soothe the savage breast" It was on pleasant morning. we took
 the early train ; The sun it shone quite bright and clear
 1t didn't look like rain When off the engine started, with all its
 verdant load We played Marching Down Through
 Georgia" at every station on the
 road.
 Oh, weren't we delighted though, wien
 we>found out that we Had at last arrived in Bridgeport, that
 big city by the sea We played them Down Through
 Georgia" till our cattle car did shake. And for really splendid uniforms, our
 cans inst took the cake Oh we saw such lots of house Oh l! oh such a great big boat And we wondered how the water ever
 kept the thing afoat. We could see no woods around us, and
 not even tree or stump Golly Bridgeport's bigger'n Canaan
 Valley, and half of Ives's Dump. Bridgeport didn't like the music that we
 played for them that day. They made noises like a Thomas cat
 whenever we would play They said the Cornwall Band could beat
 us, we made such hideous noise, And we all came home, a sadder, though
 a wiser set of boys. We thought we'd see the city. and so
 down the street did walk, When q hoodlum called for Jimmy"
 to "come here an pipe de gawk," And they yelled out. "I say, Johnny,
 what ye doin' over dere? Ye'd better get rake an comb de hay
 seed out yer hair And what fun they did make of us in
 the papers the next day All about the Johnny Hayseeds helping
 dad get in the hay" But let them just remember that when
 next to town we come, If they call us "Johnny Hayseeds" we
 will punch their heads, by gum
 Worth While to Work.