Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-06-29

h WlflW suggest Easter without
{ t4S1-8z eggs, Decoration day
So W hout flags, or
Thanksgiving without
turkey. Why. we could better dis
pense with the firecrackers 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 safe and sane"
Fourth are trying to teach all the
people that it is the better part of
wisdom and patriotism to go short on
explosives and to increase the Fourths
always gel erous 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, it 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, 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 it 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
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 you did not vividly 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 massachusetts a
hero in the eyes of the youngsters
who march in th course of the day
just as far as the band for the simple
reason that they follow it faithfully in
all IT'S migrations up and down the
town. And as for the drum major
sweltering in the lofty fur hat and
torrid red coat, literally bespattered
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,
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
merning for 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 will
be tramping up and down streets and
roads that may be dusty enough to
spell discomfort even for the head OF
the procession.
At noon there is a rrief respite for
luncheon and mayhap the bandmen, IT
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 for
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 down-that
is they are called upon to play in
connection with the speech-making
and the singing in the local park or
the races at the fair ground or other
set program. In the evening there is
more band music rs az accompanl-
ment for the fireworks. And then the
bandman, who does not work at 1t
regularly can go homs convinced
that though he has been earning