The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-09

With swish and a swing, fan fare
of trumpets and blaze of glory, the Ala
bama State Fair opens today. its premiere
heralded by one of the most superb mill
tary organizations. in the shape of a
band that has ever been heard in the
south.
Not the least of the attractions at the
fair is the band in which the manage
ment has always been very clever in its
choice, bringing such organizations as
those under the leadership of Mr.. Innes,
Mr.. Creatore, Mr.. Liberati and others
equally notable, while this year an entire
innovation has been made by choosing a
military organization, a cavalry band OF
40 members, with Capt. Randolph Berliner
as the competent and capable bandmas-
ter.
Captain Berliner Is a typical military
man. tall, superbly built, his strong, 1.-THE
figure indicative of strength and power,
his handsome face and fine carriage mark
ing him conspicuously in any body OF
men, and particularly fitting him to hold
his men in surveillance under the mag
netic beat of his baton.
Captain Berliner is not only a musical
genius, but a military enthusiast. man
whose experiences are world wide, and
whose knowledge of people and events is
far in excess of his years, for he is quite
youthful in appearance, with dash and
manner that is quite captivating, whether
at the head OF his splendid band or mere
ly in the ranks of private citizenship.
A military band, it may be remarked
en- PEASANT Is very different sort of
organization from the regular bands
which we hear, most of whose members
wear the military toys, but in reality have
never seen a day of service, but with an
eye to artistic environment they don the
costumes of the military people, and as
everyone knows make a very effective APP
pearance, all of which has a lot to do
with impressions both unsteady and 9TH
erwise.
Chatting with Captain Berliner yester-
day, he told me some very interesting
things not only about himself, and his
career. but about the organization of his
band and what he meant to do in the
future regarding 1t.
For three years. said Captain Ber-
liner, II was bandmaster of the Second
Cavalry band, and during that time had
remarkable experiences. In the first place
the band made a tour of the world, play
ing at every port of Importance on the en-
tire trip. We started from New YORK
on the transport Fitzpatrick, goiag through
the Suez canal, making our first stop at
Gibraltar where we were accorded the
most charming military courtesies. on
board was brigadier general and some
150 men. and of course wherever we
stopped, as is usually the CUSTOM. we
were shown many delightful attentions.
81 recall q very impressive incident.
continued Captain, Berlner, ION the trip.
1t occurred at Malta, and with the 1eehhe
of leaving home, and all those dear to us,
and everything we loved, it made scene
never to be forgotten by those who ex-
perienced it, | may say at the beginning
that | am a sentimentalist, and nothing
ever appeared to me more fully than just
this little incident. Lying in harbor was
a fleet OF more than 100 men of war-all
nations being represented-and after the
exchange of courtesies someone standing
on deck-the brigadier, in fact-spied way
out on the outskirts tiny little vessel
whose nationality was indistinguislable
because of it's soiled and tattered flag
Finally after closer inspection the brig
adler general found that 1t was lying the
American fag-a home bound pennant-
worn out in service in foreisn-felds, bu
nevertheless our flag! In an instant wher
the word went round, every man on the
transport, regardless of military organ
izatfon or command DOTTED his cap ant
stood watching the horneward bound YES
sci that was going back to what we hat
| left The brigadier generals eyes fillec
with tears as he said to a group of mer
standing near:
" Brace up, boys What's the matter
with your
And wiped the tears away from his
own eyes. oh, / can tell you that mill
tary life isn't easy, but once you've go
lit in the blood, it stays with YOU
''Then why did you leave the service?'
asked.
MERELY because of my love for music
and a desire to be at the head of some
thing of my own, said Captain Ber
liner Il had enjoyed my military train
ing to the fullest extent and had seer
service all over the world and I saw
the opportunity for a different line O
work from any that had ever been inaus
urated, hence the organization of th'
band Of which l am the bandmastel
now
"Tell me how it started?' I begged.
'In the first place. my idea of organ
izing a military band has met with the
approval of the war department and Il
has the sanction of the adjutant genera
of the army said Captain Berliner. I'll
has been a great developer in military
circles. especially in the recruiting de
partment. Why. I couldn't begin to tel
you the men who have Joined the army
merely through hearing our band! At
tracted by it. they often come to me and