Putnam patriot., 1927-04-01
Organized, Led and Instructed By Ralph r. Durfee, a Put
 nam Boy
Money 10 Send Organization to Paris
 Convention

ftH legislature Hf LHe aAaAf CT 4AFH | fork has passed measure appropri- aUHg SIG. .000 70 send the Oneida Bu gl Band to Paris as the official New l York tate musical organization at the American Legion Conference. The i band hopes to carry fifty musicians on ! the voyage. i The feature giving the above a touch of lpral interest k the fact that the ] Bugle Band is a creation of Ralph r. ! Burfee5 a former Putnam boy and one l tIme rmplaye of The Patriot. NIT. Dlrfee father the late Luke Dur |-fes was musician and was al one ! ttmr leader Jf the old Mechanics Band 1 il. hal sister. Mrs $. Nikol0f, of i Putnam
 While working for The Patriot Mr. I Durfec became infected with wander l lust and made a trip to England 0H ] cattle hoat Later he went on the road Mith various cIrcuses and shows and toured the world At one time be i aa5 member 0f the New York State mounted police. but Il appears by the following letter that he has agaln re- ] uouaed ta the call af the presses and i printers ink
 Oneida. \ Y March 26. 'z7 i Mr Arthur s Macdonald Putnam
 Conn
 Dear Friend Arthur
 Am enclosing few clipping that may interest You and the folks at Put nam in reference Co the American Le- i gign convention at Part In September l this year
 T am personally somewhat proud 10 state that the Legion Bugle Band of 1 Oneida my pet obsesstBn partly from ] the fact that am the instructor and leader of the outfit and have written and copyrighted all tht musical numbers that have proved prize winner to this organization.
 Wins Championship
 Ordinarily a buele having but five tones. if would seem that to write mu l sic that was different would be d great 1 task however. We have twenty mum l bers that not only arc different but are acclaimed by judge like Sousa, l Pryor. and numerous other world wide l EHawH musicians. different and un ! known to the musical world That is I thl secret af tbe triple winning of the ] New York state championship. Wc I alzu baFr fsuH bHgtes invented fand naY n usr 0ith our handl by myself thHr were 20 unusual that seven dif 1 fefcHt mIHeui instrument factories refused to muk, them for us as they could see ua benefit ta be derived From their use. which benefit s drmonstrat a hS the faet that We Hrp stlll the top natcherz iu the martial music field in the Empire State
 Ihc appropriation of Sl0 .0OU from The sfafe Ieri #luture to send our boys
 al sr. tAe fact tAat f had been unanimous vHtr tu appropriate the money. and the Governor Hm elf sent special mes
 are un 9a behalf tu both houses to assure tHc pa saKe of fhe bill, which
 how that Re must have a pretty good organization
 When at the National Legion Con veutIau at Philadelphia last year tried ms best t0 discover some one 1 knew from Putnam in the Connecticut allegations but failed ta recognize anyone However we finished sixth ln the huRle band contest out Of over uHe hundred contestants at that city
 Still Remember.
 .l ann ut present advertising man lager af tbe Oneida Daily Dispatch, and |if yau feel sp disposed would like to ret a copy af tho old Patriot m reply t0 this letter | can never forget that what 1 know of printing and advertis- He l learned From your hunarcd fa thcr and l c. Williams Neither will i forget teheu left The Patriot office u September. 1902 and made trip to i Liverpool. England, on cattle boat from Boston l was thirteen years of age chen and thinb | the most won dcrful experience that have ever had. and my travel experiences since that t.mc have been many znd varied m many countries
 .Therr are several members of the 1 old Third Connecticut Volunteers of Snan American war times Iu Oneida and w often talk of our days at NJ autc have also met Major Me iutyre iu Oneida several times. Out side of that don't learn great deal 5f Putnam affairs
 "Thp Oneida Legion Band sails on the Cuuari Line from New York via Marseilles la Paris iH September. and I lazl l maK ts able to meet some of the Connecticut hoy over there
 Wishing you thc best of luck and hoping to hear from you | am as usu- al.
 .Yours very truly
 RALPH pIRFEEs