Putnam patriot., 1930-10-23
RALPH P. DURFEE LIVED
 TO MOTTO LETS SING
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fContinued from Page Onel When the Spanish War broke out he enlisted in Company G, C. N. c.. as a bugler under Captain A. p. Mcintyre. His work with the bugle attracted attention and he was made regiment bugler before he had been long in service.
 Offers First Movies
 Mir. Durfee was one Of the frsf m Putnam to enter the moving picture field. He had machine when the industry was in it's infancy. The booth in which 1t was being operated caught fire. As far as known this ended his endeavor along this line.
 But he was the born musician and snowman. He loved the excitement Of the ever changing scenes and ne tra- yelled the country over. He was member of the Barnum & Bailey shows and made a European tour with this organization. He was also connected with Cole Bros. circus, Franklin Bros. circus and also the Sells Floto shows. His connection with theatricals in- cluded Bariow's Minstrels, Gus suns Minstrels. and the Girl of the Gold en West" He was at one time man. ager of Paradise Alley" and Hotel Laughland." One season he put Tn on the Mississippi river on show boat The Cotton Blossom, made famous by the story and play, Show Boat. 7 He managed an opera house in New York state at one time and was wide Y known to members of the ''profes- sion" He would occasionally return to Putnam.-so sometimes as a member of one night stand troup. Then he would invariably come to The Patriot office and sitting at the case, would himself set up press notices of the show.
 Becomes Trooper
 Added to his various experiences was that of a state trooper. He join ed the New York state organization in 1917 when it was first started He became sergeant and then top ser geant. 1t was with his outfit that he first went to Oneida. He resigned in 1920 to enter the employ of the Oneida Community Ltd. Says an Oneida newspaper: At one time he was superintendent of the city dis postal system but in the midst of all his activities he found time for study. All his spare time was spent in read ing good books. histories and biogra- phies preferred, and he was one of the best informed men on all subjects that this city has ever seen"
 Mir. Durfee directed the Oneida Post American Legion band and wrote number of the compositions the musi- cians are now using. He made the trip to France with the band in 1927. Always interested in bugles he in vented the helicon brass and baritone hugles the band has used for several years.
 Columnist
 Familiarly known as Sarge" in Oneida he wrote a column of witty and interesting brevities under this nom de plume under a column cap toned, Fresh Brevities Daily" ap- bearing in the Oneida Daily Dis patch In this column, says a writer on that paper. through a keen sense Of humor he turned all happenings into copy ID hiss own inimitable style and kept the paragraphs bright and snappy at all times. The column was his brain child and even during his last illness. while propped up in bed, he tried 10 write but the effort ! was too great. His one ambition seem ed to be to get out one more column i before the end" He was cheerful to ] the last.
 Mr Durfee was member of the White Rats" a theatrical fraternal ] organization and of several masonic bodies. being a 32nd degree mason. He was also an active member in the Oneida Lodge of Elks. Besides writ ing his daily column on the Dis patch" he was in charge of the news papers advertising department.