Evening star., 1934-01-21
Mashsesd By PAUL kROESEN

That's better. boys" smiled the leader The
big horn does help out"
They played two three other selections.
went pretty well.
The leader sought out MI. West ct the end
Of the session. You're just the man we need.
You must come with won't take Yod
are musician And wen expect you night
after tomorrow"
phere of the museum Mr. West knew It was
impossible. He. member of the staff OF the
most aristocratic private library in the East-a
player in a band! Ye gods!
Yet, the night he had half promised to lend
a hand (or a pair of lungs) to the new band.
found him strangely elated Well, perhaps he
might go just this once. No harm in that.
The atmosphere even more captivating
this night. He ventured after half an hour. to
remove his coat Somehow he felt strangely
at ease in this perspiring footing. noisy crowd.
He had lived a life Of whispering and being
whispered at And now he playing the
noisiest horn in the world in publicl
And his fellow players? Mr.. Regan. the
trombonst, was a member of hose No. g. The
bass drummer was husky policeman. Alto
horn and French horn we're played by couple
of travelling statesmen. The owner of a small
gasoline filling station did nobly on the clari-
net. And the tenor saxophone worked on the
ash truck Of the public works department
The leader had something further to say at
the end of the rehearsal
"QOYS, we're band. Not as good as We
- can be-but we're doing mighty well.
Colchester needs band. Listen. We're go
ing to make our first public appearance in the
parade two weeks from today That's Found
er,s day for old Colchester"
"Hooray!" was the roaring answer.
"SO-o-o," he went on, tomorrow night
we're going to be measured for uniforms The
Colchester Cadet Band will wear powder blue
stripes and snappy caps with black visors, and
white crossed BELTS"
Hear! Hear!"
Mr.. West knew that he was living on the
perilous edge Of an abyss. There would be q
terrible reckoning. But he was having such .
marvellous time he couldn't stop.
In q daze he permitted himself that next
night to be measured by the uniform tailor.
Oh heck, this wouldn't do. It really wouldn't.
The museum Minerva. His position Her
position in Colchester society. He was crazy.
that's what he was.
But breathes there q man with pride 50
small-that he doesn't thrill to the idea OF
marching down the street in q uniform?
He didn't work that day Of days Founders
day. He asked the custodian of the museum
for the day off in a low whisper. Mr.. West
wondered what his chief would think if he
knew just what he wanted to do with that
day. Doing an act in jazzy uniform with
bass tuba wrapped around his neck! Wow!
Tuba was No. 1 on the left, in the front
line. A most important position. The horn
was SO big and shiny, every eye sought out the
player. You just had to look at him.
A blast of the whistle! Tap-tap-tap of the
drums. Boom boom boom of the bass drum.
They were of. Hep-hep-hep!
Whistle again! Then the heavy number.
Oompa- mpa-oompa. Blah- h-blah-tweet-t -tweet!
The thrill of lifetime. Mr.. West tngled
all over. It was gorgeous. He had just been
born. Life began today. He didn't know he
was married There are no marriages in
heaven! .--.= ~ -~7F -+..-E f.e -*-s-4'- - *