The strains of the band were now heard and the apprentices watched the
movements of the companies as they went through the ceremony of
inspection and review.
The United States Marine Corps band is one of the most famous
organizations of its kind in the world. It is stationed at the Marine
Barracks in Washington, D.C., and plays during all parades, guard
mountings, and other like ceremonies. Once John Philip Sousa was its
leader, and the band has always rendered his well-known march music to
perfection. At this moment following the sounding of "Adjutant’s Call,"
the space between the barrack buildings was filled with marching men
forming in one long line with the band on its right, swords flashing,
guns glinting in the sun, and the red, white and blue of the silken flag
fluttering. It was indeed a martial and inspiring sight. Later, as the
armed men passed in review before Colonel Waverly to the sound of the
Marines’ own march by Sousa--"Semper Fidelis"--every step and movement
was in perfect unison.
"Any man whose feet don’t just naturally keep in time to that music
never will be a soldier if he lives to be as old as Methuselah,"
remarked Gunnery Sergeant Miller to the latest recruit near whom he was
standing, "and when you get to blow the bugle like those musics in rear
of the band, then you’re a field music and no mistake."
Behind the band twelve boys, all recent graduates from the school, among
them Richard Comstock and Henry Cabell, were adding volume to the music
during certain parts of the march. It was then that the whole enclosure
fairly vibrated with the soul-stirring strains.
The review ended: the extra musics fell out and joined their fellows
under Miller, and the inspection of the troops began. During this
function the band rendered various selections much to the delectation of
many curious sightseers who had been admitted at the Main Gate to the
barracks. Many of these people were music lovers and could be found
seated on the same benches day after day, listening to the band.
"Do you see that pretty girl across the parade, Dick?" asked Henry.
"No, not where you are looking, but the one standing near the bench
under the trees--the girl looking this way."
Dick’s eyes following the directions of his friend soon spied the girl
referred to. How familiar she looked! She reminded him of--yes,--it
was,--Ursula, his sister, and by her side stood his mother and father.
Forgetting he was no longer a free agent, Dick gave a wild "whoop" and
started from the ranks. Just in the nick of time Henry caught him by the
coat-tails and jerked him backward to his place in line.
"Watch yourself, Dick," muttered Henry between his teeth, "here comes
the ’Old Man!’" His prompt action probably saved Dick a severe
reprimand, if nothing worse.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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