The tone of the succeeding oration was equally fervid, but the
speaker enlarged upon the glories of the Commonwealth whose one
hundredth anniversary was being celebrated. The orator sat down,
there was a momentary pause, and then as I raised my baton the
strains of "Dixie" fell upon the delighted ears of the thousands
round the platform.
The unexpected had happened, and such a shout as went up from that
throng I have never heard equaled. Hats were tossed in the air,
gray-bearded men embraced, and for a few minutes a jubilant
pandemonium reigned supreme. During the rest of our stay in
Fayetteville the repertoire of the Marine Band was on this order:
"Yankee Doodle,"--"Dixie;" "Star-Spangled Banner,"--"Dixie;"
"Red, White and Blue,"--"Dixie."
In all my experience the acme of patriotic fervor was reached during
a reunion of the Loyal Legion at Philadelphia some years ago. The
exercises were held in the Academy of Music, and the band occupied
the orchestra pit in front of the stage, which was crowded with
distinguished veterans.
I had strung together for the occasion a number of war-songs,
bugle-calls and patriotic airs, and when the band played them the
martial spirit began to stir the people.
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