Weddle, Elmer

WEDDLE

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/11/2019 at 21:21:00

ELMER WEDDLE
Lamoni, Iowa

Lamoni's Passing Parade
Anthony, Joseph H. p. 75. ca. 1948

During the years I was connected with the public schools here, I had opportunity to meet and become intimately acquainted with many individuals whose lives have been a source of inspiration and a treasure house of cherished memories. Among these was Elmer Weddle, who with his parents moved to Lamoni a number of years back and became a student in the local school.

He was at that time, I think, in his freshman year and was a rather backward sort of lad, inflicted to quite a degree with an inferiority complex which was probably developed to some extent by deafness which had followed an experience with mastoiditis when he was but a youngster. Like most people who are hard of hearing it was difficult for him to enter freely into general conversation with the boys and girls his age, and during any school gatherings where they were naturally thrown together he had but little to say and usually preferred to remain quietly in the background.

For all of his shyness, however, it was obvious that he possessed to quite an extent the love of music which seems to be so prominent in the Weddle family, and after we had passed the first stages of friendship and I had gained his confidence sufficiently, he volunteered to confide in me some of his aims and ambitions. I found that while he was vitally interested and would like to take part in musical activities, he hesitated to enter them as he felt he was not capable and could never hope to perform as acceptably as a number of individuals he mentioned.

It took some time to get his complete story, but eventually it came out, though in a reluctant and hesitating way, as though he hardly dared to give voice to his desires. He wanted to play an instrument – the trombone – desired it above anything he could think of, but he didn't suppose he could ever learn it, and besides, he had no instrument and did not know where or how he could possibly procure one.

I had heard similar stories many times, and so often they were mere childish notions which passed almost as spontaneously as they came, and though his story interested me intensely I tried to hold my own impulses in check until I could make sure that he was as serious about the matter as he seemed. But no matter how hard I tried to disregard his apparent earnestness I found it impossible, for there was a certain note of appeal in his manner I could not forget, and so a day or two later I informed him that I had secured a trombone for his use and he could start lessons immediately. He was overjoyed but somewhat uncertain about the lessons, as he did not see how he could possibly pay for them. I assured him he could help me with odd jobs, which should leave nothing for him to worry about, and I would prefer that rather then thinking too much about his lack of finances he give his major attention to making all possible progress in learning to play.

He entered into this phase with enthusiasm and he did make excellent progress, but as the weeks went by I could see that he was becoming more and more concerned about the work I had promised but had not given him. He had kept a record of the lessons he had taken, as well as the time he had worked in payment, and he felt that unless I could provide more work he not feel justified in continuing because the time he had so far given was not nearly sufficient to balance the account. I tried to convince him that this item was of little concern and that everything would work out I the end, but I could see that my explanation did not satisfy him.

A few days later when I arrived at the school house to conduct my after-school classes I was very much surprised upon entering the music room to find chairs, music racks, and other necessary equipment all in place and ready for the entry of the class. I was not a little puzzled, as I usually took care of these details myself, but passed it off with the thought that my good friend the janitor had probably planned it to surprise me, so without further thought I went ahead with the details involved in conducting the work of two classes which kept me occupied for the next two hours. At the end of this time, however, the explanation was not long in coming, for as I dismissed the last class and the pupils started to depart, the door opened and in walked Elmer Weddle with a smile of triumph on his face and immediately he began taking down the racks and putting away the chairs as though it was his regular job, and when I tried to help he waved me back out of the way. Thinking it was but a temporary impulse that prompted the venture I gave way to him and allowed him to finish up the task to his satisfaction.

The days which followed proved that with him it was not just a temporary impulse, for day after day he was there, ready to perform any task he thought would be of assistance in preparation for each of my classes and with their conclusion he would go to other parts of the building to study or otherwise occupy himself while he waited the two hours to pass so he could help to remove the equipment. While I appreciated his help and his good intentions I felt there were other things he should probably be doing at the time he was helping me and I tried to explain to him that he might be needed at home, but all this explanation was of no avail. According to his reasoning I had promised to furnish work to pay for his lessons and if I did not provide that opportunity he intended to make it. In time I did prevail upon him to exercise a degree of moderation in the offering of his services but this was acceptable only upon condition that I would call upon him at any time I needed help.

He made rapid progress upon his instrument and a short time later a vacancy occurred in the orchestra, and though a person with more experience would have been desirable, I offered him the opportunity to fill it because I felt that what he lacked in experience he would more than make up for in effort. This was during the winter and we were bending every effort toward preparation for the music contest which was to be held in Lamoni that spring. His reaction toward filling the vacancy was just what I knew it would be. It was the opportunity he had longed and hoped for and he determined to demonstrate that the confidence placed in him was justified.

He undertook the task conscientiously and with determination, and in a short time he had memorized his parts to the various contest pieces and was able to handle them surprisingly well. He had never been entirely free from the discomfort left by the affliction which was the cause of his deafness and with the coming of the dampness and cold of the spring weather, it was bothering him more than usual, and upon the advice of a physician his parents finally decided that he should enter a hospital for treatment.

I will always remember that day when he came to tell me of their decision. He had suffered affliction and physical discomfort to the extent that he appreciated the value of good health and normal living, and these he desired more than any other one thing in life, but then his beginning in musical activities had opened up a new world to him and now with his opportunities along this line and the approaching contest he visioned many additional advantages he was loath to forego; but he was courageous and optimistic about the outcome and as we parted he said: “When they get me fixed up I'll be O.K. I'll be able to hear better and then I know I will be a better trombone player. And don't worry; I'll be back in time for the contest.”

With these words he left, but little did he realize then what the ordeal was to cost him. At the hospital they found his condition more serious than they had anticipated and the only hope of recovery called for an immediate operation upon the brain. Following this operation he seemed to improve rapidly and in the course of a comparatively few days was able to be out of bed and had even received notice of the date upon which he would be released from the hospital. This good news he sent home as quickly as possible and then suddenly he became worse and was again rushed to the operating room, where the incision was reopened and another portion of his brain removed; and every twenty-four hours thereafter for several days this ordeal was repeated until his condition passed beyond the stage of human endurance and eventually his suffering was relieved only by that long sleep which subdues all earthly trials.

Throughout all this series of operations, whenever his mind was clear enough for him to think at all, he seemed to have one thing uppermost in his thoughts and to the doctors and nurses he emphasized it repeatedly – they must make him well as quickly as possible, so he could be home in time for the music contest. In spite of the doctors' skill and his supreme courage and determination, however, the outcome was inevitable.

On the day of the contest I assisted others in transferring a casket from the local railroad train to the ambulance. To think of its holding the earthly remains of Elmer Weddle did not adequately portray the true condition, for in my heart I knew that beneath that cloth-draped cover also rested the earthly aims and ambitions of a lad who loved life and who wanted to live to carry them to completion.

Yes, Elmer had kept his promise; he had arrived home in time for the contest but not as he or we had anticipated. So far as that contest is concerned he was not permitted to make the contribution he planned, but in memory he is still a living unit of those activities, and the heritage he left us – his sincerity, his loyalty and his courage – is a vital element in the record of Lamoni's passing parade.