Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-08-05
GILMORE'S BAND.
A Total Failure tn Paris and the
Men Writing Home for Money.


New York World.l
The return from Paris of the
fragments of Gilmore's Band is
looked for daily by the musicians
here, the bands foreign trip having
turned out a complete failure.
From letters received by friends and
relatives of the sixty odd members
Of the band it seems that the con-
certs in England were fairly encour-
aging and left a margin above ex-
penses. This was especially the
case in London, where the band
gave exhibitions at Alexandria
Palace to paying audiences. In the
English provincial towns the au-
diences were very slim, and the
success of the London season was
almost swept away. AtDublin the
band succeeded very well, drawing
large crowds to the Exhibition
Palace. Mr.. Grove, the advance
agent, left with 5000 francs to pre-
pare for an opening at Paris, but
failed to do his work properly, and
subsequently, disappeared. The re-
Ception in Paris was very tame; but
little notice was taken of the
American band by the French
journals, and the members of the
band, in their peculiar uniforms,
we're stared at by the Parisians as
they passed through the streets, but
to the concerts, with the high price
of admission, the Frenchmen care
fully refrained from going. A pic
mic gotten up by the consul general
to introduce the band to the pub
lie, and held in the Bois dc Boul-
ogne, failed to create enthusiasm,
and the appearance of a lady vocal
ist at one of the concerts was fur.
ther commented on unfayorably.
When Gilmore was striving for
popular recognition, the celebrated
maestro Franco Faccio was playing
With the band of 100 pieces from
La Scala at Milan. Carl Pediotte
had a similar orchestra froul Turin
and the military bands were giving
free concerts in the parks. The
fact that most Of the members of
the American band were Germans,
and the few exceptions English
mon, it is thought, may have some
thing 10 do with the unfaverable
reception.
No attempt was made to push
the series of concerts to Germany,
and from Paris the band scattered.
Many were compelled to depend
upon the aid of the American con-
sui to secure a return passage.
Most of them were paid no salary
after leaving New York. There
are charges of bad management
and unfair treatment by the men
who have written home for passage.
money. A part of the band are
now in England, while another sec
ton remains in Paris, Some will
not return to the United States for
some time, but others with families
here arc making every endeaVor to
get home quickly.
AT the rooms Of the Aschenbrodel
Verein the fate of the Gilmore men
is warmly debated. Not one of the
voyagerS has yet returned, so far as
is known there, and according to
| the few letters received there was
reason to doubt the real condition
Of affairs abroad. An officer of the
society said; at is not so bad, |
guess, as it is said in the papers.
The men are without money, no
doubt. Surely their families are
here. One family | know of-fve
children-have not got a loaf of
bread in the house. Itwas all nom
Gpnse for them to 60, anyhow to
Germany, where every little town
has q better band than that. One
thing is sure, that Gilmore had
better not come back to New York ;
he can do nothing here any more" "