Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-07-14
THE WANDERING MINsTRELs.

THE WANDERING MINSTRELS.
A Leader Of q Street Band Tells an Inter.
esting Story.
A German band of strolling players
stood the other afternoon, says a New
York paper, in front of Bowery saloon,
over the door of which hung a green
banner, decorated with golden harp
rampant The players were filling the
air with discordant attempt at "St
Patrick's Day in the Morning" When
they had finished the tune there was
applause from a number of good
natured Irishmen who could not mis-
take the familiar air, even if it did ap-
pear in strange disguise. How did
the band learn the tune, and how did
the players know it was appropriate a
reporter asked himself.
The leader of the band, who was a
large, bIoad-shouldered man, with a
Teutonic countenance was approached.
"Do you speak English?" said the
reporter,
"Well, should smile" he replied,
with the accent of Pennsylvania
Dutchman, as he entered the saloon
for drink. II am not a German.
I'm an American. But all the rest OF
my men are German and most of the
bands are German, leaders and all
So you would like to know something
about how we live and what we earn.
My band here is pretty good one, and
we make more than the average. 1t Is
the general impression that bands di-
vide the money collected in equal
shares. But [ don't work it that way.
I hire these men at 81 day apiece.
Our band, including myself, is only
five. So 1 only have daily pay roll of
81. Now, lots of people don't see how
it is we make living. It's easy
enough, though; we play about six
hours day, and once every five
minutes during that time. Now, that
would be seventy-two times day. If
pays for me as long as the other fell
lows are satisfied. l give them each
81 and pocket 1920. As matter of
fact, though, we average about twenty
cents for each time we play. Then,
you see, my profits are large. Take 81
from $14 40 and you leave me $40. 40,
which is good days wages and moth
ing extraordinary for me to make.
II used to be peddler in Pennsyl-
vania and the South, and the first time
I heard German band and saw them
picking up the dimes and nickles l
made up my mind there was money in
street playing. I was the bass horn in
the village band when I was at home,
and decided to quit peddling and go
into music for a business. l couldn't
get Americans to work for 81 day SO
I hired these Germans. Some of them
can't read word Of English, but they
can't be beat when it comes to reading
notes. They get there sure. I was
the one who thought of teaching them
music appropriate to the season. For
instance, about Washington's Birthday
we were working the Star Spangled
Banner America and Hail Colum.
bia.' Then for st. Patrick's Day I
taught the boys the Lakes of Killar-
ney,' The Last Rose of Summer,
Kathleen Mavourneen,' and other
good Irish melodies. They have
helped US to make money 1 can tell
you.
II suppose you think that German
band never practices, but let me tell
you I have the boys up in my room an
hour every morning before we go out
for the day. During that time we re-
hearse pieces for the future, and al
ways try to have something new to suit
the popular taste. am now getting
ready for the summer season of steam
boat rides, picnics, and excursions, and
I hope to have O choice selection to
choose from before very long. tell
you, young man, the German band bust
ness, next to running canal boat, is
about the most profitable thing for the
amount of capital invested that I know
Of"