The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-02-04
ABOUT THE BAND.
THE TRUE STORY OF us
DISMISSAL.
The Boys Thought They We're
Requested to Sign
Contract.

The other day the ADVERTISER
published a paragraph relating to
the dismissal Of the band which
has aroused the ire of r. w. Aylett
a young man who used to blow a
cornet in the band. He has
stamped the paragraph as devoid
of truth, only he does not say it in
very polite manner.
The paragraph in question was
furnished to this journal by a man
who knew just what he was talking
about, and Mr.. Aylett might make
statements from now until next
winter, and then not alter the
truth of the item which appeared
in these columns.
The cornetist must have a singu-
larly week memory, for it was he
himself who made the statement
about annexing this country to
Portugal.
Professor Berger was seen last
evening about the dismissal of the
band and the following Informal
ton was given by him:
The band boys, acting on some
false information furnished by I'M
scrupulous persons, would not sign
the oath of allegiance because they
were under the impression that
they were signing a contract which
would give the Government the
power to command them to give
concerts at any time or place.
Mr.. Berger did all in his power
to fully explain the oath to the
boys but it was of no avail. On
last Monday morning he took Ay-
lett to Chief Justice Judd, who
fully explained the nature of the
oath, but the cornetist was not
satisfied with the explanation and
refused to attach his signature to
the oath. After they emerged
from Arion Hall, where the Court
is temporarily sitting, Aylett re-
marked to the bandmaster that he
was ashamed to be a Hawaiian
citizen and he would rather swear
allegiance to Portugal or some
other country.
Regarding statement made in
the very late afternoon paper,
which was evidently written as an
attempt to injure Professor Berger,
the bandmaster says it is not true
and it is unnecessary to state that
his denial will find more favor in
moment than anything the have
to-get-a- lantern to-get the paper
could say in a hundred years.
Mr.. Berger received orders from
his superiors not to coax the boys
for a moment, if they were ready
to take the oath of allegiance well
and good, and if they were not
ready to conform with the law, he
was to dismiss them at once. He
simply carried out his orders to the
letter.
On last Wednesday after the
boys had been paid off, which was
done at Mr.. Berger's residence,
some stood in the yard while others
were ON the sidewalk. While Mr..
Berger was on his veranda fourteen
members of the band notified their
leader that they were "pau."
Mr.. Berger, who was still on the
veranda, asked the entire band if
they were "pau," and, in body,
they answered eyes" The band
master then dismissed them &C
cording to his orders, and not in
an angry manner, as stated.
Shortly after the men went away,
two Portuguese and two Manila
men who were members returned,
and notified the bandmaster that
they were willing to sign the oath
of allegiance, and to-day they are
members of the new band. So
much for the statement that Mr..
Berger would not "listen to a
word"
Professor Berger says that of late
years he has had a great deal of
trouble with the boys because of
certain men who were continually
giving them bad advice.