The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-11


rYone whether they can
talk music or not, and
- - <%Sse. equally at home and
Z - courteous with stable
boy or with the great
ones of earth. The men
in his band all think a great
deal of him. He is very strict
with them but they recognize his
acknowledged ability, and one of them
who had been with Gilmore for four
years and joined Sousa after Gilmore
died, said last night that Sousa Is the
greater band leader.
Sousa is perfectly composed and the
same under all circumstances. He can
even make very graceful speech and
never hesitates.
After the performance last evening
the members of MarshalPs band invited
the Sousa band to their rooms where
they had little feast and few friends
to meet them. County Attorney Harry
Stafford made few we'll chosen remarks
of welcome to Mr.. Sousa and he re-
sponded.
He told little anecdote about a law
yer who was sorry for his client and
hoped no one would make the mistake
of thinking he meant Mr.. Stafford 1t
was simply a we'll worded little speech
of thanks, but it left Mr.. Stafford in a
rather uncertain light.
sand, boys" he said, addressing the
mem bers of his own band, II want you
to remember this, and when MarshalPs
band comes to New York they must
have the best we can give them" And
the ''boys" said they would.
1t was long Mr.. Sousa's ambition when
he was the director of the United States
Marine band to have a Thoroughly nation =
al band.
Il tried for twelve years" he said,
sto get congress to make an ap-
preparation to support one that
America might be proud of, but
it seemed impossible. I had large
acquaintance with congress and with the
president but I was never able to do any
thing with the idea. They did not like
the notion of the entire country support
ing a big band for Washington alone.
The question of national pride did not
enter their heads. The government does
not pay enough for good musicians. l was
glad of the opportunity to leave and
have band that / could do with as
pleased"
MIR, Sousa spends weeks and months
on his marches, and never hears one of
them even hummed until he has it en-
tirely thought out After he has it all
complete in his mind he writes it, plays
it and then arranges it. In a few weeks
the entire country is playing it. He is
working on a new one now, but nothing
could get him to divulge the air or even
the name of it until it will be ready for
! the public some time during the sum
mer.
Sousa's band has never been in Europe.
ave have had an offer for a European
tour" he said, shut the price offered is
$500 per week less than we want, and we
will not go. OF course we will be at
| Paris in 1900"
Sousa's marches have captured the
world.
81 received a letter the other day from
q bandmaster in Hong Kong" he said,
telling me that the Cadets aud the
Washington POST were very popular
there, and saying that if I would send
| him the Directorate he would pay me
we'll / sent it to him, with my conpli-
ments."
There is another thing about Sousa
that will commend him TO the ladies, and
that is his evident affection for his wife
Just before the concert yesterday
afternoon he walked into his dressing
room and picked up several letters.
| particularly bulky one was from his wife.
1t was time for the curtain to go up, but
he sat down on a trunk and held the
concert nearly fifteen minutes while he
went through twenty pages or more with
evident delight
A man that Souea was particularly
glad to meet in Topeka was Fred Scott
of the Santa Fe treasurer's office. Nine
teen years ago Mr.. Scott was part own
er and manager of the Chestnut Street
theater in Philadelphia. 1t has already
been stated that Mckee Rankin, who
played here this winter, was his leading
man. Sousa played violin in the or
chestra, for which he received a salary
of $50 week.
Sousa is now headed for Canada and
his tour will end June Is, when his sum.
mer engagement at Manhattan Beach
begins.
Prices Cream Baking Powder is tht
chivalrous Knight of modern women
Without stain of adulteration, the puresi
/ and best