The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-10
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
A SKETCH OF JOHN PHILLIP
SOTTSA

Mr.. John Phillip Sousa, musical direc-
tor of Sousa's grand concert band, was
born in Washington, D. c., in 1854, Of
Spanish father and German mother.
His early musical training was of the
best for he attracted attention as a
violinist when very young, and at the
age of eighteen became an orchestra
leader, where musical abilities in this
direction were demonstrated. At
twenty-six he was appointed, under the
Hayes administration, musical direc-
tor of the United States Marine band,
which position ne filed with great cred
il and honor for twelve years, during
which time the national band was devel-
oped into one Of tine Lest-drilled bands
in existence end d. ew worldwide at
tenticn to Mr.. Sousa as a bandmaSter
of unprecedented, if not unequalled abil-
ity. Mr.. SouSa remained with the Ma
rine band until he received from Mr..
Blakely an offer to take the baton or
the present unparalleled organization,
August l, 1892. As a composer Mr..
Sousa is usually prolific and popular.
He is known as the March King, as
widely as Strauss is known as the
waltz King" and he is one of the
very few American composers whose
WOThS dTS SSHSI dIiy pldyIu III HuA ~.
Altogether he has composed over 200
musical works, including a great num-
Der of mraches, songs, overtures and
five operas In appearance, Director
Sousa is of medium height, possessing
a well-knit frame, with features Of
southern brunette type, bespeaking a
warmth of temperament, great enthu-
siasm and energy combined with intel
ligence. he possesses the magnetic per-
sonal charm which attracts others, and
1t at the same time enables him to con-
troll a band as much by force of char
acter as by vested authority. The re-
markable success he has achieved at
the head Of the magnificent band he is
now leading IS something phenomenal.
See Sousa and hear his great band at
Auditorium on Thursday evening,
March r.
WHAT Ais US?
Tomorrow evening at the Auditorium
Mrs Mary E Lease will deliver her new
lecture ON What Ais Us?" Every in
vestigator, who is trying to seek So
luton to the problem that confrontS
the American people should attend this
lecture
Though those who have heard Mrs.
Lease will expect something eloquent,
Leases new lecture is eloquent, forci-
BILE, entertaining, and instructive. That
81 will be a rare treat goes without say
ing as she is one of the most entertain
ing and brilliant lecturers in the coun-
try.
Mrs Lease has made reputation not
only as a brainy and eloquent speaker
but as one possessing wonderful mag
netism The Omaha World-Herald In
describing one Of her meetings says:
"At the conclusion of a particularly ell
oQuent passage, Mrs. Lease asked, does
the spirit of 1776 yet live in the hearts
OF American citizens? Just at this
point 100 men shouted that ii did, and
they got to their feet and reiterated II,
and when some one cried that they
were TO shout in the name of God and
Washington, once more the spirit of
Valley Forge leaped in the veins of our
quiet citizens blocks away men heard
the shouting Mrs Lease said more
very much more. Her triumph was
not alone oratorical, it was psychology
ical. Her earnestness and her pass
ion diffused itself like some impercept-
ible and intoxicating ether"
Mrs. Lease is never so eloquent as
when in earnest and never so in earn
est as when she is picturing a wrong.
What Ais Cs?" will give her abund-
ant opportunity to display her wonder
full powers in the interest of humanity.
Tickets are now on sale at Mosbacher S
Admission % cents.