New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20

that he has a certain amount of money to spend
for music ana he wants that to go far as pos
sible Som. times he wants n paprika band. and
sometimes an ordinary orchestra will answer.
Well he goes 10 leader. and IS told that he can
have the proper people AZ s. or So "A man and double
for himself lie gives the union prices and insists
on them until some one bids for the JOB at lower
rate: then he compromises by giving his own SER
vices nj the sam. figure he charged for the men.
But that is where the men suffer, because when
the time for settlement comes he dcducts enough
from their money to make good his own loss. and
,ha,,s the way the union prices kept up"
The music stores. the hotels the catering cstab-
lshments all have lists Of musicians who are
anxious TO secure engagements and when In" plan
for a dinner is laid before committee the question
OF music It's quality and its quantity Is considered
together with the various details OF the bill Of fare.
EQUALITY doesn't always count in selecting an
orchestra for private entertainments" said musi
clan AZ one OF the headquarters. "and women fire.
oucntIy select uniformed men 10 add color TO their
music room and for "A time II WAS impossible TO get
an engagement to play az a private house unless
one wore a uniform OF foreign cut and style: had
black mus,ache and a leaning toward garlic and
paprika Since that time tho country has been
hooded with uniformed musicians; Most OF those
MANAGEMENT OF one man. who when the demand is
d little in excess Of the supply on hand transforms
East Side musicians and even Yankees into gyp-
I'VE know all about that" said brisht-looking
young man. FOR served my time as member OF
a Russian imperial Orchestra
There is no time when the various congresating
places Of the musicians lively as during the
short period before the end Of the summer and the
opening OF the regular amusement season. Mus-
clans who have been away during the warm
months at summer resorts the seaShore. in the
mountains at the springs flock to the places for
the purpose Of making new contracts Leaders
come TO find musicians and players urge Their
claims for preferrlent TO those who are intrusted
with the organiza ton of musical bodies. Orches
tras for the road for theatres In the city for dane
Ing schools for hotel dining rooms and for concert
purposes recruited from the crowds which MI
these places. Beer flows in large quantities.
pcrences Of the waning season are exchanged
leaders discussed and torn TO pieces. and tran
sanctions In clariDes. bass violins or first from
bones carried on as though the names repre-
scented merchandise and not men who play on the
various Instruments
THE who fortunate enough to find a
m lrket for their talent said of experience
IN that line. come here after that and until their
engagements begin. and sit around and play chess
or pinoche-but never musical instrument-tel
stories and read and assume air Of superiority.
Those who draw blanks may he picked out by
their looks. They have harder things 10 say about
the leaders. they don't laugh much at the Jokes.
and they drink domestic beer-except when an
other man asks them TO have something"
The difficulties connected with the formation Of