The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-24
sOUsA TO INVADE LONDON.
Will Try the conques. of Europe With
60 Musicians.


New York, August 24.-John Philip
Sousa will not be seen in this country
next spring, nor will his band be heard
hereabouts. In fact the deal by Whicn
around the operate circle for seven
weeks tour, in a special car, with pr1-
vate cooks and servants, js off.
The scheme had been arranged by
Ben d. Stevens, De Wolf Hopper $
manager, and embraced a journey of
seven weeks. A special train for so peo-
pie had been engaged and Mr.. Stevens
plan was to rush the aggregation over a
wide territory, only playing one night
in any of the big towns and giving all
the hotels en- route the ''go by"
The idea of making Chicago, Boston,
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washing
ton one night stands was novel and
promising, and both Hopper and Stew
ems were delighted, as Jointly, Sousa
and Hopper would draw like mustard
| plaster. Mr.. Stevens had his dates fix
ed and the contracts were all ready for
! Signatu ture when the break occurred, and
now both Hopper and Stevens are sad.
1t happened in this way. John Phil
ip SouSa is ambitious. He secretly sigh
ed for new worlds to conquer, and while
his partners were arranging for the sur
prise of the next theatrical season, his
ambassador was swiftly journeying
toward London.
The fame of Sousa had gone abroad
and when his agent arrived in the Brit
ish capital he found it easy to arrange
a season for the bandmaster, beginning
which the Hopper-Sousa tour would
have been started.
Gables passed often and furfously be-
tween the bandmaster and his agent
ana the final signing of the contracts
for the American tour was put off from
time to time, the bandmaster wishing
to make sure of his English tour before
throwing overheard the American one.
Mr.. Stevens, being one of the most
careful managers in the theatrical pro-
fession, went to Coney Island daily to
hot fI1n u
ing and what Sousa said about not
signing the contract The trips took
place more frequently than Mr.. Stevens
thought good for his health and as
managers all over the country were
pushing him to make good his open
dates with substantial contracts he be-
gan to push the bandmaster for his auto
graph.
Then came the collapse. In the most
glowing terms Sousa described to Stew
ems the career opened to him in Europe,
and after Europe the world was his
Stevens had put his heart on making
Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia one
night stands for once in his life, and
this he explained to Sousa. But the
bandmaster would not yield
so the Hopper-Sou tour is off "said
stevens last evening. ''It would have
been great triumph for everybody and
Sousa would have made more money
than he will abroad
tSousa is ambitious and Sousa is
Well he is going to London and we have
Hopper can play in London, too, if
he wants to. Sam Nixon, of Nixon &
zimmerman, who returned from Eng
land a short time ago, secured excellent
time for him, but in my mind there was
five dollars here to every dollar ne
could make in England, and I natural
ly objected.
Friends? OF course they are A man
has a right to be ambitious. No one
can find fault with Sousa for that. Be
SIDES, We shall bring out his new opera,
The Bride-E1ect," some time during
the season. have also a contract with
him for still another new opera which
Charles Klein will build around De
Wolf Hopper. for which Mr.. Sousa Will
furnish the music''
Mr.. Sousa's representative said yes
terday that the London engagement, IF
concluded" would afford the bandmas-
ter the best possible opportunities in
the English capital, and guarantee his
introduction under the most favora bic
auspices and distinguished patronage.
Sousa contemplates taking band of 65
men, which, he says, will be thor
oughly representative American organi-
cation.