The San Francisco call., 1897-11-08
MEDALS FOR
THE MIDGEqS
Gustav Walter Shows His
Appreciation Of the
Boys Band.
He Will Travel With Them
Through the Coun-
try.
The 0rpheum's Manager Has Gath
cred His Hungarian Flock About
Him and D eparted.

The Hungarian Boys Military Band, or
as the bills proudly announce, Kaiser
Franz Josefs Magyar Husaren Knabe n
KapeIIe, has gone on its way rejoicing.
The wee musicians whose precoclous
talents have delighted the Orpheum
patrons for three months past were
bundled into Gustav Walters special car
at s o'clock yesterday morning and di-
rector, schoolmaster. cook and all started
gleefulIy southwark.
The Joy of the youngsters was not due
to leaving San Francisco. May be in their
journeys through the United States they
may find some place which will appeal 10
their youthful fancy as strongly as does
the Western metropolis, but Just at pres
ent there is not lad in the lot W b oSe
ideas of heaven are not distinctly associ-
ated with streets which run up into the
air at an alarming angle anu cars that run
along those streets propelled by some
mysterious power beneath crack in the
pavement.
Also. 1t is place where beefsteaks are
served with prodigal regularity, and the
little Hungarlans first made the acquaint-
ance of that luscious Wand in San Fran
cisco.
Franz Josef has ideas of his own about
training up soldiers, and beefsteak Is not
part Of his curriculum.
Upon the breast of each boy as he en-
tered the car was pinned a beautiful sill
yer medal, and that was part OF their
cause Tor jov The medals were the gift
Of Gustav Walter, proprietor OF the Or
pheum, and the little fellows knew by The
applause which had greeted their nightly
per ofm tnces that they had been fairly
won.
1t was an ambitious proceed ing on the
part of Mr. Walter to import the boys
band, which, with the direct or and school
teacher, nrmb bers forty mem bers The
CALL has already told the story Of the
$4,000 bond which the manager was re-
uuired to place with the Austrian Gov
eanment before the lads were permitted TO
leave the umpire, and OF the many prom
ises and undertakings which were even
then demanded of h m. And afler all his
ouble the theatrical man was naturally
anxious as to the outcome of his expert
meut.
His anxiety vanished when the midget
band had concluded its first mum Der. The
applause was deafening and the success of
he venture was assured. From that m O.
ment Walter took every little Hungarian
10 his heart. Its his hobby" say the
attaches OF the theater, and certain 1t is
he has spared no pains to make the most
of this feature of his entertainment.
Three months is long stand for one at
traction at the Orpheum; in fact the boys
band is the only attraction that ever he Id
the boards anywhere near that long at
that house, but the little masters of horn
ard drum held out with flving colors, and
he heart OF Manager Waiter was glad.
Ii was in honor OF this record that he
nf laAS oil "
medal, and to Nickias SchilZony. director,
end 10 NJ. Nussbaumer, schoolteacher,
each a gold watch. Each medal bears the
name of the lad wearing it, and also the
name of the donor and of the theater
where the trophy was meriied. The pres
entation was made by jose Hayden,
sketch artist, Saturday night. The re-
ciplents said never a word in reply be-
cause forsooth, Mr.. Hayden speaks never
a word of German, and to the tiny musi-
clans English is an intricate mystery.
But they understood the medals and
looked happy. Then they PLAYED again
ard again and again. The San Francisco
pubic shares Manager Walters affection
for the little fellows, and was 10th to part
with them.
The Orpheum's manager has bought
outright Puilman-car for his proteges,
and he intends to personally conduct
them through the United States. Their
first stop is in Los Angeles. where they
will play at the Orpheum there. Then
they will visit most every city of interest
in the country.
Mr.. Walter has two years contract for
their services. They will be knowing
little Hungarians when they return to
the school ut Billed. And it will be long
before they regain their appetites for the
soup and black bread of Franz josef s
army.