The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-02
WASHINGTON MUSIC LOVERS DIS
APPOINTED IN THE MARINE
BAND.
TOO CLASSICAL BY HALF
UNDER THE NEW MANAGEMENT,
NO POPULAR MUSIC BEING
RENDERED..
pREARY SATURDAY CONCERTS.
still Attract Crowds, but the Per-
fOrmances Get No APP
pIause.

Special to the GLOBE.
WASHINGTON, July 31.-The Marine
band cannot play any Of the popular
airs. once upon a time the band could
play anything, from Beethoven up to
Maggie Murphys Home;" but things
are different now. Under the direction
of Prof. Fanciulli the Marine band has
fallen from grace so far that it cannot
toot anything catchy, such as people
like to hear. We are not even allowed
to hear any of Sousa's marches; al
though the band used to make things
hum with the washington Post
March and other of Sousa's compost
tons.
Every Saturday evening on plat
form in the grounds, just south OF the
White house. the Marine band gives
an open air concert. This custom has
obtained for many years, and our peo-
pie have become accustomed to going
there to be entertained. While SouSa
was the leader he could beat his baton
in the air and bring forth all sorts or
music. When the band played Listen
to NV Tale of Woe" the boys and girls
promenading the lawn would take on
lighter. quicker step and everybody
heavier came from the big brazen
threats Of the instruments, people who
are not educated up to the top notch Of
musical businesses, would patiently
wait for another popular strain. In
those days all classes of people APP
plauded the band after every number.
But things are different now. Very lit
tie applause is given and the concerts
are getting too dreary for comfort.
Nevertheless, upwards of 5000 people
go to the White house grounds every
Saturday evening, rather as a matter
of habit than for entertainment. Near
ly all of them are young folks. young
men and young women, girls and boys,
some of them about to be married and
given in marriage, and others with
hopes in that direction. All dressed III
their Sunday best, they wend their
way to the White house between and
6 o'clock and constantly promenade in
a sort of slowly moving circle around
the platform, wherein the once beloved
band is seated.
Entering the White house grounds
this afternoon by the gate on the
treasury side, 1 noticed an old colored
woman engaged in the business of
making snow balls and selling them
at a penny a piece to pickaninnieS and
of a green cart with an awning over
it, and a big chunk of ice in it. Her
vehicle was hitched to patient-looking
goat with very large horns; horns
which appeared to aspire to be antlers
She said: Yes, boss, dat am de finess
goat in Washin't'n. He doant eat
much, an he am always ready to
work He am called a red an black
goat I neber heard no mother name
for i'm. My son. he built de wagon
al but de wheels. Dey belonged to a
babby kerridge, which was made a
present to my daughter 'Cindy, when
de little babby what she nussed died
de wagon my boy made. He am a
smart boy, an on'y fifteen var OLE
No sir, 1 haint got no license, but L
has all odder sorts OBJ favOrs for dc
snow balls. l makes sometimes 20
cents and sometimes a half dollah,
cFar, on de snow balls at de concerts"
After passing the gate one can hear
he strains of music Of some sort from
The band, but right before the visitor
there is a circular crowd, which at
tracts attention. The young people are
waking around very pretty fountain
which casts a big, broad spray from
the center Of the basin, while fifty
sprays shoot from the sides of the
basin, the falling showers making beau
patter upon the pond. All around with
in the circle are groups of lilies, rep
resenting apparently almost every
variety of nymphaea, and each group
S labeled with its botanical name. Here
are some mothers with their little
charges ge,mholing on the grass and
dipping their hands in the edge of the
poel. Some Of the poor little creatures
have colOred nurses, who act as SUBJ
to be as happy as the other children
who have sure enough mothers to look
after and love them. But after all, to
old-faShiOned people, the mother looks
better than g nurse, anG the children
must surely be safer than with these
cOinred girls. who spend the greater
portion of their time in conversations
with colored boys and youths, while the
children are expected to care for them
selves.
But let us go with the crowd up the
iit*le vale between the little ridges
which run south from the White
house. At the junction of the ridges.
near the White house gate and railing,
the band sits enthrOned, and Prof
Fanciulli stands above them all with
his baton waving and his whiskers
bohbing. His wbiskers are very black
and his gloves are very white, while
his face is as red as a spot that has
pecn spanked he IS very energetic
is Fanciulli. and he IS perSpiring in
his efforts to make ancient music non
u!ar. Nobody appears to know what
the band is trying 10 play. 1t re-
minded me OF that speech of Cicero
which he delivered in Greek: and ri
vas ali Greek to me-" But FanciulU
was in earnest. and the big bass horn
was dreadfuly in earnest, too. II
shattered the air. and appeared TO be
TivelinE that player who tore a pas
sicr to tatters, to very rags, 10 snIit
che ears Of the groundlings.
Scusa never worked so hard when
he led the band. He used to stand
there smiling composed, dignifed. an
parelltly permitting the band TO do all
Of the business for itself; and vet he
was the soul of the organization. The
trouble with the Marine band TODAY ia
tiiat in losing Sousa it has gotten into
the frame Of mind which drove the
organist crazy in searching for the
Lost Chord. He also had black whis-
iTers and white gloves but his face
was not red, and he did hot perspire
Musical rendition was as easy for him
as musical composition appears to
nave been. In those days everybody
mere was proud of the band, and IT'S
praises We're on every lip. We watched
the career of the band with great in
tefest. But things are different now
more. the pity.