The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-07
sousa AND HIS SUCCESS
He Passed From Local to National Re
nown in q Few Years.

interview with an Eagfe reporter upon
the present Sousa tour and Sousa affairs
in general
cit is simply audacious,' he said, "the
dimensions of this tour. Ii requires nerve
and courage of high caste to- venture up
on il. Think Of starting out from New
York upon a contracted tour that ex-
tends from Halifax TO the Gulf Of Mex
leo and Bangor to San Diego, with fifty
three people 10 pay for and Liabilities
amounting to ,009-provided you
don't miss any of your engagements and
thereby have 10 pay serious damages.
Nobody but Sousa would dare undertake
TO carry that number OF people all over
the continent. total distance of $1,000
miles. and from January l to June Il
give on an average of nearly two con-
certs a day"
How has business been on an aver
age?"
Enormous, I would say 'phenome-
nal,' only that term has been banded
about so long that it doesn't mean any
thing any more. A single concert in Gin
cinnati last Tuesday evening brought in
s. .929. Four concerts in two days at
the Academy of Music, Philadelphia.
Amounted TO about 81 900, lacking only
few dollars OF that sum. One concert in
Baltimore. brought US about 200, and
even sleepy old Memphis woke up one
evening twc weeks ago and turned in
$l,s25. The larger cities have done no
more than have the smaller places in
to the population. 1t is as
founding how the people flock to the
Sousa concerts everywhere, and what is
equally striking, is the choice quality OF
the audiences. Everywhere ii is the best
class Of peor:e who swell the audiences.
In many cities full dress prevails the
same as ar grand opera, ladies in full
toilet and gentlemen in faultless mode"
How about hats?"
they're going-gonei RELOCATED to Cd
ious Oblivion, along with peanuts and
Opera bonnets or head
dress are an improved adornment still,
but simplicity is the most perfect beau
~. However, I'm not al fait on fash
ions"
what is the secret OF the vast popu-
larity Of the SoGsa concerts? To what
do you most ascribe it?''
''The secret lies in the man, If you
will stop 70 think of il, John Philip Sou
sa is one OF the most remarkable men OF
the period. In an artistic light purely
his career has for some years been pic
turesque and effulgent. He possesses to
rare degree what artists call "the artist
nature but, what is more rare, if you
understand the man as he really is you
viii quickly discover that apart from his
artistic nature he also possesses in arare |
iegrae the most sterling qualities of
arge Drained manhood, and If he were
lot renowned as a composer and direc- |
-or or as a musician at all, he certainly |
would have achieved fame in some other !
way. There Is an acute division of his |
abilities. In busienss matters he pos |
;esSeS large insight and rare comprehen-
sion, and in affairs of the world he is |
broad, philosophic and correct. In ideas |
lie is prolific and presents them with con-
;picuous incision and fuency. being ex-
remedy direct in speech. This quality |
lone gives him vast command over his |
organization, which is composed of men
# choicest rank. Sousa has spacious
lifts as speaker. His writings have at
racted attention. He wrote the bright
st and best lyrics for his latest opera,
Ell CAPTAIN"
His fame is legitimate and self-earn-
d. It is the elimination, the full frui-
ion of all his abilities, for, While his
,reatest gift is undoubtedly in musical
unique invention and
reation it amounts TO genius-the others
ombine to give him the power TO utii-
re mis- advantage in the most effective
nd commanding way. A few years ago
e was a young dependent upon the
government at $500 a year, leader OF
he United States Marine Band at Wash
lgton. Now, at the age Of IL. his mu-
ic is played all over the world and he
as an income of $4,000 or more a year.
here is no luck or chance in this mag
ificent achievement With the sledge
high resolve. a mastery purpose, in
assant application and culture and devel
pment of gifts that he felt he possess
d, the young Washington musician
nocked out a career that made him dis
nguished and rich before he was forty
nd caused the whole civilized world TO
eep step to his thrilling marches. No
IAN on earth writes marches such as
ousa writes, and not one Of all his
larches but contains some theme that
discovery and that Will make it live
,rever The tremendous success of his
test opera, 'El CAPTAIN proves that he
an do something more. No one who
nows him well thinks for moment
lat he has reached the meridian of his
overs During his recent visit 10 the
ID world he was showered with honors
y master musicians and the entire art
Grid, feted, invited 10 direct great or
lestras. bands and concerts. and given
very distinction that was within the |
ounds of propriety and good taste He
'und all Europe playing his music and
laying some of it in all sorts of ways.
70. In Germany, his Washington Post
as played as a march; in Italy as
altZ; in Belgium as a tvo-step, in Sax .
~ it was racked and thumb-screwed
TO a gavotte, and by some India rub
ar process it was in Spain stretched into
lie tempo Of a bolero. But the most !
ar;ling OF all was when SOusa heard it :
aged muffled as a professional at an
,ecution in Russia Z
1T is the man himself that is the Sc
ct OF the success OF the Sousa con- ,
rts. And, by the way. did you ever
I'll up the fact that their success has 7
aver been paralleled in this country ex- i
p, by the Patti and the Paderewskf
nce-ts.? Think for a moment and you ,
III determine for yourself that this is &
ue. Sousa provides for the people tina
hicn they most deSire-orilliant and t
'pular music and at popular prices. c
Look a your own program for Wich- c
4 on next Thursday evening. FEB. IL
- a SAsNNS ,SipAA ~ lGlIiS dS SEPARATING a ] 1
tiara OF first-water diamonds-iust the '
n the public likes best. And TO the
osTam numbers will be added a myriad
the happiest and most delicious things {
the encore music. in which Sousa is |
e most liberal director the country has 7
or known. The soloists are an entire Z
nce-t in themselves. but the band num-
RS are Incompatible"
4
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
FABIO ROMANL c
The attraction at the Crawford Grand J
nh - I