The times., 1897-06-19
Marine Music.

The verdict Of the courtmartial in the
Fanciulli case has stirred up storm OF
comment in Washin gton, both among mu-
sicians ana in Army and Navy circles
In this storm various facts, suggestions,
revelations, and recriminations are tossed
to and fro, and it is more than likely
that heads viii he hit by these before the
whirlwind passes, and that a long train
OF consequences may follow this episode
In the first place, 1t might naturally be
supposed that a man In so conspicuous a
position as that of leader of the Marine
Band would know more about music than a
lieutenant of marines. Marines have never
been ncelebratedfo any particular acuteness
or deiicacy Of perception, and there is no
reason TO suppose that even the com
Irauder of q detachment of marines from
the Washington barracks in charge Of the
serious and solemn proceedings OF Memorial
Day, would be a better Judge OF what
should be played on that occasion than
the musician whose business it ostensibly
was to arrange the program. That is the
way Prof Fanciullievidently understood the
case, and he arranged his program, there
fore, to suit himself and what he con-
sidered to he the spirit OF the occasion.
OF course, If he had known that he ought to
go down to the barracks and walt on
Lieut. Draper with the rough draft OF his
program, so that it would suit the lieu
tenants taste, he might have done so, and
all would have been peace and JOY.
But that was not what PIOf. Fanciulli
was told to do. Consequently, in the
midst OF the march, there appeared a
vision In military gold braid and dignity,
who told the leader of the Marine Band
that he didn't want any more of his
Qualified clarionet solos. He wan ted
something lively, something that men
could march by; in short, he wanted a
tune. and ne intimated in no particularly
gentle way that the "El Captain" march
was the tune.
Prof. Fanciulli resented this behavior.
The "El Captain" march is a pretty
march, even If we have heard it six times
a day for the last few years; but il is DO
sign that the leader of the Marine Band
is deficient in musical taste If this march
was not on his Program. He considered
that he had right to select his own
music enc said so; ant that was all there
was about it, For this it is recommended
that he he dismissed from the service,
which is all that could lie done to him
If lie had committed any offense in the
whole range of the moral law short Of
murder.
It is not necessary to go into the legal
merits or dement's of the decision There
are people who say that nothing counts
for so much, in either the Army or the
Navy, as personal popularity, and that
man who for any reason is obnoxious TO
other officers cannot obtain Justice under
any circumstances; but whether that ap-
plies In the present case or not, there is
an injustice somewhere. Either the leader
Of the Marine Band should be q person
competent to decide absolutely all questions
relating tohisduties, or heshould understand
that he is not expected to decide them.
He should not be left to suppose that he
is In control OF the band, and then be sub
5ected to the humiliation of being sworn
at by any lieutenant of marines who hap
A. g. <t-
bon Of the country. 1t would seem that