El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-04
John Philip Sousd, Who Has Set,
American Patriotism To
Music.

John Philip have gone round the world.
They have been played at royal ubilees
in London: they have cheered men to
the assault at Santiago; they enliven
the broad plazas of Havana and Ma
Mia.
That means, among other things,
that millions of copies OF the compos-
the face of the earth; that every wo-
man and every maiden in America
plays those marches: that the quick
steps of John Philip are more familiar
in England than Dan Godfrey's; that in
this country alone, close upon two hum
dred thousand of the arrangements for
mandolins have been sold.
1t means that one of Sousa's operas
drew four hundred thousand dollars in
a season: that another is to be produced
In London this week; that another Is to
be heard In Germeny and that two more
works of the same order are to be pro-
duced here next autumn.
And the musician who rejOices in all
these triumphs has barely turned
forty. He has strength and health and
invention enough to achieve infinitely
more.
The echoes of his most recent hit
the march which he has named Glands
Across the Sea''-had died away in the
vast pavilion at Manhattan Beach.
The waves beyond the low sea wall
fronting the big hotel we're making
their unending harmonies. AS 1 stroll
led back in the cool corridors. found
myself suddenly face to face with
Sousa. His coal black beard and NOUS
ever. His step was springy. virile,
resolute. His face, II possible, was
even more tanned than usual.
1--WE will take the air." said John
Philip, leading me in the direction OF
the board walk.
NEW OPERA FOR HOPPER.
eyes. am we'll again. But last
winter for twelve weeks I lay near
death battling with pneumonia.
have ridden twenty miles on my bike
today. 1 have conducted for two hours.
And at seven I am to conduct again.
Then shall 60 to work On one Of my
new operas-'Chris and the Wonder
full Lamp!'-the work 1 am to write for
Said I: "What is the secret of your
success?"
"Assuming-and you are good
enough to do so-that am success. I
owe il largely to the fact that I was
born in Washington" said Sousa. 81
came into the world almost in the
shadow of the Capitol. From my child
hood, lived near barracks, where I
learned to love the barbaric splendor
listened TO the rhythm of marching
feet. Through FIVE administrations I
remained in Washington. There 1
composed most of my earliest works.
And there 1 enjoyed the friendship or
made the acquaintance of almost every
president. But, wherever 1 go, ]
meet people eager to welcome me.
MI
attention to the likings and dislikingt
of the public for whom l work"
81 fancied that artists-artists of
strength and character-cared less
about such things?"
81 care much for them. can't help
1t. The approval of one man Is often
enough to give me confidence and en-
coursgement. The disparaging criti-
cism of another frequently casts me
down or leads me to recast my work.
1.-THE artist who succeeds 1s usually
the man who is fortunate enough to
find expression for the thoughts or the
aspirations that are dominant in the
souls of the public. 1t is good for us
when we find people say, Why If l
had written this book or composed that
melody, that is what 1 should have
chosen to make it. {"
"Then, perhaps you, have been
cipated the new patriOtism?"
COMPOSER AT FIFTEEN.
81 don't know. Do not forget that 1
have been composing since L was If
teen. My fret attempt was made after
1 had gone home from one of the
Thomas concerts full of the beauty of
an arrangement of Schumann's 'Trau-
merei.' While the enthusiasm still
I nd la had nff
something that hoped was like it-a
trifie for piano and violin. Ishowed it
to my old Spanish professor aud asked
him what he thought of the effort. He
advised me to burn it. I didn't burn
it, but threw it aside.
'My first popular success was the
Gladiator march,"
"And which of your works do you
now think your best?'
"My 'Pompeii' suite, which 1 have
never had published. 1t is descrip-
tive composition, and L prefer it to
everything else 1 have done. Some OF
the orchestral effects in 'Pompeii' have
never been invented before I hit on
them-more particularly the sugges-
ton of terror that L get by means of
my trombones. Shall we go in?''
We walked back to the hotel.
And presently there entered blonde
vision of loveliness Il am afraid that is
rather reminiscent of Laura Jean Lib
beyl, all smiles and dimplee. You
know her. She has beomed at you
from boxes on first nights innumerable.
Her eighteenth century face and flax
en- hair must have often charmed you.
"My wife,
Mrs. Souss is ambitious for her hus-
band It is her dream-and 1t is his
to see him do something higher, and
of more lasting worth, than he has yet
aimed at. Wouldn't it surprise you if
-later-when he has grown mon
strously rich. and when the applause