Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-12
FOR THE DISTRICT poor.
Concert to Re Given by the United
states Marine Band.

i, is more than likely that if the shades
OF the old leaders of the Marine Band were
10 drop in upon the charity concert next
Tuesday their eyes might open in wonder
at the changes which little less than a
hundred years have made. When Treye
and his little following of scant dozen
musicians was pressed into service on
man-uf-war and brought to Washington
there we're few possibly who looked to a
future for the band that should ever be of
national interest. And It not until al
most fifty years later that the band was
increased TO thirty members by act of
Congress and allowed a rate of pay which
could not support its musicians except
through their earnings in private occupa-
tions. Yet this was a decided advance. and
II was under this law that John Philip
Sousa made for himself a world wide repu-
tation and brought the band up to a stan
dard that placed ii beside the great mill
iary rg4nizations of the day.
After Sousas resignation the band lost a
little of it's perfect organization. and for a
time at least there was not the good fell
lowship among its members that had been
maintained under his direction. That those
members who resigned during this period
had not lost their interest in the organi-
cation manifest from the circumstance
that upon Prof. Santelmanns appointment
many of them returned and are with the
band at the present time If. when the
band passes in review, one happens to OBJ
serve men with five stripes of gold upon
their sleeves he may take 1t for granted
that ths men were not among those easily
discouraged, for those five stripes represent
twenty-five years of service. There are
about a half dozen who can boast this dis
tinctiOn.
1t seems strange that an organization
which had become dear to the hearts of the
people. and was regarded for many
years one of the features of life in the
capital city, should wait for nearly a hun
d:ei years for the Congress of the United
States 10 grant it pay sufficient to insure
its members from the fear Of wanting the
necessities Of life. 1t Is now a tritle over
year since the reorganization act took eff
feet, which not only gave to the men better
pay. but increased the number from thirty
TO sixty musicians. AT the present time the
band consists of a leader and assistant
leader. drum major and sixty musicians
with the further detail of ten privates from
the corps, making in all seventy-three men,
Attracted by the prestige of the organZa-
ton. and lured by the prospect of life free
from the many viciSsitudeS which beset the
career of 4 professional musician there
have been added to Its membership must
clans who come from many parts of the
country and who have won reputation and
fame before entering the service of the ma
rine corps 1t is this body of musicians
which has volunteered to raise a fund for
the use of the citizens relief committee in
alternating the sufferings of destitute hu-
manity in this city.
Those who are acquainted with Prof.
Santelmann will anticipate effects that have
never before been attempted by a military
band in this country, for never before ha s
an organization with pay sufficient to hold
musicians of the highest grade been SO
placed that the regular rehearsals and per
feet discipline of the military service could
lend their assistance in the Interpretation
OF classical music. With even the finest OF
the civilian organizations the engagement
their &c hrrtf TO-
the leader can have gained perfect control
over them his time is out and the COM
pany is disbanded In the Marine Band
the enlistment is for five years and there
is no stint as TO rehearsals. which affords
an advantage that only a musical con-
ductor can properly appreciate.
Already the seating capacity Of the CO.
utmost, and the committee anticipates q
most satisfactory account sheet to crown
the bands labOrs.
This concert will be given under the fol-
lowing patronage:
The President and Mrs. Mckinley. the
chief justice and Mrs. Fuller Mr. Justice
Harlan and Mrs. Harlan, Mr. Justice Gray
and Mrs. Gray. Mr.. Justice Brewer and
Miss Brewer. Mr.. Justice Brown and Mrs
Brown. Mr. Justice Shiras and Mrs Shiras
Mrs. White. Mr.. Justice McKenna and Mrs
Mckenna, Senator and Mrs. Mcmillan SEN
atOr and Mrs. Gallinger Senator and Mrs
Lodge. Senator and Mrs Wetmore. the Sec
rotary Of State and Mrs. Hay the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury and Mrs. Gage the
Secretary of War and Mrs. Root. the Atto--
ney General and Mrs. Gr!ggs, the Postmas-
ter General and Mrs Smith, the Secretary
of the Navy and Mrs. Long the Secretary
of the Interior and Mrs. Hitchcock the
Secretary Of Agriculture and Miss Wilson.
General and Mrs. Miles. Admiral and Mrs.
Dewey and others.