The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-14
SoUsA'S FIRST SOLO.
His Initial Performance Before In
mates of n Lunntic Asylum

mates of N Lunntic Asylum
| Qrom the Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post
1T vas very funny about my first appear
ance as a solo performer" said Mr. Sousa
with a smile. at was made before an
audience composed almost entirely of lu-
natics. Just outside the city OF Washington
is the ST Elizabeth Insane Asylum, which
is maintained by the United States Gov
eminent. and, in my youth. as, indeed,
even now, il was the custom for local must
clans to give occasional concerts at the
asylum for the amusement OF the unfortu-
mates confined there. My music teacher
John Esputa frequently managed these af-
fairs, and on one occasion, finding himself
short OF talent. he sent me word that
should hold myself in readiness to assist
with violin solo.
Il didn't want TO go a bit, but. as
Esputa was a martinez for discipline,
knew IL would be idle for me to protest, so
resorted 10 subterfuge. shortly before it
was time TO start for the asylum / pre-
scented myself at my teachers house with
the excuse that did not have clean shirt.
But alas for my hupesi Esputa made
me go TO his room ana don one of his
shirts which proved many sizes too large
for a boy of eleven. ] remember that it
was wrapped around me twice. and the
collar was pinned on fore and aft If there
was a more uncomfortable boy in the city
OF Washington than ! was that night he
must have suffered the very ecstacy of
misery. wandered around gloomily until
my number on the programme was reach
cd. and then stumbled on the platform.
The thought of that borrowed shirt and
the idea that / was playing to crazy peo-
pie must have unnerved me. for | had not
played more than a dozen bars of my solo
before forgot every note. and was on the
point of breaking down. At this point
glanced hopelessly at my teacher. seated
at the piano to play my accompaniment,
and the wild glare of rage that met my
look frightened me to renewed efforts. so
| began to improve. could hear Esputa
swearing at me under his breath as he
tried 90 follow the wild flights Of my fan
cy.
Then the pin that held the voluminous
collar encircling my neck slipped its moor
ings while the collar made a wild dash
over my cars. This was too much for me-
and despite the torrid imprecations of my
teacher. ] brought my unique solo to
sudden end, with a strong chord and then
made frantic effort 20 escape the scold-
ing realized was in store for me. But
Esputa seized me as / left the platform
and Kissed in my ear: Don't you dare
to cat any supper mere tuulsHl
with this order he left me TO my fate
and all the rest of the evening ! had to
school myself to refuse the repeated invi-
tations OF the asylum authorities 20 par
take OF refreshments. This proved very
effective method of punishment, for / was
very fond of ice cream in those days"
One may get some idea Of the real Sou
So as he talks OF how he oomposes.
When 1 get an idea for a march,
nurse it and talk to 1t for days and
months. ] never write IL down until
nave thought IL out from beginning TO end
until ia fact, Il is absolutely finished
Sometimes 1t VIII take months TO finish II
In my mind, but 1t stays with me all the
time, having sort Of fascinating hold On
me.
when have written II, I play IL TO my
wife and children-my Oldest girl is six
teen-and they tell me what they think OF
II. Sometimes they don't think It is SO
good as something else 1 have done: then
play 1t over TO them again, and we argue
pro and con over disputed points My lit
tie girl is an especially keen critic"
When Sousa was at the head OF the Ma
rine Band his salary was not large, but
his concerts made him rich and famous.