The Washington times., 1902-02-03
SOUSA HAS some
LOVELY NEW poses
He Wears Medal Presented
by King Edward.
BIG CROWD CdEERED THE BAND
Columbia Theatre Too Small to Ac-
cOmmOdate the Throng That
Wanted to Hear the hand Playa

When John Philip Sousa came upon the
stage of the Columbia Theatre last night
and beheld the immense throng that had
come to listen to his band his chest ex-
pansion was something that would have
done credit to the most ardent deyotee of
physical culture.
John Philip was plainly pleased that
his former friends and acquaintances
should tender him such a welcome. for
the box office statement. conveyed to him
Immediately before he made his appear
ance, indicated that the theatres seat
ing capacity was taxed as it is but sell
dom. Ones old friends do not sometimes
show such willingness to pay real
money merely to welcome one home, but
in the case of Bandmaster sousa the cir
cumstances were quite different than in
the ordinary individual.
Grasped the Hand of Edward.
Hadn't he been commanded to play be-
fore the new King of England, and after
one of the galloping Sousa marches
didn't Edward grasp the hand of the con-
ductor, and aren't there any number of
persons who are anxious for chance to
grasp the hand that grasped King Ed
wards hand, just as some years ago it
was considered the proper thing to shake
the hand that shook the hand of the erst-
while favorite, yours truly, John L. Sulli-
van.
The fact that since his last local ap-
pearancc Sousa has been right royalty
welcomed by royalty on the other side
of the Atlantic may have had something
to do with the size of the crowd at the
Columbia; and again, perhaps it was due
to the fact that Sousa usually has a pro-
gramme of music that appeals to the
masses as no other bandmaster's does.
Medals In Evidence.
Some may have been drawn to the F
Street theatre by curiosity to see the
medal King Edward presented TO the
former director of the Marine Band. The
decoration was in evidence. along with
the two other medals that Mr.. Sousa re-
ceived for writing The Bride Elect"
Anyway, whatever the reason, the crowd
had fine time and applauded every
the nine numbers called for by the pro-
grgnme, the Sousa forces were actually
compelled to play twenty one selections,
for three of the pieces received double
encores.
The programme was well arranged, and
nobody could complain that it was not di-
to suis the most captious.
hn Of
did his very best to satisfy the assem-
blage. He jumped from Sir Arthur Sui
livan to his own Stars and Stripes" and
for a double encore played Wilson's old
Mexican serenade, very delightful and
dainty number. Then, the List Second
Polonaise was succeeded by selections
from Leslie Stuarts "Floradora," and the
brilliant Much Ado About Nothing"
brought out The II. !eysuckle and the
Bee" of vaudeville renown. Sousa' S
''Maidens Three" capitally interpreted,
= coon" song and the Eel Cap
itan" march. Sousa s latest effort in the
two-step line. THE Invincible Eagle"
was Immediately popular with the audi
ence, and by the time the first move
ment was finished everybody had deter
mined that it would have to be repeated.
Eagle Bowed Twice.
So after causing an uncommon amount
of stamping of feet in the endeavor to
keep time with the band, the trio of
piccolos and the double sextette of
cornets and trombones were again trotted
out in front of the footlights, and the
eagle was permitted to flap
its wings and scream once more.
The march is very good one, more |
perhaps. than some of its pred |
but popular enough to be read |
ly caught by those persons having what |
Is commonly termed "a musical ear
Mr.. SOusa presented three soloists- |
Arthur Pryor, who plays the trombone as |
no one else ever has: Maude Reese |
Davies soprano possessing very hex- !
bile, agreeable voice OF commendable |
purity, although of very limited range. |
and Dorothy Hoyle, who used to play the |
violin with the Sousa land when she was