The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-18

until 1884, when a band was organized
from the ranks of the Republican fam
beau club for campaign purposes, with
Mr.. Marshall as director.
On November 2. 1884. the original Mar
shalls Military band" filed its charter.
with thirty members. The band was
changed to "Marshall's band" dropping
the word military" At present the
membership Of the band is fifty-eight.
and there probably is no other band IN
the country as well uniformed. In the
last year the organization has spent
over $500 for new dress and fatigue
uniforms Besides being popular as a
musician. Mr.. Marshall belongs to the
Elks and Masons and several other fra
ternal orders.
In connection with numerous side
trips the band has played special en-
gagements in the following large cities:
Denver, Sacramento, San Francisco.
Chicago, indianapolis, Washington, Bal
tifnore, Colorado Springs, Worlds Fair,
ton, st. Louis and Louisville.
A few. years ago, when MarshalPs
band filledNan engagement at Denver.
the bandmaster of the United States
military band at Fort Smelling paid the
Topeka leader and his musicians a high
compliment He desired to know in
what class the band was rated 1T is
an amateur band" was the answer re-
ceived. well, if Mr.. Marshall can ac-
eomplish SO much with an amateur
he do with professionals ?"
While in Colorado the band gave con-
certs at Pueblo and Colorado Springs,
and were welcomed by standing room
only crowds at both places. A western
paper, speaking of the band at that time
said: 'Marshalls band, now ranking in
the same category with Gilmore's, Lib
GRATIS, Sousa's and other bands. gave
a series of concerts in Colorado after
the national conclave of knights Tenn
plar at Denver was concluded This
band includes the best musicians that
1,r1F =, h. rlsv-f
training of Mr.. John Marshall now
renders the highest class of band music,
their repertoire including most of the
masterpieces of Gilmore's and SOusa s
bands, and many others attempted by
none but bands of their standard Mar
shall's band is the pride of Kansas, and
has received nothing but the highest
praise from the press where it has given
concerts
OF the bands trip to Boston the Atch-
iSon Globe said: When they first ap-
peared in the streets the Boston peO-
pie hooted. Look at the Jayhawkers!'
Where's your whiskers? and so on,
but soon as the band began to play
they quit and such crowds assembled
to hear the music that the streets were
blockaded, and the police had to ask
Mr.. Marshall to desist playing while
traffic was so INSTRUCTED" AT one of
the concerts in Boston the band played
a waltz by the name of ''Auf WieuerSe-
hen" An old man was noticed leaning
intensely forward, head on one side and
with the appearance of a most inter-
esting listener. Hardly waiting until
the band had finished the piece, he
rushed upon the platform and congrat-
ulated Mr.. Marshall upon the excellent
rendition of the waltz He said: why,
sir, that was the best I ever heard the
piece played" The old gentleman was
the composer of the piece and his pane
was Bailey. He called the next day
with an armfuI of his music which he
said the band must take back to KAN
sas.''
The band went from Boston to Man
haitian Beach by special invitation of
Director Sousa, where it gave a concert.
There is quite story connected with
the selection of MarshalPs band for the
place of honor, at the national gather
ing of the Shriners held in Kansas City
last June. At the time the programme
was made out. the name of the band
to fill the place of honor was left blank
but it was understood that it should be
the Largest and finest band In the
west" A few weeks later A. d. L. Ham,
ilton, chairman of the reception COM
mite, called on Mr.. Marshall and ten
dered him and his band the place of
honor. 1t is not necessary to say that
the band filled the place with honor to
itself and the Shriners.
While on the way to Louisville, the
band gave two concerts in ST. Louis,
one at the Planters hotel and one at
Delmar garden. An old German must
clan, who happened to be in the Plant
ers' hotel when the band arrived, Won
dered at the size of it and wanted to
know where the players belonged" He
told it was an amateur band from
Topeka, Kansas. The first number play
ed was William Tell' overture and ut
the conclusion of the piece the German
walked up to Mr.. Marshall and said:
You fellows might fool some of them
but you can't fool me, for know the
reason you claim to have an amateur
band and it is because you think it
will be easier to secure engagements
in the east The old gentleman was
told that such was not the case, but he
replied that "he had been in the bust
ness too long and 'he guessed she knew
a professional band when he heard
one" At Delmar garden the band
played to an audience of more than s.
900 people.
Although there were over a hundred
bands in Louisville, Marshalls band
nearly outclassed them all, the only OPP
position being the Marine band. So
great was the bands success in Louis
vile that the committee in charge tried
hard to get them to furnish the music
for the big ball which was the crown
ing event of the week. but it was the
last of the week and the musicians were
worn out, the offer was declined. In
connection was a large scrap book, the
band has a cracker box full of press
notices, that show how their music has
been appreciated. The band is receiv-
ing many inquiries from over the state
in regard to the trip, and it will with
ton decides to make the venture.