The sun., 1902-10-19
THE BEACH WANTED RAGTIME.
COULDN'T SPIEL TO THE Music
or THE GREAT DEAD ONES.
When steiner Bade Mendeissohn and
CHOPIN Move On The Dancing Flour.
ished, but the PurNeyOr OF the
Classics Sues for Breach Of Contract.

The inability of the visitors to Bergen
Beach last summer TO appreciate classical
music has led 10 litigat ion that may severely
test the dignity Of the Supreme Court bench
in Kings county when II reaches a hearing
Po;!ippo Spalletta, known as furnisher
Of bands and orchestras. is the plaint in
and he j. suing Victor Steiner, proprietor
of hotel at the beach, for breach of con-
tract. The title of the suit seems innocent
enough In itself, but behind i, lies deep.
dark musical tragedy
The dispute owes its origin to the trouble
between Percy Williams. who owns most
Of Bergen Beach. and the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company. Williams decided last
summer to close down the beach and its
boardwalks, and leave the place a melan-
choy desert He had recAoned without
Steiner. however. whose acute business
mind saw chance 10 reap enormous profits.
He refused to close his hotel. aud deter
mined TO build an extensive addition III
the shape Of an elaborate dance hall. Fired
with ent nthusiasm, Steiner sought out Spal-
letta and having engaged an orchestra. 10
perform f,r ten weeks IRON June 10. he
promptly placarded Brooklyn with highly
colored posters Of the attractions he onered
the public.
The band came down punctually on the
opening night In magnificent red and
gold uniforms designed by Steiner him
self. and for wearing which he agreed TO
allow tho musicians additional compensa-
ton. The opening selection. march
from Rutinstein, was greeted with tu-
mutt uous applause. But when II was fol-
lowed by intricate compositions by hopin,
Liszt ard Mozart, and finally wound up
before the interinssion with Nendelssohn,
Steiner threw up his hands in despair.
4 young fellow had approached him.
anger glittering In his eye and inquired:
Say. ful. amt me an mo gal goin' ter
get spiel? What ,rhell is all dat rot dose
bagoes is playin'? Tell da, geezer wild
de stick ter Civ US sum Tagtime. Is
blokeswants "A spiel. Dis amt nc funeral"
Mutterng imprecations on the devoted
mus icians, Steiner interviewed the leader
Of the band. But this indiy,dual was OBJ
durate. Ravtinne? Never His men played
only the bert music, and in tie best place,
They could not stoop so low. Anyhow,
they knew nothing more than they had
already played savo one more piece from
Gounod and the Dead March in Saul
And they proceeded to stir up what was
almost a riot by thus finishing their re-
perfoire.
Unable to stand the strain on his ears
and his pocket the miserable Steiner in
terviewed Spallctta. The latter received
him cordially and promised TO remedy,
matters The next night. accordingly, hall
the classical band was replaced by an equll
number or e1ponents OF the trombone and
clarionet, who were guaranteed 10 satisfy
the most exclusive ragtime taste.
The new orchestra began its programme
| with a little trihe from schubert, and then
got 70 work on "Rip Van Wrinkle" s'teiner's :
heart reioiced nightly as ne saw his de-
lighted patrons cavorting round the hall
The exercise promoted the bar trade leo,
much 10 his glee though he was di-ap-
pointed TO learn from Spalletta that rag
time WAS moro expensive than the classic.
Following Rip came the soul-stirring
melody I'm Tired. So Very Tired When
,hi, ended another classical symphony
was in,erposed, and then Kip" began again,
Pretty soon Steiner realized thal h" was
doomed to listen to I'm Tired at every
third selection. for the band only knew that
and "Rip Ven Winkle,'
The Bergen Beach vi-itore a 40 began TO
appreciate the limitations Of the band. and
the bar receipts soon showed an alarming
falling OF. Threats. biiDes and even tears
from Steiner had no effecl on the new leader
and his orchestra. The new contract was
for dance music. and who could want more
than RIP Van Winkle?"
Put we're tired of that" said Steiner
Well. then We'll play I'm Tired said
the leader, and he cid II again.
Ste liner stood the affection for about four
weeks, and then he summariiy dismissed
the orchestra and shipped il back 10 Spai-
letta. He st on pruCLrtd 4 band that could
grind out tht Hat 81 and most popular ciea-
tions of the ra gtine f. nCs ana vas Pc ased
to hear the CONNIE ndatlOnS Ol ! patrons.
j t one afternoon, just a. ia orcht stra
had struck up tn dr. amy composition
know 's -pl a., Go 'Wsv and let Me
Sieep.' the enterpr-i S'sinsr was served
Y e, ,E. summon, an, complaint in an ac
tior b. b Nrall TIA { r b-' aCh of con-
tract. Through his lawyers. William Gross
man. Steiner set up Justification az q
Ce! ucr., pl aCi e hat tn" impos~iOiity Il
satisfying The 81 - of custom Is he has to
cat, r TO with cia ical pro, Uctipns by even
tie most eminent al d anci NJ bui ue fliuct
ina sters was sufficient ground for his failure
"a 1.-Two nm N tho ,,ptrnpf