The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-09
soUsA,s ROYAL CONCERT.
Edward Listened to .'star Spangled
Banner Standing.

philadelphia North Americana
John Philip Sousa is telling some inter
esIinE incidents connected with his meet
lnS with King Edward and the royal
family a SandrIngham. where Sousa was
commanded 10 appear with his Dand our
ing the ORGANIZATION recent Foreign
tour. Queen Alexandra, the Prince o.
Wales aud many members of the NOBILITY
were present
Naturally / was pleased" says Mr.
Sousa, but this feeling Of content was
decidedly intensified by the time the al
ialr came 10 an end. IL was success
sion Of surprises. The prospect Of haV-
ing the band play at Sandringham was
plrthday surprise, arranged Dy MS
majesty Tor the queen. who on the DAY OF
the performance completed her 5Ith year.
+ rom the moment We were on board
the special train in London we were in
me KING hands. On the way down TO
the royal residence a magnificent lunch
lunch in all that the word can be made
70 coVer-Was served Then, on the ar
rival al Sandringham, "A regular dinner
was served. This over carriages and the
royal automobile were in waiting MIS-
Sousa and myself occupied the latter, and
III few minutes We were at the doors
OF Sdndrlngham. There we were re-
eeiYed by one of the kings equerries and
conducted TO the ballroom, where the
concert WAS to be given
We We're Just ready when an equerry
informed us the royal party were enter
ing. We struck up God Save the King
ana stood while the royal party TOOK
their places. The king wore the RIBBON
OF the garter across his breast. The Ia
gies bore no particular mark of rank
everybody was in evening dress.
Without waiting for any suggestion,
1 started in with one of my own suites.
could feel that it was being well re-
ceived. but was curious 10 note the way
IN which the king would take IL. As |
turned at the close there was general
clappinS of hands, his majesty holding
MS own I'D in a somewhat odd way just
IN front of the chin. and tapping one with
the Otner at a range of few inches.
Queen Alexandra's applauding was
more demonstrative, the palms coming
together at range Of few inches.
After d moments breathing spell, an
eqUerry came TO me with a request from
the king that I should play The Star
Spangled Banner | Immediately COM
piled. With the opening note, the king
stood up. all present following his eX-
ample, ana they remained standing until
the echo of the last sound had died away
L chatted with the king and queen for
possibly ten minutes, they directing the
conversation, which touched my work
generally. The queen spoke of her par
t1cular liking for my marches and said
II she did not object ] would write one
Tor her. She smiled and said she would
like il very much
AT this point the king put his hand in
his bosom and drew out a velvet box.
which he gave TO me with a few more
complimentary words. I was aware that
the usual method of honOring a person
In my position on such an occasion was
by the gift of a jewel, and ] thought |
was the recipient of the customary COM
pliment A moment later the Prince Of
Wales walked over to me, and taking
the box from my hand. opened it and
hung on my breast the silver medal of
the Victoria Order of Merit
This is an order divided into a number
of classes, the class varying with the
profession of the recipient, and you can
be assured | was prouder than ever OF
the honor done me when ] learned that
only five composers had received il be-
fore me. and that I was the first Ameri-
can thus hOnored"