Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-05-10
A HOBBY.
Sousa Likes Shot.
Guns.
Carries One In His
Trunk
When on His Concert Tours Far
and Near.


The strenuous life is term that
flows glibly from many pen In these
days. but If ever a man practiced the
theory of such an existence, it Is as
suredly John Philip Sousa. who. with
his famous band, comes to the Colon
ial theatre May is. 1t is fortunate
that he is sportsman by nature and
an athlete by inclination. for no man
not in the very pink of physical condi-
ton could withstand the fatigue of
such work as the March King is
called upon to perform during
twelvemonth. Forty-eight weeks Of
concerts involving forty thousand
miles of travel by land and sea is a
gigantic task for any man to under
take, but that is Mr.. Sousa's portion
of labor in the concert field at pres
ent, but it Is eminently characteristic
that his vacations are devoted to out
door life in the hunting field. Here
he finds rest and recreation but Mr..
Sousa armed and equipped for the
chase. looks more like a dilapidated
rough-rider, than the dapper and
graceful conductor. whose features
and gestures are so familiar to the
public.
One of Mr.. Sousa's hobbies is the
fine collection of shot-guns, and he
has in Washington miniature arm
ory of high grade fowling pieces which
he formerly used more frequently
when his business did not fully occu-
py his time. He is a crack shot, not
only in the field but at the traps with
both clay pigeons and life birds, and
has made some high scores in match
es. On one occasion In st. Louis, Mr..
Sousa proved his prowess by winning
third place In a tournament with some
Of the best shots In America. On his
concert tours, he usually carries a
gun in the bottom of his trunk and
never fails to embrace every Oppor-
tunity for his favorite sport. Experts
have said that Mr.. Sousa might rank
among the best shots In the country.
had he time to devote to the necessary
practice and keeping in form,
From his earliest boyhood in Wash
ington. Sousa has l1een an athlete and
lover of sport. In his younger days
/ his preference was for base ball and
he was entitled to rank among the
thirty third degree rooters. When he
was musical director of the famous
Church Pinafore company. Sousa Or
ganized base ball club among the
principals and chorus of the organiza-
tion, he being the pitcher. He relates
that whenever his club was fortunate
enough to win a game, 1t usually cost
him the greater part of his weeks
salary as he was accustomed to in
sist upon testifying to his delight in
the victory by entertaining the van
quished. Sousa maintains base
ball club in the ranks of his famous
band, having completely uniformed
and equipped the team at his expense.
The Sousa band base ball club has
played the national game all over
Europe as well as in America, and
has a record of about seventy-five per
cent of victories. Mr. Sousa's playing
days are over, however, but he never
fails to attend all the games played
by his club and sometimes when the
contest gets very exciting, he is almost
tempted to take off his coat and get
back into the game.
Lawn tennis early numbered the
March King" among its devotees and
his strong arm and keen eye enabled
him to play an excellent game in the
courts. The next sport to claim his
attention was bicycling and for sever
al years the entire Sousa family We're
familiar figures on the bicycle paths
adjacent to New York, Presumably
the automobile will be the next to
attract his interest, but up to the pres
ent time,his only experience with the
horseless was when King Edward VII
placed his private motor car at the
disposal Of Mr., sousa when he took
his band to sandrlngham for royal
concert