The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1905-03-24
D|SCORD IN LADIES BAND
SOME MEMBERS WOULD JOIN A
SHOW COMPANY.
TROUBLE OVER INSTRUMENTS
Said to be the Property Of the City
and the Young Ladies Would Garry
Them Away-Some Of the Parents
object Strenuously.
From Fridays Danyl

From Fridays Daily.1
There is an awful note of discord
in the ladies band of Norfolk. Some
one has forgotten to tune the bass
drum and every other instrument is
out of harmony, in a way. The intro.
duction of musician named DnFord
into the music circles of Norfolk has
been the primal cause of the turmoil,
then the arrival here of a show troupe
for weeks stand and the inspiration
given several members of the band
TO travel with the company, has rolled
il all up in a heap ready to tumble
down and cngulf the band Outside
of the thought on the part of a great
many Norfolk people that it is scan
dalous for a show company to anpear
here and lead away a quintet of girls
Of highly respected homes, there is
trouble brewing over the instruments,
and there is further trouble because
some of the girls who are willing to
so will try to induce others not will
ing, or whose parents object, to get in
with the procession and follow the
show company away under the leader.
ship of DeFord who must be of cap
tivating personality along with his
ability to offer what appear to be
large wages to the performers,
The instruments were bought on
popular subscription, the business
men contributing literally to the pur-
chase of the same. Each member of
the band, it is understood. signed a
contract to the effect that if they left
town the instruments we're to remain
behind for use of Il cir successors in
the band, the leader to be custodian
Of the property, but the members who
agree to go with the show outfit pro.
pose to take their instruments along
and If they insist there will undoubt-
edly be suits at law commenced to
compel them to observe their previ-
Gus agreement with the people who
bought the instruments.
Failing to get all members of the
band to accompany the troupe on
their tour, it is proposed by the com
pany and the musical director to fill
in the band with girls inexperienced
in the making of band music. To get
real music from such prOposi' ION
would be impossible inside of several
months, but if the girls could hold the
instruments and look pretty the man.
agement of the show will probably
not object to paying their salaries.
Several Have ouarreIed.
Members of the band and their fam
lilies who have been life long friends
have quarreled over the situation.
Stern parents have shown the door to
persistent solicitors for their daugh-
ters' services, one member proposes
to resign a position as teacher of a
public school and the mother of an
other is so anxious to have her go
that she expressed willingness to
shoulder the school responsibilities
and carry it through to the end Of the
wear. and on the whole it looks as
though the band would suffer decima-
ton, but with the instruments kept at
home it would be possible for the
leader to recruit tho organization and
in the course of time make it as good
as before.
There was a previous rupture in
the organization when it was pro-
posed by some of the members that
they Join one of the carnival com
panies that showed at the last fire
mems tournament. 1t is understood
that some contracts had been signed
but because some of the members re-
fused to go there was a breaking
down of the plan and the band has
been fairly harmonious until DeFord
and the Chase-Lister people conceived
the scheme that a band of pretty girls
would be a greater scheme than sew
eral calliopes to draw crowds to the
performances and the gold from the
pockets of the people.
kidnap Bass Drum.
Yesterday it was reported that the
bass drum had been kidnapped and
hidden, but it appeared at the per
formance of the Chase-Lister people
last night and will not be so easily
gotten ont of town without the linowl
edge of the officers.
Any travelling company will concedt
that a ladies' band would prove Z
drawing card and it is not difficult tC
conceive that the ChaseI lister people
would pay fair salaries for the acoui
sition, but it was not supposed tha
they would be able to secure such al
attraction to their entertainment from
the young ladies of Norfolk ard it II
a matter of some surprise that an!
parents would give their consent t
the plan. 1t may be that the entir'
s5he ne will fall through, and ther'
-F II,