The San Francisco call., 1909-11-08
COUJA OREETJ
FIRJT JPONJOR
March King Meets Veteran
Actor Who Gave Him His
Start in Music
BY WALTER ANTHONY

yHEN John Philip Sousa and MIL
i M ton Mobiles met few days ago in
w this city. a friendship which has
been unrufHed during the course Of
nearly 40 years was strengthened and
extended. Milton Mobiles. exponent OF
the fine. heroic old school OF acting.
hero of The Phoenix" and early idol
of US all. gripped hands with Sousa,
! of the new school OF music-progress-
i've, informed. puissant sousa, the
march king. 1t was quite meeting.
you may be sure.
Sousa celebrated his ffty-ifth birth
day last Saturday twin soul in years
with Paderewski. who rounded his
ffty-hfrh year the same day Just how
old Milton Mobiles is may be inferred
from the following very true story:
The musical direeeor OF Ford's the
atsr in Washington was taken sudden
ly i'll one night 81 years ago. The
orchestra. though small, was necessary.
for Milton Mobiles was appearing IN a
piece called "Bohemians and Detect
ives and you will easily imagine that
such play needed ~shivery music"
/ How should the villain descend upon
the heroine unless surrounded by a
tremulous protest orchestrally sounded?
How should the hero rescue his loved
one unless a martial blast from the
pit suggested the impending marital
strains? But the leader was i'll. and
couldn't possibly put fiddle to chin
| That night. when Mobiles appeared, a
dark. understood lad. whose youth had
been given much to sickness. sat at the
directors stand and watched the actor
with burning eyes so that he wouldn't
miss a cue. Never did he take his
gaze from the face OF the players. and
not once did he fail in his work OF
making Incidental music Naturally
the star, fully established as an actor
of consequence and promise. noticed
the anxious. intense face of the IS
year old boy who played in the place
: of the regular director. and he won
dered who he was. but. in the superior
ity of his position, easily neglected TO
say anything to the little musician
after the show was over. After all,
his work was only incidental TO the
success Of the performance and the
next evening saw the regular director
at his score again.
A few weeks later Mobiles was TO
leave Ford's and travel with his play
Then he thought OF the earnest face
of the boy who had followed the per-
formancs better than the veteran had
done. whose experience doubled the
lads Who is hep" asked Mobiles or
the manager of the house
Who is who?' asked the manager.
why, the youngster who plays in
the orchestra and led last wednesday
night when the director was sick
"Tll find out" said the manager
Its John sousa." said he to Mobiles
in the latterss dressing room between
acts.
Tell him I want to see him after the
show" said Mobiles.
How would you like to traveI?''
asked Milton of the nervous boy in
front of him.
John would like it very much. for a
consideration That same considera-
tion was easily effected and John
Philip Sousa became musical director
OF the little company headed by Milton
Mobiles. playing ''Bohemians and De-
tectives.v the title of the play being
later changed to The Phoenix
That was sousa's first experience in.
handling incidental and program music
playing shivers for Millions villain In
the fine old melodrama which we all
love.
You remember the line fine with
comedy, And the villain still pursued
her?' 1t would be matter of interest
ing, speculative argument to attempt to
prove that this early work. accom-
plished at an age when Impressions
come quickly and stay long. gave Sousa
a thought of the value of hunnor in
music. and ideas OF characterization. in
tone. of physical and outward events
such as he has since made into an ART
form in his suite. The Last DAYS OF
Pompeii."
At any rate 1 should. like to have
been near at hand when the march king
shook hands with the man who started
him on his career in music. I wonder
what they had to say to each other
Sousa and Mobiles. wonder what
"reminiscences were indulged in at the
conclusion OF the second performance
at Pants ges vaudeville theater In Sut-
ter street just around the corner from
Dreamland rink.
The circle of 81 years brought the
two together-sousa at the rink with
his band. and Mobiles with his wife
doing vaudeville sketch Just around
the corner.
: o.. ~.